Staff Writer January 26, 2026Headlines, Community, Government, Schools
Live DelDOT camera showing current conditions on route 141 and near route 40 in Wilmington at 3:00 on Monday Jan. 26th following yesterday’s snowstorm.
Update on State of Emergency, Snowfall totals, Power Outages, Schools, and more.
WILMINGTON, Del. — Delaware began shifting from emergency response to recovery Monday after Winter Storm Fern delivered measurable snow across the state, left scattered power outages, and triggered road restrictions and widespread school closures.
Gov. Matthew Meyer terminated Delaware’s state of emergency at 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, a move that also released Delaware National Guard assets, state officials said. But Level 1 driving warnings remained in place for New Castle and Kent counties, urging motorists to avoid travel unless necessary and to use extreme caution, especially on secondary roads where icy conditions may persist.

Snowfall totals: Wilmington saw 6.5 inches; Sussex totals varied

Final snowfall reports compiled by the National Weather Service showed 6.5 inches in Wilmington, with higher totals reported nearby — including 9 inches just east-northeast of Wilmington and 7.8 inches in Hockessin.
In Sussex County, totals varied sharply by location. Spotters reported 4 inches in Milton and Selbyville, while reports around Georgetown and the Seaford area were closer to 1.5 inches in earlier storm totals. The National Weather Service report did not list a storm-total measurement specifically for Milford.

Power outages improved through the day

Statewide outage tracking showed about 1,415 customers without power earlier Monday, with Kent County reporting the largest share of outages in that snapshot.
By late afternoon, conditions appeared to have improved significantly: PowerOutage.us showed 1 customer without power statewide, with outages concentrated in New Castle County.

Driving restrictions downgraded; Sussex warning lifted

As conditions evolved, the state also eased travel restrictions. Delaware officials announced that, effective 10 a.m. Monday, New Castle and Kent were downgraded from a Level 2 driving restriction to a Level 1 driving warning, and the Level 1 warning in Sussex County was lifted.
Even with the downgrade, officials warned that black ice and prolonged subfreezing temperatures could keep road conditions dangerous.

Bitter cold ahead; flurries possible

Forecasters expect the storm to give way to a stretch of frigid weather. In Wilmington, temperatures were forecast to drop into the single digits Monday night, with highs remaining in the teens and 20s through midweek.

Schools closed; some districts extend schedule changes

Closures were widespread Monday, with Delaware Public Media reporting that all of Delaware’s public school districts were closed for the day as the state dug out.
Some districts also announced additional adjustments:

• Brandywine School District: no school for students Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 26–27) due to storm-related closures affecting its scheduled professional responsibilities day.

• Sussex Technical High School: operated on a remote learning day Monday.

• Christina School District: schools and offices closed Monday.

Warming sites and Code Purple shelters

Brandywine School District: no school for students Monday and Tuesday (Jan. 26–27) due to storm-related closures affecting its scheduled professional responsibilities day.
Sussex Technical High School: operated on a remote learning day Monday.
Christina School District: schools and offices closed Monday.
For residents in need of a warm place to stay, the state emphasized Code Purple operations.
State officials said Code Purple shelters remained open 24 hours statewide, and shared contact numbers by county:

