See every facility — official ratings, family reviews, no referral fees.
Nursing HomeMedicaid Investigative

Delaware Hospital F/t Chronically Ill (dhci)

On Medicare Special Focus status, a serious quality warning. Visit in person and ask tough questions before deciding.

100 Sunnyside Road, Smyrna, DE 19977175 bedsLicensed & Active
2/5
Medicare
Inspection
Quality
Staffing
Google rating
3.4/5

based on 15 Google reviews

5
4
3
2
1
Delaware Hospital F/t Chronically Ill (dhci) Nursing Home in Smyrna, DE — Street View
Street View

Watch Delaware Hospital F/t Chronically Ill (dhci)

Get an email when new inspections, ratings, or penalties are published for this facility.

We’ll only email you about this — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

0/ 10
none Risk

Quality Concerns Identified

Medicare inspection and quality data reveal areas that families should carefully evaluate before choosing this facility.

Top 25% in DE · Meets national RN staffing standard · Above recommended total nurse staffing · Low staff turnover (stable workforce) · $82,885 in fines · Very few deficiencies

Source: Medicare data

What this means for your family

While some residents have had positive experiences with the staff, the recent reports of poor communication and lack of organization are concerning. We strongly recommend scheduling an in-person tour to observe current staff interactions and asking management directly how they handle family communication and care coordination.

Google Reviews

Google Reviews

15 reviews on Google
Reviews for the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill are highly polarized, with some former residents praising the caring staff and recovery environment, while recent feedback highlights severe organizational and communication failures. Families should be aware that the facility is housed in an older building, which some visitors find charming while others note its age.

Quality Themes

Tap a score for details
FoodN/AStaff6.0CleanN/AActivitiesN/AMedsN/AMemoryN/AComms2.0ValueN/A

Strengths

  • Caring and engaging nursing staff
  • Supportive environment for recovery
  • Historic, quiet building setting

Concerns

  • Lack of organization and poor communication (mentioned by 2 reviewers)

Rating Trends

Tap a year to see what changed

2343.22018(6)5.02019(2)3.02021(2)5.02023(1)2.82024(8)

Distribution · 19 analyzed

5
8
4
1
3
3
2
2
1
5

How They Respond to Reviews

0%response rate

Questions for Your Tour

  • 1Given the facility's historic setting, what kind of daily activities or social opportunities are organized to keep residents engaged and connected?
  • 2We understand that clear communication is vital for families; what is your standard process for keeping us updated on our loved one's health status and daily progress?
  • 3With a 5-star staffing rating, how does your team ensure that each resident receives consistent, personalized attention throughout their stay?
  • 4Regarding the recent health inspection findings, what specific steps have you taken to address those areas and improve the overall experience for residents?
  • 5How does your nursing team coordinate with families during medical emergencies or sudden changes in a resident's condition?
  • 6Since you have a supportive environment for recovery, how do you tailor care plans to help residents transition smoothly back to their daily routines?

Personalized based on this facility's data


Key Review Excerpts

The staff is so caring and treat him like a normal person. They talk with him and engage in conversations to get to know him more.

Long-term resident's family · 2023★★★★★

Do not send your love ones to this facility. They are very unorganized, have no communication skills, no compassion for those who are ill.

Visitor/Family member · 2024☆☆☆☆

A very good place that helps you in a nice environment to be in to meet beautiful people I was there myself for 8 years and 28 days.

Former resident · 2018★★★★★
Source: 15 Google reviews

Staffing

Staffing Hours

per resident/day · Medicare 2026
RN Hours
2.55hrs
OK
Registered nurses for medical care
Total Nursing
9.91hrs
OK
All nurses + aides combined
Staff Turnover
17%
Lower is better (< 30% = good)
RN Turnover
30%
Lower is better (< 30% = good)

This facility meets the national staffing benchmarks. Higher staffing is linked to fewer falls and better day-to-day care.

