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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

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Home Care In Georgetown, DE

Home Care Georgetown, DE

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Old Stone House in Georgetown, DE gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Georgetown, DE is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Georgetown, DE

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I've been with Always Best Care, Vacaville, about a year and a half and I am very pleased with the service. Their Caregivers are very kind and competent helpers. I would recommend this service to anyone and I have recommend this service to several of my friends.”

Linda B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Here's what I posted on Google and Facebook: Life would have been a lot harder without Always Best Care in my life, I have COPD and I am on oxygen full time at level 4 so doing daily chores are out question without my caregiver Ricci Anthony who has been taking tremendous care of me for 3 years this August 2022 and I thank God everyday for him. Every time he arrives he immediately says Hi checks in with me to see how I am doing. As well as, every time he departs I thank him for all that he does for me and I tell him I love him Ricci replies in same likeness. Ricci and I are incredible friends, it’s closer to a dad and son relationship. We’re both strong Christian me. As for Chelsea who does Intake and is the Schedules for Always Best Care equally an amazing individual. Don’t let her young age fool you on the contrary she is a powerhouse. She’s highly a professional, she’s industrious, highly intelligent, she’s a great friend and you can always depend on her to be in support for you. Always Best Care is always best care.”

Michael W.
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“ABC is absolutely amazing! The staff is very caring and very friendly. always go above and beyond. They have great communication between Clients and Staff.”

Rebecca G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I couldn’t thank this Company enough for the services my Father had, it’s difficult to trust others yet Always Best Care of Philadelphia did it with ease. We happily recommend them to our family and friends. Bryant and Co. truly care as if it was their own family. God Bless and May all your Staff be safe, they are in my prayers.”

Barbara L.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The highlights for me is The boss man Bryant Greene, and most of his awesome staff. Mr. Greene, his brother Al Billz and staff always looked out for me even when I was ill. I love them and Always Best Care to the moon and back!”

Kia M.
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“Kathy McClure is a problem solver. She assisted us on Long Term Care Reimbursement and took us thru the process smoothly.”

Patrick M.
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“Nate and Charlene are the best in their field. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and your company.”

Jesse S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best Care Senior Services of Philadelphia abides by the highest standards in the provision of in-home care.”

Sheila R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Dave and his staff go above and beyond with their care. They all take special interest with their clients. Also a very helpful resource in future planning and current ideas. Trust your parents to these people - they will not let you down.”

Bill H.
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“Always Best Care Senior Services are a group of compassionate care givers and professionals. Use them for all your personal needs Senior or younger. They get the job done!!!”

Sandra R.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I appreciate ABC of Bristol. They served me and my friend, Helen, at very difficult time. The office staff, social workers, and the aides were professional, caring, and reliable. Donna you are awesome....keep up the great work!!!! I would recommend this service to anyone.”

Tanya R.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Georgetown, DE?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Georgetown, DE

Types of Elderly Care in Georgetown, DE

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Georgetown, DE
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Georgetown, DE
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Georgetown Waterfront Park in Georgetown, DE with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Georgetown, DE
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Fiola Mare or visit Tudor Place, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Georgetown, DE

Benefits of Home Care in Georgetown, DE

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Georgetown, DE, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Georgetown, DE

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your DE's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Georgetown, DE

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Georgetown, DE understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Georgetown, DE

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Georgetown, DE

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Delaware Bay Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
  • Paradise Senior Living
  • PeachTree Health Group Annex Building
  • U Count
  • Silver Lining Home Healthcare
  • Country Rest Home
Home Care Georgetown, DE

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Georgetown, DE

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Georgetown, DE 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Georgetown, DE

Latest News in Georgetown, DE

HGM Glass Delivers Custom Mirror Solutions to Homes in Georgetown, DE

HGM Glass, a locally owned glass and shower door company that has served the Delmarva Peninsula for more than 30 years, is expanding its custom mirror work for homeowners in Georgetown, Delaware, cutting, finishing and installing each piece to fit the wall it is going on rather than adapting a stock size to the space.BERLIN, Md. - September 09, 2026 - HGM Glass, a locally owned glass and shower door company that has served the Delmarva Peninsula for more than 30 years, is expanding its custom mirror work for homeowner...

