History

Governor Bacon Health Center (GBHC) is located on the grounds of what was once a military base and an auxiliary gun battery for Fort Delaware (on Pea Patch Island) and Fort Mott (in New Jersey). The 320+ acre property was used for military purposes from the mid 1860's to the mid 1940's. Following World War II, the State of Delaware took over the land, which had been declared surplus property by the federal government.

From 1948 to 1984, GBHC was a treatment facility consisting of two units: an adolescent unit for children considered to be socially and emotionally disturbed and an adult unit which provided intermediate nursing care.  All admissions to the adult unit came from the Delaware Psychiatric Center (formerly Delaware State Hospital) for patients whose medical and nursing needs outweighed their psychiatric needs. In 1984, the adolescent unit was closed but the adult unit continued operation.

In 1987, GBHC was reassigned to the Division of Public Health (DPH) and then in 2011 to the Division for Aging and Adults with Disabilities (DSAAPD).  In 2016, the Fort DuPont Redevelopment and Restoration Corporation assumed responsibility for the property's land use.

Read more about GBHC's history in the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's background paper on the Historic Fort Dupont Complex Redevelopment Project.

Location

GBHC is located off Route 9 just south of Delaware City, Delaware and is bounded by the Fort DuPont State Park and the Chesapeake and Delaware Branch Canal. The mailing address is P.O. Box 559 Delaware City, DE 19706.

Facility Size

GBHC is an 82-bed facility.

Licenses/Certification

GBHC is licensed by the State of Delaware as an intermediate care facility (ICF).

Staffing

GBHC has a full range of staff to provide care to residents including registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), cooks, dietary aides, dietary managers, social workers, and therapy aides. In addition, the State employs staff to carry out security, housekeeping, and maintenance responsibilities, and contracts with providers for various needed medical services, including the services of doctors, rehabilitation therapists, and others.

Unique Features

GBHC specializes in serving persons with cognitive impairments and/or behavioral challenges who have no other options for their care. It has long been considered a top-rated nursing facility, consistently earning five stars from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Recent Survey Results

Visit the GBHC page on the Medicare Nursing Home Compare website for quality measures and results of the latest inspection.