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Milford Educator Shae Parks Earns National Award for Championing Civics Education

Staff Writer September 24, 2025Education, Headlines

Milford High School educator Shae Parks inspires students through innovative civics education, hands-on government lessons, and community leadership programs MILFORD – At a time when understanding democracy is critical to the health of the nation, Milford Senior High School is earning national attention for its commitment to civics education. Leading that effort is educator Shae Parks, a seventh-year teacher whose …

Founder of Milford Wellness Village honored on National Rural Health Care Day by State and Community Leaders
Milford Wellness Village founder Meir Gelley named 2025 Community Star MILFORD, Del. — Mr. Meir Gelley, founder and owner of Milford Wellness Village, was honored Thursday morning with the 2025 Community Star award for his leadership in expanding services for older adults and improving access to care in rural Kent and Sussex counties. Gelley was recognized during a National Rural Health Day event at Milford Wellness Village from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Conference Center lobby at 200 Kings Highway in Milford. The celebration is being held by the Delaware Rural Health Initiative in partnership with members of the Governor’s Health Cabinet and local officials. Speakers included Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Christen Linke Young, Office of Public Health Nursing Director Kyle Phillips, Milford Mayor F. Todd Culotta, and Bayhealth President and CEO Terry Murphy. Gelley is expected to address the delegation and share his vision for the Milford Wellness Village. The honor comes as southern Delaware continues to wrestle with deep-rooted healthcare challenges. Sussex County is one of the fastest-growing and oldest counties in the state, with more than a quarter of residents age 65 and older. Health assessments show higher-than-average rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, as well as persistent shortages of primary care, behavioral health, and specialty providers, particularly in rural communities. Limited public transportation, long travel distances to hospitals and clinics, and pockets of poverty and food insecurity create what advocates describe as “care deserts” for seniors, farmworkers, and low-income families. These gaps have prompted Governor Matt Meyers to launch a $1 billion rural health infrastructure plan to strengthen facilities and expand services in Kent and Sussex counties. Christen Linke Young, Cabinet Secretary for the Delaware Health and Human Services reported that Delaware ranks last for access to primary care services, especially in Sussex County. Against that backdrop, Betsy Wheeler, Executive Director of the Delaware Rural Health Care Initiative, recognized that Meir Gelley and this team have taken action that has made Milford Wellness Village a model for how rural communities. Built on the former Milford Memorial Hospital site, the 264,000-square-foot campus at 21 W. Clarke Avenue now houses more than 25 healthcare and social service providers. The site is anchored by Polaris Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, a 150-bed skilled nursing facility offering post-acute care and therapies. Rather than simply replacing the hospital with a single nursing home, Gelley led the effort to create a multi-use wellness campus that brings together primary care, rehabilitation, behavioral health, adult and child day programs, pharmacy services, transportation, and social supports under one roof. The site has created over 750 jobs and provides services to 200 patients living at one of the providers every day. Gelley, CEO of Nationwide Healthcare Services, has described the approach as breaking down barriers between providers and patients. “This facility has walls, but imagine that it has no walls,” he has said. “Following a patient after they leave the home is what we found to be successful.” For seniors, the campus offers a practical path to aging in place by coordinating medical care, rehab, pharmacy and social programs in one location. Adult day services, transportation and the WeCare support program help families who are juggling work while caring for aging loved ones. The Village is also home to innovative programs such as PACE Your Life, launched in 2022 to help seniors remain in their homes while receiving comprehensive medical and social services. Mayor F. Todd Culotta points to the project’s economic impact as another reason for Gelley’s recognition. Transforming the former hospital into a wellness village preserved a key community asset, created more than 220 jobs, and continues to attract providers, nonprofits, and businesses to Milford’s downtown corridor. Culotta believes that Milford will soon become the Heart of Health Care in Sussex and Kent Counties. He concluded by saying, “It’s our industry now!” For Kent and Sussex counties, where hospitals and clinics are clustered in a few areas and rural residents often travel long distances for care, the Village offers what advocates call a “one-stop” hub. Seniors can see a primary care provider, attend rehab, pick up medications, participate in day programs, and connect with social services in a single trip. Executive Director Lon Kieffer says that an integrated, walkable campus is especially important in a county where there is roughly one primary care provider for every 2,000 residents, behavioral health services are limited, and families often rely on nonprofits and churches to close gaps in transportation, food, and basic needs. By pairing healthcare with education and workforce development programs, Milford Wellness Village is also helping train the next generation of nurses, therapists and support staff to serve in rural Delaware—an important step in addressing long-term workforce shortages. The 2025 Community Star award recognizes those efforts and Gelley’s role in turning a vacant hospital into what many now see as a lifeline for seniors and families in lower Delaware. The National Rural Health Day event is open to guests and community partners. Organizers say it is intended not only to honor Gelley but also to spotlight the continuing needs of rural residents and the role community-based hubs like Milford Wellness Village can play in closing care gaps.