HGM Glass, a locally owned glass and shower door company that has served the Delmarva Peninsula for more than 30 years, is expanding its custom mirror work for homeowners in Georgetown, Delaware, cutting, finishing and installing each piece to fit the wall it is going on rather than adapting a stock size to the space.

BERLIN, Md. - September 09, 2026 - HGM Glass, a locally owned glass and shower door company that has served the Delmarva Peninsula for more than 30 years, is expanding its custom mirror work for homeowners in Georgetown, Delaware, cutting, finishing and installing each piece to fit the wall it is going on rather than adapting a stock size to the space.

The company designs and installs custom mirrors in Georgetown, DE for bathrooms, entryways, dining rooms and home fitness spaces. Every project begins with a free on-site consultation, where the team measures the opening to within 1/16 of an inch before any glass is ordered. Most jobs move from design approval to finished installation in two to six weeks.

Custom mirror installation in Georgetown, DE covers more than sizing. Homeowners choose glass thickness, edge treatment and mounting hardware, and can upgrade to low-iron glass such as Starphire, which removes the green cast found in standard glass and renders paint colors and skin tones more accurately. Hardware and framing details are matched to existing fixtures in finishes including chrome, brushed nickel, matte black and oil rubbed bronze.

"A mirror is one of the few things in a room people look at every single day, so it has to fit the wall it is on," said Morgan Miller of HGM Glass. "We take the measurements ourselves, we cut to those measurements, and our own crew hangs it. That is the difference between a mirror that looks like it belongs in the room and one that looks like it came off a shelf."

Georgetown projects are handled out of the company's Berlin, Maryland, showroom, which also serves Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton, Millsboro and Selbyville. Homeowners can review the full range of services for the area through HGM Glass Georgetown, DE, including frameless shower doors, glass partitions, railings and wine room enclosures. As a custom glass company working across coastal Delaware, HGM Glass also fabricates floor-to-ceiling steam shower enclosures with airtight seals and heat-resistant gaskets.

HGM Glass is licensed and insured, holds Maryland Home Improvement Commission license #160341 and is a verified member of Shower Door Professionals. The company does not use subcontractors, and customers work directly with the owners from consultation through installation.

Consultations for Georgetown homeowners can be scheduled by phone or through the company website.

About HGM Glass

HGM Glass is a locally owned glass company with more than 30 years of experience designing, fabricating and installing custom shower doors, mirrors, glass railings, partitions and wine room enclosures. Operating from showrooms in Berlin, Maryland, and Hanover, Pennsylvania, the company serves homeowners, builders and remodelers throughout the Eastern Shore, coastal Delaware and South Central Pennsylvania. HGM Glass is licensed and insured and completes every installation with its own crews.

Media Contact

Morgan Miller

HGM Glass

414 West St.

Berlin, MD 21811

443-665-0731

[email protected]

https://hgm-glass.com/frameless-shower-doors-berlin-md/

Media Contact

Company Name: HGM Glass

Contact Person: Morgan Miller

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Phone: 443-665-0731

Address:414 West St

City: Berlin

State: MD 21811

Country: United States

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https://hgm-glass.com/frameless-shower-doors-berlin-md/

Georgetown Guatemalan community brings a piece of home with them

Why Should Delaware Care?Guatemalan immigrants have established a community in Georgetown — some having been here for decades, and others who recently moved here to reunite with family members and start jobs. The community organizes themselves once a year to remember Tacaná, the town where most Georgetown Guatemalans come from.Yolanda Mendez remembers having the crown placed on her head that made her queen of the town fair in Ixchiguán, Guatemala, during her teenage years.Last Saturday, it w...

Why Should Delaware Care?Guatemalan immigrants have established a community in Georgetown — some having been here for decades, and others who recently moved here to reunite with family members and start jobs. The community organizes themselves once a year to remember Tacaná, the town where most Georgetown Guatemalans come from.