• New Castle County: 302-652-8033

• Kent County: 1-800-733-6816

• Sussex County: 302-519-0024

• Or call 211

New Castle County: 302-652-8033
Kent County: 1-800-733-6816
Sussex County: 302-519-0024
Or call 211
Separately, DHSS advised that its offices — including State Service Centers — were closed Monday, and directed people who need shelter or support services to contact 211 for available options.
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SilverAssist Acquires Caring.com, Expanding Senior Care Guidance for Delaware Caregivers and Families WILMINGTON, Del. — SilverAssist, a national senior assistance network, has acquired Caring LLC, the parent company of Caring.com, in a move aimed at simplifying how caregivers and families — including those in Delaware — find, evaluate, and pay for senior care. The acquisition, announced Jan. 12, brings Caring.com, one of the nation’s most visited online platforms for senior care reviews and referrals, into SilverAssist’s growing portfolio, which already includes Oasis Senior Advisors and ElderLife Financial. Financial terms were not disclosed. SilverAssist describes the move as creating one of the fastest-growing referral and advisory networks in senior housing, combining digital reach, local expertise and financial navigation under a single umbrella. For Delaware caregivers, the acquisition is intended to reduce the fragmented, often overwhelming process of searching for senior living or in-home care options. “Families often move between multiple websites, advisors, and financial tools when a loved one needs care,” SilverAssist said in a statement. “This integration is designed to bring those resources together in one place.” Caring.com is widely used by families researching assisted living, memory care, nursing homes and home care services. The site offers educational content, family reviews and a referral helpline staffed by care advisors. Under SilverAssist, those digital resources will now connect more directly to local, on-the-ground support. That local component comes through Oasis Senior Advisors, a national network of Certified Senior Advisors who provide free, personalized guidance to families. Oasis has an established presence in Delaware, including advisors based in Hockessin who work directly with caregivers to assess needs, tour communities and identify appropriate care options. Lynn Paxson, president of Oasis Senior Advisors of Delaware, said the acquisition has the potential to make the caregiving journey significantly easier for local families. “Caregivers often come to us stressed, exhausted and unsure where to start,” Paxson said. “By connecting Caring.com’s trusted online information directly to local advisors who understand the Delaware market, we can help families move more quickly from confusion to clarity — and from research to real solutions.” Paxson said the integration allows caregivers to begin their search online and transition seamlessly to one-on-one, local guidance without repeating their story or starting over. “That continuity matters,” she said. “It means fewer phone calls, less second-guessing, and more confidence that families are making the right decision for their loved one.” The acquisition also brings ElderLife Financial more directly into the caregiver experience. ElderLife provides financial tools to help families manage the cost of senior care, including bridge loans, real estate-based funding solutions, and assistance navigating veterans’ benefits. That financial guidance is particularly relevant in Delaware, where monthly assisted living costs can range from roughly $5,000 to $7,000 depending on location and level of care. Caregivers frequently cite affordability and timing as major obstacles when a health event forces rapid decisions. SilverAssist said the combined platform will allow families to move from education to placement to financial planning without starting over at each step. Services remain free for caregivers, with revenue generated through partnerships with senior living providers. The company also said the acquisition is expected to improve occupancy solutions for senior living operators by delivering better-qualified referrals — families who are more informed, financially prepared, and matched to appropriate levels of care. Integration of Caring.com into the SilverAssist network is already underway, with additional enhancements expected over the coming months.
Obamacare/Marketplace participation hits record levels — but skyrocketing medical costs, expiring subsidies, and insurer rate hikes threaten affordability; experts say it’s time to consider HSAs and price transparency WILMINGTON — Delaware is experiencing its highest Affordable Care Act enrollment since the program launched, but the celebration comes with a warning: the state’s health-care costs are rising so sharply that many residents may soon see their premiums double. More than 53,000 Delawareans are enrolled in the ACA marketplace for 2025 — up from about 23,000 in 2019 — representing a dramatic expansion of coverage and a significant shift in how individuals and families access insurance. Yet behind these record numbers lies a growing affordability crisis driven not by state policy, but by medical inflation, increased utilization of care and structural costs embedded in the health-care system. For many middle-income Delawareans, the math is simple and sobering: premiums that averaged around $700 a month last year could soon exceed $1,400 when enhanced federal subsidies expire in late 2025. And even with subsidies, Delaware’s underlying premium increases — among the steepest in the country — raise serious questions about whether the system is sustainable. Enrollment rises, but so do premiums Delaware’s ACA enrollment trajectory reflects impressive demand: 2019: 23,000 enrollees 2023: 40,000+ 2024: 45,000 (including 8,000 paying $10 or less thanks to subsidies) 2025: 53,000 But the same period also brought some of the largest premium hikes Delaware has ever seen. Insurers received approval for increases far above the national average: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield: +25% AmeriHealth Caritas: requested 46%, approved for +34.98% With inflation cooling in most sectors of the economy, many Delawareans are asking: why are health-care costs going in the opposite direction? And why is Delaware being hit harder than other states? Why Delaware’s health-care costs are climbing so fast Rate filings submitted to state regulators offer a candid picture of what insurers say is driving these increases. The pressures fall into several major categories: 1. Medical costs are rising faster than inflation Hospitals and physicians continue to raise prices, especially in high-cost specialties such as oncology, cardiology, emergency care and surgery. Specialty and biologic drugs — which now account for a significant share of total pharmacy spending — are increasing at double-digit rates. 2. More people are using more care Since the pandemic, Delawareans have returned to the health-care system in force. Elective procedures are up, chronic conditions are being treated more intensively and demand for mental-health services has surged. New diagnostic tools and technologies also improve care but come with higher price tags. 3. Labor shortages are driving up hospital expenses Hospitals across Delaware face workforce shortages, particularly among nurses, technicians and support staff. To maintain staffing, providers are resorting to overtime, bonuses and travel-nurse contracts — all of which significantly increase operating costs. Those costs are ultimately passed on in the form of higher premiums. 4. Delayed care is becoming more expensive care Thousands of Delaware residents postponed screenings and treatment during 2020–2021. They are now returning with more advanced conditions, raising average claims costs per patient. 5. Reinsurance and federal formulas are adding cost pressure Insurers must purchase reinsurance to protect against catastrophic claims — and those protections are becoming more expensive. Federal risk-adjustment formulas also shift money among insurers depending on the health status of their enrollees, adding unpredictability. 6. Medicaid “unwinding” is reshaping the risk pool As temporary pandemic rules end, many Delawareans are losing automatic Medicaid eligibility and moving back into private plans. This often brings sicker, higher-cost individuals into the marketplace. 7. The healthier you are, the more likely you are to leave As premiums rise, younger and healthier people disproportionately drop coverage. That leaves insurers with a smaller, sicker, and more expensive population, which forces rates up again — a cycle actuaries call a “death spiral.” Casscells: Delaware’s cost crisis reflects a deeper structural problem Retired orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chris Casscells, a policy adviser with A Better Delaware, argues these skyrocketing costs are symptoms of a system that gives patients almost no visibility into prices — and no incentive to shop. “The Affordable Care Act separated the patient from the actual cost of care,” Casscells says. “Nobody knows what anything costs. Hospitals inflate list prices because reimbursement formulas reward it. Insurers react by raising premiums. And patients are stuck in the middle with no ability to compare or negotiate.” Casscells believes Delaware’s cost crisis cannot be solved by subsidies alone because subsidies disguise, rather than reduce, the real price of medical care. “Delaware is drowning in complexity. We need reforms that give patients more control, not more layers of bureaucracy,” he said. Who really pays for Obamacare in Delaware? Although enrollment is administered at the state level, the federal government pays: 100% of ACA premium subsidies 90% of Medicaid expansion costs Delaware pays the remaining 10% of expansion and its regulatory overhead. This means Delawareans are not facing higher premiums because the state is charging more — but because the cost of care itself is rising far faster than insurers can absorb. A looming affordability cliff in 2026 The biggest threat on the horizon is the scheduled expiration of enhanced federal subsidies at the end of 2025. These subsidies temporarily discounted premiums for thousands of families. If Congress does not extend them, the impact could be dramatic: A family paying $600–$800/month today could face $1,400+/month in 2026 Thousands may drop coverage Delaware’s uninsured rate could rise for the first time in a decade The marketplace could destabilize as healthier enrollees exit For middle-income families — those earning too much for Medicaid but unable to afford unsubsidized coverage — the risk is significant. Is it time to rethink the model? HSAs and true price transparency While some lawmakers argue for new rounds of subsidies, Casscells and other center-right policy advocates say Delaware should strengthen consumer-driven health-care tools instead of expanding dependence on federal aid. Two strategies top the list: 1. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) HSAs allow individuals to: Save tax-free […]