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New Concept in Primary Care Expanding with Innovative Care Model: Village Primary Care is actively accepting families and seniors
Village Primary Care offers a patient-centered model designed for both busy families and aging adults who need more than a rushed appointment and a referral slip. MILFORD, Del. — As many Delaware families and seniors struggle to find a primary care provider, Village Primary Care at Milford Wellness Village is emerging as a growing option built around time, trust, and coordinated support — and it is actively welcoming new patients. Located at 21 W. Clarke Ave. on the Milford Wellness Village campus, Village Primary Care offers a patient-centered model designed for both busy families and aging adults who need more than a rushed appointment and a referral slip. The practice provides in-person and telehealth visits, a 24/7 emergency phone line, and convenient online scheduling, with an emphasis on continuity so patients regularly see the same provider. At the center of that approach is Executive Director and lead family nurse practitioner Kaitlin Fielder, APRN-FNP-C, who helped shape Village Primary Care around a simple standard: Care people the way you would care for your own family. “We built Village Primary Care to care for people the way we would want to be treated,” Fielder said. “Our focus is not how many patients we can see in an hour, but whether each person gets the right care, the time they deserve, and a plan that truly fits their life.” New patients typically receive 45 to 60 minutes for their first visit, allowing providers to review medical histories, medications, lifestyle factors, and family concerns in depth. “That investment up front”, Fielder said, “helps enable better diagnoses later and supports more effective long-term care.” Village Primary Care now cares for hundreds of families, offering wellness visits, chronic disease management, vaccinations, cancer screenings, Pap smears, minor procedures, and ongoing support for conditions common among seniors and multigenerational households. The practice accepts major insurance plans, including Medicare and widely used commercial carriers, making it an accessible option for residents across Kent and Sussex counties. To expand access while preserving its small-practice feel, Village Primary Care has added Nurse Practitioner, Juanquetta Howell, who brings experience serving patients in the Milford area. Howell’s local ties and primary care background help the practice offer more appointment availability while maintaining its relationship-based model. A Campus Built on Collaboration “What sets Village Primary Care apart,” Fielder said,” is that it does not operate in isolation.” As part of the Milford Wellness Village — a growing health and social services campus on the former Milford Memorial Hospital site — the practice is embedded in a network of providers that offer coordinated, wraparound support. Patients can conclude their appointment and walk around the corner of the hallway to Genoa Healthcare, the on-site pharmacy, to fill their prescription or receive vaccinations. If a patient needs more frequent care, Village Primary Care can engage “We Care” for ongoing check-ins, wellness support, and help managing chronic conditions or recovery needs. Fielder and Howell can help other seniors by introducing them to PACE Your Life, an All-Inclusive Daycare Program for Seniors, which further supports patients living in-home, providing comprehensive care designed to help seniors remain safely in their communities and enjoy their daylight hours at the Village. In addition to these partners, Village Primary Care works closely with other Milford Wellness Village providers, including rehabilitation, therapy, and social service organizations, to align care plans and remove barriers that often slow or derail treatment. “This is where the Village concept becomes real for our patients,” Fielder said. “If someone needs help managing medications, memory support, day services or rehab, we’re not just handing them a brochure. We can walk them next door to Genoa, refer them to We Care, or connect them with PACE Your Life and other partners who become part of their care team.” That warm handoff approach is especially critical for older adults, caregivers, and patients with complex medical and social needs, who are at higher risk of falling through the cracks between providers. “For an older adult living alone, or a family caring for both children and parents, having connected services in one place can be the difference between staying ahead of a problem and ending up in crisis,” Fielder said. A growing option for Milford-area families and seniors With Fielder’s leadership, Howell’s addition to the provider team and strong collaboration with partners such as We Care, Genoa Healthcare and PACE Your Life, Village Primary Care is positioning itself as a long-term primary care home for families and seniors who want consistent providers, longer visits and coordinated services close to home. “Families and seniors are looking for primary care that actually knows them,” Fielder said. “That’s what we’re building here in Milford — a place where patients aren’t just on a schedule, they’re part of our community.” Village Primary Care is currently accepting new patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 302-467-3200 or visit the 24/7 online booking portal.