Yolanda Mendez remembers having the crown placed on her head that made her queen of the town fair in Ixchiguán, Guatemala, during her teenage years.

Last Saturday, it was her teenage daughter, Jenny Marisol Robles, who was crowned “Reyna de Tacaná,” or Queen of Tacaná, during Georgetown’s annual festival honoring the Guatemalan namesake.

Despite being thousands of miles away from their birth place, Guatemalan natives like Mendez have managed to keep a piece of their home through the Feria Internacional Tacaná — a yearly cultural event that features traditional Marimba music, dance groups and several soccer tournaments to remember the small town where they migrated from.

This event in Georgetown mirrors a festival taking place on the same day in Tacaná, which falls every year on Aug. 15 and honors the Virgin Mary. Both are filled with the same music, food and dances that could be seen in Georgetown on Saturday.

Amel Lopez, another Guatemalan native living in Georgetown, remembers the mountains overlooking Tacaná that brought in fresh cool air and were filled with vegetation.

This year, he continued to honor those memories with his fruit stand selling cut up watermelons, mangos, cucumbers and traditional Guatemalan snacks like raspados, or fruit-flavored water ice.

Lopez still recalls the days he took part in Tacaná’s soccer tournaments that characterized the annual festival.

“This reminds me of when I was little, and although we didn’t have an official soccer ball like they do right now, but at least we had a soccer ball we made from nylon rags when we were little,” Lopez said. “Even if it wasn’t real, it was still soccer.”

A little Tacaná

Kevin Santizo, a Guatemalan native, has lived in southern Delaware for about 20 years. When he first came, Guatemalans were far and few in between. Those numbers have more than doubled, he said.

Hispanics make up around half the town’s population. By Santizo’s estimates, around 3,000 are from Guatemala. And of these, most migrated from Tacaná or San Marcos, mountainous regions located near Mexico’s southern border.

Some Guatemalans have been here for decades, like Santizo and Lopez, who have been here for 22 years.

Others have migrated more recently.

Florencio, one of four music players who filled the crowd’s ear with traditional music characterized by the fluctuating pitches of wooden Marimba bars, has been in Georgetown for two years.

He took turns playing the Marimba and the drums. He said participating in the festival makes him feel more “chapino,” an endearing term for being Guatemalan.

“May we never forget where we came from or who we are,” Florencio said. “I am not ashamed of where I come from the mountain ranges, I grew up there and I am not ashamed because I might be here today but perhaps tomorrow or the day after that I’ll be in Guatemala.”

Florencio is currently undergoing a legal process to obtain residency. His story resonated with other attendees who came to the U.S. escaping poverty and violent situations in parts of Guatemala.

A business-minded community

Guatemalans in Georgetown work across a variety of industries.

Ziulin Moreno, a Venezuelan native, is a business coach at La Plaza, a nonprofit in Georgetown that helps Hispanic entrepreneurs. Her first community event after moving to Georgetown in 2023 was the Feria Internacional Tacaná, where she quickly learned what characterizes the large Guatemalan community.

Moreno said she has seen many Guatemalan immigrants go from being employees to employers, particularly in the construction industry, commercial cleaning service and the food business.

“Latinos have a reputation of being very hardworking, but in the case of the Guatemalan community, they are not only hardworking but also perseverant — and that is important,” Moreno said. “Many of them started with small businesses, yet they remained steadfast in their efforts. And today, I truly see successful businesses run by Guatemalans.”

Sebastiana Mendez, Robles’ grandmother, attended the festival not only to witness her two grandchildren carry their crowns, but also to sell chuchitos — traditional, savory Guatemalan corn tamales with chicken or pork. She goes around to different grocery stores on a weekly basis selling the typical street food.

The fair’s sponsors included local construction groups, painting services and car repair shops.

Political landscape decreases participation

Santizo, one of the fair’s organizers, said participation has been dwindling since President Donald Trump took office two years ago.