The Role of the Adult Caregiver and the Challenging Decisions about what is “best” WILMINGTON, Del. — An adult caregivers and caregiver, in the broadest sense, is anyone who invests time, money and energy to assist an older adult who needs help. In many families, it takes a village—relatives and friends, neighbors, nurses and aides, the person who handles the bills, the one who fixes the leaky sink, the cook who keeps meals coming. All of them are caregivers in their own unique ways. But the primary caregiver is different. The buck stops with that person. They make the hard decisions, explain changes to the family, and too often become the lightning rod for suspicion, grief and frustration when reality doesn’t match expectations. It is one of the most demanding roles a person can hold. A growing share of us are caregivers. Experts at Easterseals Delaware estimate that 30% or more of adults ages 45 and up are serving as caregivers, a share that is rising as people live longer with complex needs. For many, this season arrives suddenly and without a playbook, piling stress onto already full lives of work, children, and finances. The result is a simple, anxious question that starts the process: What do we do now? “Where do I start?”“When families call us, the first thing they say is, ‘Where do I start?’” said Lynn Paxson, a leading consultant to caregivers in Delaware and president of Oasis Care Advisors. “Overwhelm, guilt, and fear are common. The good news is that once options are clear, most people feel relief and empowerment.” A journey, not a single decisionThe path to care rarely begins with a moving truck or a signed home-care agreement. It starts with unease as small lapses turn into patterns. A doctor’s visit brings new instructions; a hospital discharge adds urgency. By then, the conversation has shifted from if help is needed to what kind of help will keep a loved one safest and most supported. Five stages families face Early concerns: Subtle signs—missed medications, skipped meals, isolation—raise the question: Is Mom safe at home? Health decline: Falls, ER visits or memory lapses push the discussion forward as safety becomes the priority. Care and housing decisions: Families compare staying at home with a caregiver versus moving to a senior living community, weighing the cost, care level, and lifestyle. Legal and financial planning: Power of attorney, advance directives, and budgets move to the front burner; families may explore VA Aid & Attendance or long-term care insurance. Transition and adjustment: Whether moving or starting home care, emotions run high; ongoing support helps the new routine stick. The turning point: choosing a care settingSenior living communities offer structure: staff on site around the clock, medication management, a built-in social life, and a predictable monthly bill that bundles housing with care. For older adults who are lonely, missing meals or struggling with routines, the daily rhythm—and the presence of peers—can be stabilizing. Why do many stay home?In-home care preserves the familiarity of the house and neighborhood. Care is scheduled by the hour or day and tailored to what the person needs, whether that’s help with bathing, transportation or specialized dementia support. The tradeoff is coverage: safety at home depends on how many hours a caregiver is present and how well those hours match the risks. What it costs—and what fits?Communities invoice monthly and adjust fees as care needs rise. Home care can begin modestly—just a few hours a week—but expenses climb quickly if nights, weekends or specialized skills are required. “Families often discover there is no single ‘cheap’ option,” Paxson said. “There’s the option that best matches risk, personality, and budget.” Paperwork with a purposeEven as families compare models, a second track of tasks arrives with its own clock. Power of attorney, advance directives and a workable budget are no longer paperwork for “someday”; they become essential tools to avoid crises. Some households qualify for help through long-term care insurance or VA benefits; others stitch together resources with savings and family support. Social workers and case managers can coordinate therapies, equipment and home-health orders that complement either path. The first weeks are emotionalOnce a decision is made, a new set of emotions takes center stage. Moves are rarely purely logistical; they are identity-shifting. Families who choose home care worry about finding the right fit; those who choose a community worry about how their loved one will adjust to a new routine. “That’s where coaching matters,” Paxson said. “We walk with families through the first weeks—touring, matching caregivers and checking in after move-in—so small problems don’t become big ones.” Vetting in-home care agenciesFor households opting to remain at home, ask whether the agency has caregivers available now in the right ZIP code and with the needed skills—mobility support, memory-care experience or chronic-disease know-how. Screening, training and a reliable backup plan for call-outs are nonnegotiable, as are transparent pricing and proper licensing. Touring communities the right wayVisit at mealtimes, observe an activity, and talk with residents and families, not just the marketing team. Note staffing visibility, response times and how teams interact with residents who need extra prompts or redirection. Avoid the pitfallsA few warning signs can help primary caregivers steer clear of costly detours and unsafe arrangements. Unverified call centers and vague online ads — They often sell your contact information instead of solving problems. “Too good to be true” offers — Beware of hidden fees, unlicensed operators or services that won’t meet your loved one’s needs. Pressure tactics without a full care assessment — Anyone rushing you to decide, especially without transparency, is a red flag.“Your loved one’s safety and dignity should always come first,” Paxson said. “Work with credentialed advisors, ask blunt questions and see the care up close—whether that’s in the living room or the dining room.” How to get started todayWrite down the specific worries—falls, medication mix-ups, loneliness—along with current diagnoses, medications and doctors. Identify a decision-maker who can speak for the family. Then schedule a […]

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