Home For Aged Women-Minquadale

Pros

• Gilpin Hall is a great place with amazing staff and care.
• The community at Gilpin Hall is wonderful, with staff who are kind and compassionate.
• The staff are very compassionate and friendly, and the activities meet residents' needs and preferences.
• Gilpin Hall is a first-class operation with a long history of top-notch nursing care.
• The 200th anniversary celebration was a wonderful milestone, featuring fantastic items, delicious food, and lively music.
• The environment is fun and clean, with warm, welcoming staff and attractive artwork inside.
• The facility is consistently clean and well maintained, with caring, attentive staff.
• Gilpin Hall is highly recommended for its caring staff, excellent care, and home-like atmosphere.
• The nurses and staff are polite, professional, and clearly enjoy their work, treating residents as family.

Cons

• They are changing day programs because there's nothing to do there, and the seniors are falling asleep.
• They criticized the facility for not addressing pandemic preparedness when Covid-19 began.
• Visits were limited and had to be scheduled ahead of time, which was viewed as a downside.

Review

Gilpin Hall stands out in the Wilmington, DE area as a place that families consistently praise for its welcoming, clean, and caring environment. Across multiple accounts, residents and relatives describe the facility as a wonderful, friendly community where the staff treat guests like family. The overall impression is one of warmth, respect, and a genuine commitment to providing a positive experience for both residents and their loved ones. Many reviews highlight not only the quality of care but also the atmosphere that makes Gilpin Hall feel like a true home rather than just a care facility.

A central thread throughout the feedback is the extraordinary kindness and attentiveness of the staff. Phrases like "amazing staff and care," "the staff is very compassionate and friendly," and "the staff are caring and comforting" recur frequently. Reviewers note that the nurses and caregivers are not only professional and polite but also take the time to get to know each resident personally. One reviewer even described feeling as though "an angel was sitting on my shoulder" when they found Gilpin Hall, underscoring the deep sense of trust and emotional support that staff can provide to families during challenging times.

Cleanliness and the physical environment are consistently praised. Several comments describe Gilpin Hall as cleaner and better maintained than other facilities they have visited, with remarks about spotless floors, a lack of odors, and maintenance that keeps the building looking fresh and inviting. Art work inside the building and generally well-maintained common areas contribute to a sense of pride and care. In particular, reviewers emphasize cleanliness as a defining strength, suggesting that families can have peace of mind about the daily conditions their loved ones will experience.

The facility's approach to care during challenging times is also noted positively. A standout example involves a relative admitted in December 2019, with the family praising regular, transparent communication during the Covid-19 pandemic. They received routine updates via email about case counts and visitation policies, and staff routinely followed up with calls regarding weight, health changes, and treatment plans. Activities staff coordinated Facetime visits to maintain connection when in-person visits were restricted. The family highlights the thoughtful and compassionate responses of staff such as Christine and the broader team, and points to Gilpin Hall as one of the few long-term care facilities in Delaware to report zero Covid-19 deaths according to data sources they monitored. This combination of proactive communication and careful safety practices left a lasting impression of reliability and care.

For residents with dementia and other complex needs, Gilpin Hall is viewed as a superior option when compared with other facilities the reviewers have experienced. Families describe the care as thorough across nursing, activities, meals, and support staff. The staff are praised for taking the time to know each resident well, which contributes to a sense of security and personalized attention. In these testimonials, the quality of care is measured not only by clinical outcomes but by daily interactions, meaningful engagement, and the respect shown to residents and families alike.

Many reviews emphasize how the facility feels like home. The staff's warmth and the sense that "you feel at home, and like family, not just another customer" come through strongly. Several accounts describe the environment as welcoming and comforting, with caregivers who appear genuinely happy to be at work and dedicated to creating a positive, family-like experience for residents. The sentiment that "money is not everything, it's the care you want for the family when you're not there" encapsulates a common theme: the value placed on compassionate, patient-centered care over mere transactional service.

There are also moments of gratitude for the broader community and the way Gilpin Hall engages with families and events. One particularly meaningful instance involved Gilpin Hall's 200th anniversary celebration, where FrontStream's fundraising software facilitated a team's participation in a special milestone event. Attendees described the celebration as featuring excellent items, delicious food, and lively music, with generous raffle items and a sense of camaraderie. The reviewer expressed appreciation for being included in the celebration and looked forward to participating in future events, underscoring Gilpin Hall's role as an active, engaged community hub during milestone moments.

As with any long-term care setting, not every note is flawless. One reviewer offered a candid critique: they are considering changing day programs because there isn't enough to do, and they observed that some residents seem to be falling asleep. This tempered feedback acknowledges that while the care quality and environment are highly regarded, there is room for improvement in activity programming and engagement during daytime hours. It serves as a constructive counterpoint to the overwhelmingly positive sentiment and suggests an area where Gilpin Hall could further enhance resident experience.

In sum, the collection of reviews paints a portrait of Gilpin Hall as a long-standing, first-class operation in Delaware, praised for its spotless facilities, compassionate and professional staff, and a family-like atmosphere that puts residents first. Families repeatedly express deep appreciation for the care team's dedication, the open and proactive communication, and the sense of home they feel when their loved ones are in Gilpin Hall's care. While some reviewers note opportunities to expand daytime activities to keep residents more engaged, the prevailing view is one of trust, respect, and genuine dedication to providing excellent nursing and supportive living for seniors. For families seeking a place that combines high standards of care with a welcoming, homelike environment, Gilpin Hall emerges as a strong and highly recommended option.

This part of Wilmington, Delaware offers a convenient and accessible location with a variety of amenities within close proximity. There are several pharmacies, physicians, and hospitals nearby, providing easy access to healthcare services. The area also boasts a number of parks where one can enjoy outdoor activities and relaxation. In terms of dining options, there are several restaurants and cafes to choose from for meals out or casual gatherings. Transportation is readily available with a nearby railroad station for easy travel. Additionally, there are theaters for entertainment and cultural experiences. Overall, this neighborhood provides a mix of convenience, comfort, and leisure opportunities for seniors looking to settle down in a well-connected community.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.1 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Physicians

• Bellevue Heart Group - Hamid Deliri M.D. (0.1 miles)
• Eye Doctors (0.5 miles)
• Medical Examiner Office (1 miles)
• Richard J. Schmidt, MD (1.8 miles)
• AI Dupont Outpatient Cardiac Center (1.8 miles)
• Gene Lee (2.3 miles)
• Gregory Papa (3.3 miles)

Parks

• Brandywine Park (0.2 miles)
• Alapocas Woods Park (1.5 miles)
• Shipley Heights Park (2.8 miles)
• Talley Day Park (2.8 miles)
• Brandywine Creek State Park (3.4 miles)
• Wilmington Manor Gardens Park (5.8 miles)

Hospitals

• St Francis Hospital (0.7 miles)
• Wilmington VA Medical Center (2.9 miles)
• Delaware Psychiatric Center (3.8 miles)
• Limestone Medical Center (5.7 miles)
• Kanchana Thirumaleshwar Dr Mid Atlantic Endoscopy Center Newark (6.9 miles)
• ChristianaCare Christiana Hospital Emergency Department (7.5 miles)

Transportation

• Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station (WIL) (1.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Del Pez Mexican Gastropub (1.3 miles)
• Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (1.4 miles)
• Big Fish Grill (1.5 miles)
• Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant (2.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2.9 miles)
• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• Taco Bell (3.7 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Border Cafe (6.6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)
• Starbucks (7.6 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Brandywine Town Center (5.6 miles)
• Cinemark Christiana and XD (7.1 miles)