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WeCare: The Heart of Milford’s Wellness Village Helping Seniors Navigate Health and Embrace Hope
Located inside the Milford Wellness Village, WeCare’s mission is simple: helping people. MILFORD — In a world where healthcare often feels complicated, rushed, and impersonal, WeCare stands as a calm, compassionate voice for Delaware’s seniors. Located inside the Milford Wellness Village, WeCare’s mission is simple yet transformative: helping people—especially older adults and those living with chronic conditions—navigate the maze of modern healthcare and live better, healthier lives. “WeCare builds and establishes a trusting relationship with our members that enables our Personal Health Nurses to connect them with the life-sustaining resources they need,” said Lori Smith, the program’s new Executive Director. “Many of our seniors don’t have the internet or computer skills to find help online. That’s where we step in—one phone call, one conversation, one caring connection at a time.” The Personal Health Nurse: A Lifeline for Seniors Each WeCare member is paired with a Personal Health Nurse who makes a Weekly Wellness Call—a simple yet powerful act that has changed countless lives. The call is not just about checking boxes; it’s about listening, guiding, and ensuring that no senior feels forgotten. “During the call we might ask, ‘Do you have your medications?’ or ‘Do you have groceries?’” Smith explained. “It’s not just clinical—it’s personal. We remind and encourage our members to make and keep their doctor appointments so they can stay in their homes, near their loved ones, and out of the hospital.” This one-to-one relationship model is what makes WeCare unique within the Milford Wellness Village. It bridges the gap between medical care and real life—ensuring that seniors don’t fall through the cracks once they leave the hospital, rehab center, or doctor’s office. The Heart of the Wellness Village What truly sets WeCare apart is how it connects seniors to the many other providers inside the Milford Wellness Village—a network of more than 20 organizations focused on community-based, integrated health. Through WeCare’s coordination, a senior might discover adult day care services through PACE Your LIFE, find help from Genoa Pharmacy to bundle medications into daily packages, or learn from Easterseals how to install assistive devices at home to avoid falls. “WeCare is often the link that helps people find the right help at the right time,” said Smith. “Sometimes our members don’t even know what’s available to them until we connect the dots. That’s why we say WeCare really is the heart of the Milford Wellness Village.” That vision aligns perfectly with the city’s broader goal for Milford’s future. Mayor Todd Culotta said he continues to champion the idea of Milford becoming “the capital of health care in Sussex County,” and sees Wellness Village and WeCare as a driving force behind that vision. “Milford has become a regional hub for innovative and compassionate care,” Culotta said. “Programs like WeCare are at the center of that progress. Their team’s compassion, outreach, and personal connection to seniors are exactly what makes our city’s wellness model so special. WeCare doesn’t just deliver services—they deliver hope.” Located at 21 W. Clarke Avenue, the Milford Wellness Village brings together healthcare, housing, and social services under one roof—making it easier for residents to access support without traveling far or navigating multiple systems. WeCare serves as the connector that keeps it all working in harmony. Joan’s Story: Compassion That Makes a Difference For Joan, who lives in Felton, WeCare has been more than a program—it’s been a lifeline. She’s been working with WeCare for about a year and looks forward to her weekly calls. “They call me every week,” Joan said. “I can ask questions, and they always give me answers that help. They helped me get a handrail in my brother’s bathroom and a chair in the shower so he could be safer. The people who call are beautiful people who make me feel like there’s no problem that can’t be solved. All you need to do is ask!” Joan’s story reflects what many participants say about WeCare: that beyond resources and referrals, what they receive most is reassurance—the feeling that someone truly cares. Filling the Gaps in the System The need for programs like WeCare has never been greater. Delaware’s senior population is growing faster than the national average—nearly one in five residents is already over 65, and that number is expected to double by 2040. Milford, with its mix of affordability and access to care, has become a magnet for retirees. Yet, with that growth comes new challenges: chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s are rising, and caregivers are stretched thin. As Smith put it, “When an elderly person leaves the hospital or rehab, they often find themselves completely on their own. The system is designed to care for them when they’re inside the walls of healthcare—but what happens when they go home? That’s why WeCare exists.” WeCare’s team steps in during those critical transition moments—before, during, and after a patient’s interaction with the healthcare system. By staying connected, they help clients manage medications, prevent hospital readmissions, and maintain independence. Education, Empowerment, and Access Beyond one-on-one support, WeCare offers free programs on chronic disease management, healthy living, and caregiver self-care. Classes are available both in person and online—and for those without technology access, WeCare can provide laptops, Wi-Fi, and technical assistance. These services are funded by grants from the Administration for Community Living and partnerships with organizations such as Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, making them free to participants. From managing fatigue and frustration to learning about nutrition, safe exercise, and medication management, WeCare empowers individuals to take charge of their own health. “Our goal is to give people the tools to live fully,” Smith said. “It’s not just about adding years to life—it’s about adding life to those years.” A Future Built on Caring Smith, a longtime registered nurse, says her new role as Executive Director is “the most rewarding and fulfilling position I’ve ever held.” “When you have a WeCare member thank you for a resource or tell you how much they appreciate the weekly call—or […]
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