At its peak, Santizo said the event would bring in upwards of 5,000 people. When Spotlight Delaware spoke to him the day before this year’s event, he hoped at least 2,000 would show up.

Santizo even made changes to this year’s fair to encourage attendance, like making the celebration free of charge, focusing more on his partnerships with local businesses and leaning heavily on social media promotion.

Lopez said he also has felt the decrease in attendance from his fruit stand.

“It’s a little sad to be honest, what’s going on in our community,” Lopez said. “But a lot of people, despite what’s been going on, have the bravery and strength to go out, and that’s what’s most important.”

Attendees said other predominantly Hispanic events have also been affected.

Moreno, the business coach from La Plaza, said parents are hesitant to let their children attend events, fearful they will be racially profiled for their Latin features, even if they are U.S. citizens.

It is a fear that resonates with Moreno. Her own 19-year-old nephew was arrested by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Newark earlier this year. Moreno’s family has since been able to bring him home after the attempted deportation.

The community is not only attending fewer events, they are also becoming more distrustful, said Yamaris Zabzla, a coordinator with the nonprofit organization Abriendo Puertas/Open Doors, which offers help to victims of domestic violence.

“Our hotline calls have diminished, too, because the victim has fear of calling because they think we are going to report them to [ICE],” Zabzla said.

Despite this, the community remains eager to carry on their traditions, especially to the new generation of Guatemalans in the U.S.

“It’s thanks to God that they want to continue this when they are young women,” Sebastiana Mendez said of her two grandchildren who took part in this year’s coronation for Reyna de Tacaná in Georgetown. “They put the example for other young women to get closer to their culture and participate because we are all children of God.”

The festival also chooses a specific cause to fundraise for each year. In the past, donations were used to help fund the construction of a church in Tacaná. This year, vendors were encouraged to donate part of their earnings to Hospital Los Angelitos, a local hospital in Tacaná that offers free medical services to its patients.

The festival is set to continue next year in Georgetown.

For now, festival organizers share updates on their Facebook page — from events in both Tacaná and Georgetown, to soccer matches and images and videos of Tacaná’s festivities — to further connect the Delaware community with its Guatemalan roots.

Georgetown reconsiders controversial tiny homes ordinance amid resident pushback

Why Should Delaware Care? Homelessness and affordable housing have been at the forefront of state and local government conversations in Delaware in recent months. Georgetown was relatively unique in approving a cottage housing ordinance last year as a way to confront both issues, but some residents and newly-elected officials are once again pushing back against the measure.The newly-elected Georgetown Town Council is revisiting a contentious cottage housing ordinance from last year, arguing that residents want the gov...

Why Should Delaware Care? Homelessness and affordable housing have been at the forefront of state and local government conversations in Delaware in recent months. Georgetown was relatively unique in approving a cottage housing ordinance last year as a way to confront both issues, but some residents and newly-elected officials are once again pushing back against the measure.

The newly-elected Georgetown Town Council is revisiting a contentious cottage housing ordinance from last year, arguing that residents want the government to remove the measure allowing developers to build tiny homes in the Sussex County seat.

The move represents a continued point of friction between town council and residents over how government leaders should respond to the demand for more affordable housing and a split over how best to provide homelessness resources in town.

The reconsideration also follows the May election of two new members of the five-member town council, both of whom campaigned, in part, on a platform of repealing the ordinance and were backed by a vocal Facebook group of Sussex County residents opposed to Georgetown’s handling of its growing homeless population.

The cottage housing ordinance, which council members approved in December 2025, allows up to 12 homes to be built on a single acre of property zoned for urban residential use.

While the specifics of tiny homes, or cottage homes, can vary from project to project, the concept typically includes houses between 400 and 900 square feet that are considered affordable to residents earning below an area’s median income.

The town council voted 4-1 earlier this month to halt the review of any new cottage housing development proposals and appoint a committee to consider revising or repealing the ordinance.

That committee met this week to discuss the ordinance. The tenor of the group’s roughly two-hour long discussion suggested they will soon issue a recommendation that the town council strike down the ordinance.

