Seniors & Aging

A Delaware platform for dignity, independence, affordability, and protection

Delaware seniors helped build our communities, raise our families, serve our country, and strengthen our state. They deserve to age with dignity, independence, safety, and financial security. For too many seniors, however, rising property taxes, prescription costs, long-term care expenses, transportation barriers, and the threat of elder fraud make retirement harder than it should be.

The Independent Party of Delaware believes seniors should be able to remain in their homes and communities whenever possible, access affordable care, and live without fear of being priced out, neglected, or exploited. Our goal is simple: help Delaware seniors stay independent, protect fixed-income
households, strengthen care options, and make sure older Delawareans are treated with respect.

Aging in Place

Most seniors want to remain in their own homes, close to family, neighbors, churches, doctors, and the communities they know. Delaware should make aging in place a realistic option, not a privilege reserved only for those who can afford it. We support policies that expand access to home-based care, caregiver support, home safety modifications, meal delivery, and community-based services that allow seniors to live independently for as long as safely
possible. Helping seniors stay in their homes is often better for the individual, better for families, and more cost-effective than forcing people into institutional care before it is necessary. Delaware should also better support family caregivers, many of whom are balancing work, children, and caring for aging parents. These caregivers save the state enormous costs, but too often receive too little support, training, or relief.

Long-Term Care and Nursing Home Accountability

When seniors do need long-term care, they deserve safe, clean, well-staffed facilities that treat residents with dignity. Delaware must strengthen oversight of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and long-term care providers to ensure seniors are protected from neglect, abuse, and poor-quality care. We support stronger staffing accountability, better transparency for families, and faster action when facilities fail to meet basic standards. Families should not have to wonder whether their loved ones are safe. At the same time, Delaware must address the long-term care workforce shortage. Caregivers, aides, nurses, and direct support workers perform essential work, and the state must help build a stable workforce capable of meeting the needs of an aging population.

Property Tax Burden and Staying in the Home

No Delaware senior should be forced out of a home they worked their whole life to afford simply because the cost of staying there keeps rising. Property taxes, school taxes, utility bills, insurance, home repairs, and maintenance costs can place serious pressure on seniors living on fixed incomes. Delaware should protect seniors from sudden and unaffordable increases that make it harder to remain in their homes. We support targeted property tax relief for seniors, especially those on fixed or limited incomes, while ensuring local governments and schools can still provide essential services. Relief should be responsible, transparent, and focused on helping seniors stay secure without simply shifting unfair costs onto working families.

Prescription Drug Costs and Health Care Affordability

Prescription costs are one of the most common financial pressures facing seniors. Many older Delawareans are forced to choose between paying for medication, groceries, utilities, or other basic needs. That is unacceptable. Delaware should work to lower out-of-pocket prescription costs, improve transparency in drug pricing, and expand access to affordable medication options. Seniors should have clear information, fair prices, and support
navigating confusing health care and insurance systems. We also support better coordination between health care providers, pharmacies, insurers, and state programs so seniors are not left fighting bureaucracy while trying to manage serious health needs.

Transportation Access

For seniors who no longer drive, transportation can become a major barrier to independence. A lack of reliable transportation can mean missed doctor appointments, isolation, difficulty getting groceries, and reduced quality of life. Delaware should improve transportation options for seniors in all three counties, including rural communities where services are often limited. This includes better coordination of senior transportation programs, medical
transportation, community shuttles, volunteer driver programs, and partnerships with local organizations. Aging in place is only realistic if seniors can still access health care, food, social connection, and daily necessities.

Elder Fraud and Financial Protection

Seniors are increasingly targeted by scammers, fraudsters, identity thieves, and financial predators. These crimes can wipe out a lifetime of savings and leave seniors feeling ashamed, isolated, and vulnerable. Delaware must take elder fraud seriously. We support stronger prevention, faster reporting systems, better coordination between law enforcement and financial institutions, and tougher penalties for those who exploit seniors. The state should also expand public education efforts so seniors and families can recognize scams before damage is done. Protecting seniors from fraud is not just a law enforcement issue - it is a dignity and security issue.

Supporting Independence, Dignity, and Respect

Delaware aging population is growing, and state policy must prepare for that reality. Seniors should not be treated as an afterthought. They deserve a government that respects their contributions, listens to their needs, and protects their ability to live independently and safely. The Independent Party of Delaware supports a seniors and aging agenda focused on practical solutions: helping people stay in their homes, protecting fixed-income seniors from rising costs, improving long-term care, lowering prescription burdens, expanding transportation access, and cracking down on elder fraud.

Our seniors took care of Delaware. Delaware should take care of them.

Core Commitments:
• Make aging in place practical through home-based care, caregiver support, and community services.
• Strengthen long-term care quality, transparency, staffing accountability, and resident protection.
• Protect fixed-income seniors from being priced out of their homes by rising property-related costs.
• Reduce prescription cost pressure and simplify access to affordable medication options.
• Improve senior transportation access in cities, suburbs, and rural communities.
• Crack down on elder fraud, scams, financial exploitation, and abuse