New Castle County's Aging-in-Place Experts

The Oldest Housing Stock in Delaware — And Why It Matters

New Castle County holds nearly 60 percent of Delaware’s total population, making it the most densely populated county in the state. It is also home to the oldest housing stock. Neighborhoods across Wilmington, Elsmere, New Castle, and Newport are filled with colonials, Cape Cods, and rowhomes built between the 1920s and 1960s — decades before anyone considered accessibility in residential design. These homes have character, history, and deep roots for the families living in them. They also have 30-inch hallways, second-floor-only bathrooms, steep stairways with sharp turns, and bathtubs with high walls that become dangerous obstacles the moment mobility changes.

Accessible Solutions understands the construction patterns of New Castle County because we work in these homes every week. When we assess a 1940s Cape Cod in Trolley Square or a split-level in Pike Creek, we already know what we are going to find behind the walls, beneath the floors, and above the ceilings. That knowledge translates into accurate proposals, faster installations, and solutions that fit the home rather than fighting against it.

Wilmington’s Urban Accessibility Challenges

Wilmington is Delaware’s largest city, and its residential neighborhoods present a unique set of modification challenges. The Highlands, Forty Acres, Wawaset Park, and Trolley Square are beautiful, walkable neighborhoods — but the homes were designed for a different era. Front entries are often three to five steps above sidewalk grade. Interior stairways are the only route to bedrooms and full bathrooms. Doorways measure 28 to 30 inches, too narrow for standard wheelchairs or even some walkers.

For families in these neighborhoods, the alternative to home modification is often leaving a home they have lived in for 30 or 40 years. That is not a choice anyone should have to make.

We design ramp systems that work within the limited exterior footprint of city lots. We convert upstairs-only bathrooms into safe, accessible spaces with roll-in showers, fold-down shower seats, and reinforced grab bars. We install stairlifts on curved and narrow staircases that other companies turn away. And for families who need first-floor living, we build bedroom and bathroom additions that blend with the existing architecture.

Suburban Communities from Hockessin to Bear

Outside Wilmington, New Castle County’s suburbs stretch west through Hockessin and Greenville, south through Newark and Bear, and into Glasgow and Pike Creek. The housing stock shifts to mid-century ranches, bi-levels, and two-story colonials built during the postwar boom of the 1950s through 1980s.

These homes are generally easier to modify than Wilmington’s older urban stock, but they carry their own challenges. Bi-level and split-level homes — extremely common in developments around Bear and Glasgow — force residents to navigate half-flights of stairs just to reach the kitchen or living room. Ranch-style homes in Hockessin often have step-down family rooms or sunken living rooms that create fall hazards. And nearly every suburban bathroom from this era features a combination tub-shower that becomes a serious safety risk for anyone with balance or mobility limitations.

Our team addresses these challenges with solutions matched to each home style. Vertical platform lifts handle the half-level transitions in bi-levels. Tub-to-shower conversions eliminate the dangerous step-over in standard bathrooms. Grab bars installed at the right height and angle provide support exactly where it is needed — not where a generic installation guide suggests.

Minutes from Our Middletown Headquarters

Our main warehouse and headquarters sit at 37 South Main Street in Middletown, placing our crews within a 25- to 40-minute drive of virtually every address in New Castle County. This proximity is not just a convenience — it is the reason we can respond to urgent needs faster than any competitor in the region.

When Christiana Hospital or the Wilmington VA Medical Center discharges a patient who cannot safely enter their home without a ramp, timing matters. We keep modular aluminum ramp sections, grab bar kits, and bathroom safety equipment staged at our Middletown warehouse specifically so we can deploy within days rather than weeks. Rental ramps are available starting at $300 per month for families dealing with temporary recovery situations.

Delaware Medicaid Coverage for New Castle County Residents

Many families in New Castle County qualify for the Delaware DSHP+ waiver and do not realize it. This Medicaid program covers significant coverage for home accessibility modifications. That is enough to fund a full bathroom conversion, a modular ramp system, or an extensive grab bar installation throughout the home.

As a certified Delaware Medicaid provider, we handle the entire authorization process. We complete the paperwork, submit it to the managed care organization, coordinate the approval, complete the work, and bill Medicaid directly. Your family is never stuck navigating the bureaucracy alone.

Beyond Medicaid, New Castle County veterans — including those connected to the Wilmington VA Medical Center — may qualify for VA HISA grants that provide additional funding for service-connected accessibility needs. Medicare covers durable medical equipment such as hospital beds, wheelchairs, and power scooters. And for families paying out of pocket, we offer financing through CareCredit and other medical lending partners.

A Licensed Contractor Who Knows These Homes

The difference between an installer and a licensed contractor shows up the moment a project goes beyond bolting a product to a wall. When the subfloor beneath a Wilmington rowhome bathroom is rotted from decades of moisture, we replace it. When a load-bearing wall stands between a family and a first-floor bedroom conversion, we engineer around it. When a 1950s electrical panel in a Newark ranch cannot support a stairlift circuit, we upgrade it.

We hold a Delaware contractor’s license because this work demands it. Aging-in-place modifications are construction projects, and in a county where the average home is over 50 years old, every project carries the potential for structural surprises. Our crews are trained to handle them — not refer them out to another company while your family waits.

Ray Petkevis personally conducts every home assessment in New Castle County. He walks through your home with your family, identifies every barrier, and recommends exactly what is needed — nothing more, nothing less. There is no cost and no obligation for that visit. It is how every project starts, and it is why families across New Castle County trust us with their homes.