“The people I spoke to said tiny homes are not an option,” said resident Lisa Rohlfing, who is serving as the committee’s chair, at the July 28 meeting.

One tiny housing project developed by the nonprofit Little Living, was already approved by the town council in February. It will be able to move forward with construction regardless of whether the town chooses to repeal the cottage housing ordinance.

While the Little Living project, which will include 20 tiny homes on a roughly 2-acre property on East Market Street, will not be impacted, another cottage housing community proposed by Springboard Delaware would be left dead in the water.

Judson Malone, executive director of Springboard Delaware, which also operates the pallet village transitional housing community in Georgetown, said they have plans to build 122 tiny homes on a 14-acre property near Sussex Academy.

Malone said he has already had a pre-development meeting with the town planning commission about the project, but it is now held up by the July 13 decision to pause the review of any new tiny home projects.

Malone declined to comment on the council’s decision to pause review of applications.

However, he said he hopes the committee will allow town residents to “better understand affordable housing issues and increasingly what a town’s responsibilities are to provide it.”

A reignited discussion

The debate over cottage homes once again emerged in Georgetown this summer, as some residents raised concerns about the impact the Little Living project and future tiny home developments will have on the quality of life for town residents.

At recent town council meetings, some residents, many of whom expressed opposition to the cottage home concept last fall, said they do not believe the Little Living homes are attractive or well-made. The town, therefore, should not encourage other similar projects, the residents said.

In response to the ongoing pushback, Little Living director George Meringolo told Spotlight Delaware these are the same criticisms he has been hearing for months, which he considers to be “misinformation” and “misrepresentation.”

Residents also argue there are other, better alternatives to solving the affordable housing crisis in the area.

One resident, Linda Dennis, who is also the chair of the town’s Supportive Housing Issues Committee, said Georgetown is not fully counting all of the affordable housing options it currently has, such as sober homes and the CHEER Center, which is a senior-living community.

“We’re pretty much done as far as I’m concerned,” Dennis said at a July council meeting about calls for more affordable housing.

Other residents also said the approval of the cottage housing ordinance and the Little Living project are representative of the previous town council, led by former Mayor Bill West, ignoring the will of town residents.

In response, Mayor Angie Townsend, who has been a vocal critic of the cottage living concept in the past, suggested the town create a committee to consider ways to revise the ordinance’s language or repeal it altogether

At the same meeting, the council voted 4-1 in favor of halting the review of future tiny home project proposals.

Councilman Tony Neal was the sole vote against the pause, saying that he is worried about addressing the continued demand for affordable housing in town.

Committee moves forward

The committee appointed by Townsend to examine the cottage housing ordinance appeared to move strongly in the direction of repealing the ordinance at an initial meeting on July 28.

The group includes Rohlfing, who has been vocal about repealing the ordinance at recent town council meetings, as its chair, along with Council Members Tony Neal and Michael Briggs, Town Manager Gene Dvornick and resident Eddie Wise.

The majority of the group’s discussion centered on recently passed state laws, including Senate Bill 23 and House Bill 450, which require municipalities to introduce zoning ordinances and other policies that encourage affordable housing production.

Some committee members said they are confused about how the implementation of the new state regulations works, but the laws suggest there are other ways Georgetown could encourage affordable housing, instead of cottage housing communities.

Rohlfing, the committee chair, was aggressive in advocating that the group vote at the initial meeting to recommend town council repeal the cottage housing ordinance.

Briggs, who campaigned for town council in part on dissatisfaction with the ordinance, said at the meeting he believes it was “was thrown down our throats.” He is likely in favor of repealing the ordinance, but said the committee should come up with ideas of alternative affordable housing measures.

Neal, however, appeared to be less certain about his position on the ordinance.

“I thought the purpose of this commission was to come up with some kind of solution not just to repeal,” he said.

The committee members ultimately did not take a vote on Rolfing’s motion to recommend the council strike down the ordinance, as they were confused whether it would be a conflict of interest for Briggs and Neal to vote when they are also members of the town council.