Quality Measures

Quality Measures

Resident outcomes compared with national, state, and local averages · 15 measures

Medicare Rating
5/ 5
Better Than Avg

9

measures

Worse Than Avg

4

measures

Mixed Results

2

measures

Long-Stay Residents
💉

Residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better
This Facility70.4%
Worse than Avg
Here
70.4%
US
93.4%
DE
95.8%
Kent
94.9%
😔

Residents with depression symptoms

↓ Lower is better
This Facility0.0%
Better than Avg
Here
0.0%
US
12.1%
DE
8.7%
Kent
12.6%

Highly dependent on how each facility screens and codes depressive symptoms, so it varies widely between facilities.

🚿

Residents whose bladder or bowel control got worse

↓ Lower is better
This Facility13.9%
Better than Avg
Here
13.9%
US
19.4%
DE
21.2%
Kent
23.2%
🛏️

Residents needing more daily help over time

↓ Lower is better
This Facility7.2%
Better than Avg
Here
7.2%
US
14.4%
DE
13.7%
Kent
15.9%
🚶

Residents whose walking got worse

↓ Lower is better
This Facility8.0%
Better than Avg
Here
8.0%
US
15.3%
DE
15.5%
Kent
16.4%
💊

Residents on anti-anxiety or sleep medication

↓ Lower is better
This Facility14.4%
Better than Avg
Here
14.4%
US
19.5%
DE
21.6%
Kent
16.6%
Short-Stay Residents (Rehab / Post-Acute)
💉

Short-stay residents vaccinated for pneumonia

↑ Higher is better
This Facility45.5%
Worse than Avg
Here
45.5%
US
81.8%
DE
83.1%
Kent
85.0%
Source: Medicare quality measures

US average from Medicare published data

Inspection History

Medicare Inspection History

3-year lookback · Medicare 2026

10deficiencies
2penalties
Near state avg (13.5)
2 complaint-triggered
$82,885 in fines

Families filed two complaints about recurring accident hazards and inadequate supervision, with the same safety issue cited twice in 2025 after previous correction, indicating persistent problems. The facility shows patterns of deficiencies in emergency preparedness, resident assessments, and safety oversight. While all violations have correction dates, the repeated complaint about accident prevention suggests ongoing safety concerns that families should carefully consider.

Jan 9, 2026Routine
9
0689Immediate jeopardy · PatternCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

0803Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies

Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.

0656Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.

0883Potential for harm · PatternCorrected

Infection Control Deficiencies

Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.

0641Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies

Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.

0695Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.

0700Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Try different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.

0755Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Pharmacy Service Deficiencies

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.

0880Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Infection Control Deficiencies

Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Oct 3, 2025Complaint
1
0689Immediate jeopardy · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Feb 24, 2025Complaint
1
0689Immediate jeopardy · IsolatedCorrected

Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.

Dec 12, 2024Routine
5
0018Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Establish procedures for tracking staff and patients during an emergency.

0031Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Provide emergency officials' contact information.

0036Potential for harm · WidespreadCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Establish emergency prep training and testing.

0023Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Establish policies and procedures for medical documentation.

0020Potential for harm · IsolatedCorrected

Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

Establish policies and procedures including evacuation.

Federal Penalties

Fine

Oct 3, 2025

$42,602

Fine

Feb 24, 2025

$17,345

Ownership & Operations

Who Operates This Facility

Owner / Operator

Delaware Hospital F/t Chronically Ill (dhci)

Organization Type

government

Ownership & Management

Owners

State of Delaware

Owner (parent company) · Organization

Key personnel

Brogan, BarbaraManagerKerkula, BarnabasManagerTeeter, TammyManagerState of DelawareAdp of the SnfBrogan, BarbaraAdp of the Snf
Source: Medicare provider data

Contact

Get in Touch

Contact this facility directly and verify the details that matter most to your family.

References & Resources

EveryPlace is a research directory. Facility information is compiled from public sources — Medicare.gov, state licensing portals, Google Places, and publicly available street-level imagery. Listings do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or advertisement, and we do not accept payment for placement. Families should verify all details directly with the facility and the original sources linked above before making any care decisions. See our Research Policy for our editorial standards, correction process, and image-removal policy.

Safer Alternatives Nearby

Based on current clinical data, we identified 6 nearby facilities within 10 miles that may offer a stronger care environment. We encourage families to compare options carefully.

Call