Dvornick, the town manager, told Spotlight Delaware he has since clarified with the town solicitor that the council members would be able to vote on the committee’s motion.

All five members of the town council, including Briggs, Neal, Townsend, Penuel Barrett and Christina Diaz-Malone did not respond to Spotlight Delaware’s request for comment about their thoughts on repealing the ordinance.

Maggie Reynolds is a Report for America corps member and Spotlight Delaware reporter who covers rural communities in Delaware. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://spotlightdelaware.org/support/.

Tagged: Angie Townsend, George Meringolo, Georgetown Town Council, Little Living, Make Georgetown Great Again, Pallet Village, Springboard Delaware, Story: Georgetown cottage committee, Sussex County, tiny homes

ChristianaCare buys Georgetown property for $6.75M

GEORGETOWN — ChristianaCare has purchased a $6.75 million three-parcel site for its planned $65 million Georgetown health campus at 20769 DuPont Blvd., according to Sussex County property records.Christiana Care Health System Inc. purchased the property at 20769 DuPont Blvd. on Aug. 13 from Rojan GT 724 LLC; that owner had previously purchased the property in October 2024 for $3.48 million.“ChristianaCare recently completed the purchase of the property for our proposed Georgetown Campus, marking another important mi...

GEORGETOWN — ChristianaCare has purchased a $6.75 million three-parcel site for its planned $65 million Georgetown health campus at 20769 DuPont Blvd., according to Sussex County property records.

Christiana Care Health System Inc. purchased the property at 20769 DuPont Blvd. on Aug. 13 from Rojan GT 724 LLC; that owner had previously purchased the property in October 2024 for $3.48 million.

“ChristianaCare recently completed the purchase of the property for our proposed Georgetown Campus, marking another important milestone in the project,” Pauline Corso, president of Ambulatory Network Continuity and Growth at ChristianaCare, told the Delaware Business Times in a prepared statement.

“The campus is designed to expand access to care in Sussex County by combining a comprehensive health center with a neighborhood hospital, bringing a wide range of services closer to where people live,” she added. “The project remains subject to the required regulatory and local approvals.”

As previously reported by DBT, ChristianaCare announced plans in February to build a 42,000-square-foot campus on the Route 13 property at an estimated cost of $65.1 million. The health system expected the campus to open in late 2028, but a regulatory wrinkle may challenge those plans.

The project would include a comprehensive health center offering primary, specialty, behavioral health and other outpatient services alongside a smaller-scale neighborhood hospital. Plans call for eight emergency department beds and eight inpatient beds.

ChristianaCare is partnering with Emerus on the neighborhood hospital portion of the project. Emerus specializes in the model and operates or partners in more than 45 acute-care facilities nationwide. ChristianaCare has already worked with the company on similar facilities outside of Delaware, including its West Grove campus in southern Chester County.

The Georgetown campus is part of ChristianaCare’s previously announced $865 million investment in Delaware over three years which includes projects throughout the state. The health system has also proposed a similar neighborhood hospital and health center in Camden as it expands its footprint farther into central and southern Delaware.

The newly acquired Georgetown property is also moving through Delaware’s Brownfield program.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is negotiating a Brownfields Development Agreement with ChristianaCare covering the three parcels, according to the department. The state said the site may have experienced a release of hazardous substances as a result of historical activities there.

A Brownfields Development Agreement establishes the scope and schedule for any remediation required as a property is redeveloped. DNREC’s public comment period on the agreement is scheduled to close Aug. 31.

As reported by Spotlight Delaware, the proposal also faces questions in the state regulatory process as Bayhealth recently asked the Delaware Health Resources Board to delay consideration of ChristianaCare’s proposed Georgetown and Camden neighborhood hospitals. The letter asked the board to examine questions surrounding the projects’ ownership and governance structure with for-profit partner Emerus, including whether the arrangement complies with Senate Bill 313.

Signed into law by Gov. Matt Meyer in July, Senate Bill 313 established a two-year moratorium on certain acquisitions of nonprofit acute-care hospitals by for-profit entities and expanded state oversight of transactions involving nonprofit hospitals and their real estate.

Georgetown artist wins Delaware Trout Stamp competition for sixth time

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Georgetown artist George Bradford has won Delaware’s trout stamp art competition for the sixth time, while Connecticut artist Jonathan Milo took first place in the state’s annual waterfowl stamp contest.Bradford’s painting of a rainbow trout will appear on the 2027 Delaware Trout Stamp. Milo’s painting featuring a goldeneye duck will be featured on the 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp.“The artistic talent exhibited today made both stamp contests extremely competi...

GEORGETOWN, Del. - Georgetown artist George Bradford has won Delaware’s trout stamp art competition for the sixth time, while Connecticut artist Jonathan Milo took first place in the state’s annual waterfowl stamp contest.

Bradford’s painting of a rainbow trout will appear on the 2027 Delaware Trout Stamp. Milo’s painting featuring a goldeneye duck will be featured on the 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp.

“The artistic talent exhibited today made both stamp contests extremely competitive,” DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Pat Emory said. “The breadth of experience and perspectives in the artwork DNREC receives for the contests is always impressive, whether they’re coming from a federal duck stamp winner or an artist entering their first state competition. Which is to say we encourage artists of all skill levels whose work reflects these sporting and wildlife interests to keep ‘em coming.”

Bradford first entered Delaware’s trout and waterfowl stamp contests in 1993. He has earned recognition seven times in the trout competition and narrowly missed first place during each of the past two years.

This year’s victory marks Bradford’s sixth Delaware trout stamp competition win, 27 years after he earned his first blue ribbon. Bradford has also placed in the waterfowl competition, including a second-place finish in 2021.

As the 2027 trout stamp winner, Bradford receives a $250 cash prize and retains the rights to reproduce and sell prints of his artwork.

Milo, of Monroe, Connecticut, will receive a $2,500 cash prize and 150 artist’s proofs from the limited-edition print series featuring his winning waterfowl entry. A longtime professional illustrator and artist, Milo specializes in wildlife and outdoor sporting art, particularly fish and fishing subjects. His work has appeared in Outdoor Life, Sporting Classics, Gray’s Sporting Journal and American Angler magazine.

The competitions drew 13 entries for the 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp and eight for the 2027 Delaware Trout Stamp. Waterfowl entries were required to feature a goldeneye duck in the Delaware Bay, while trout artists could depict a rainbow, brook or brown trout.

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Ryan Kniss of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, finished second in the waterfowl competition, followed by Caleb Metrich of Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Honorable mentions went to Richard Clifton of Milford, Delaware; Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana; and Matthew Higgins of Kersey, Pennsylvania.

Christopher White of Port Deposit, Maryland, placed second in the trout competition, while Trevor Dumaw of Colorado Springs, Colorado, finished third. Honorable mentions went to Klinefelter, White and JB Basham of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Five judges separately evaluated and scored entries in each competition in person. The waterfowl judges were Elio Battista of the Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish; DNREC biologist Jessica Paoletti; Delaware waterfowler and stamp collector Drew Clendaniel; Delaware artist Heather Swyka; and Keith Windsor, state chair of the Ducks Unlimited Delaware chapter.

Trout stamp judges were White Clay Fly Fishers Club members Ed O’Connell and Sam Palermo; State Advisory Council on Wildlife and Freshwater Fish member Garry Grier; retired Delaware State University art professor Roberta Tucci; and DNREC Fisheries Section environmental scientist Steven Luell.

The 2027 Delaware Trout Stamp is scheduled to go on sale Jan. 1, 2027. The 2027-28 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp is expected to become available July 1, 2027.

Delaware’s Waterfowl Stamp and print program began in 1980 through a partnership between the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited. The program has raised more than $4.2 million for waterfowl conservation, including the acquisition and improvement of wetland habitats used by migratory waterfowl.

DNREC said the First State has required trout stamps for anglers since the 1950s. Money generated through trout stamp sales helps purchase trout that are stocked in selected streams in northern New Castle County and two ponds downstate.

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