The 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Delaware

Updated as of August 01, 2023

A list of the ten worst skilled nursing homes in Delaware. Based on the Weighted Health Inspection Score developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Click here to see the best skilled nursing facilities in Delaware.

Compare the Worst Nursing Homes in Delaware

Every year, thousands of seniors, their families, and friends are faced with the difficult decision of choosing a skilled nursing facility, either because someone is recuperating after a hospital visit or for end-of-life care. This is usually an issue that arises suddenly, and the decision makers are not equipped with the right knowledge and information to make a good decision. Not knowing how to decide, they turn to others for recommendations. Word of mouth, along with geography, are constantly cited as the most important factors in choosing a skilled nursing facility. Choosing a facility with such limited information can lead to significant problems. Not all skilled nursing facilities are the same and the people that you trust to recommend a facility may not know enough about the facility and the alternatives to be a competent guide.

Providing the type of care that residents of skilled nursing facilities require is very difficult. The range of issues that are being treated is vast and the needs cover both people recuperating and recovering as well as those facing end-of-life issues. Residents require significant help with basic daily activities as well as supplemental needs like oxygen and 24/7 monitoring.

To help people who are facing this difficult situation, we have compiled a list of the worst Delaware skilled nursing facilities and the the best skilled nursing facilities. (We have also compiled the best and worst nursing homes by city for most cities in the United States, links are shown at the bottom on this page.) The lists are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (“CMS”) and include information gathered from detailed annual inspections, monthly reporting, complaint histories, deficiency reports and much more.

The list below calls out the worst skilled nursing facilities in Delaware. For the most part these facilities should be avoided. All the facilities have issues with cleanliness and safety and a large number of the facilities have been flagged by CMS as locations where abuse has either occurred or is highly likely.

Avoiding these facilities may not always be an option either because of geographic, monetary, or occupancy constraints. However, being in a bad nursing home does not mean that the resident will not improve. If you have a loved one in one of these facilities, we encourage you to visit often and to ask that friends and other family visit too. It is well documented that positive outcomes for skilled nursing residents is highly correlated with the number and diversity of people visiting the resident. Being there, getting to know the staff, showing the staff that the resident has people that care about him or her is critical. There may not always be a better option, but your direct involvement can make a difference.

Nursing Home Rating
Regal Heights Healthcare and Rehab Center
6525 LANCASTER PIKE
HOCKESSIN, DE
255.67
Regency Healthcare and Rehab Center
801 N. BROOM STREET
WILMINGTON, DE
173.33
Rating Not Available
Kentmere Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
1900 LOVERING AVENUE
WILMINGTON, DE
166.17
Milford Center
700 MARVEL ROAD
MILFORD, DE
160.83
Seaford Center
1100 NORMAN ESKRIDGE HIGHWAY
SEAFORD, DE
146.83
Cadia Rehabilitation Pike Creek
3540 THREE LITTLE BAKERS BLVD
WILMINGTON, DE
126.17
Atlantic Shores Rehabilitation and Health Center
231 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET
MILLSBORO, DE
114.67
Pinnacle Rehabilitation and Health Center
3034 SOUTH DUPONT BLVD
SMYRNA, DE
102.17
Complete Care at Silver Lake LLC
1080 SILVER LAKE BLVD
DOVER, DE
101.33
Promedica Skilled Nursing and Rehab - Pike Creek
5651 LIMESTONE ROAD
WILMINGTON, DE
100.67

Nursing Homes with the warning icon () have been flagged by CMS for abuse.

How We Compile Nursing Home Ratings in Delaware

Every month, we rank all of the skilled nursing facilities in Delaware. These rankings are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid measures ("CMS"), including the CMS 5-Star Rating System and the Health Inspection Scores. The list of the Worst Skilled Nursing Facilities in Delaware is based on the weighted overall health inspection score which is a composite of CMS's three most recent skilled nursing home inspection scores weighted to give the most recent inspection more importance.

The CMS 5-Star Rating System rates skilled nursing facilities from one to five stars, with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest. The rating system also rates Delaware nursing homes across five different dimensions including overall rating, health inspection rating, quality measures rating, overall staffing rating, and RN staffing rating (RN is an acronym for Registered Nurse).

In addition to the 5-Star Rating System, CMS provides numerical metrics that summarize:

  • Health Inspection Domain. The health inspection rating is based on the three most recent standard surveys for each nursing home, results from any complaint investigations during the most recent three-year period, and any repeat revisits needed to verify that required corrections have brought the facility back into compliance. CMS calculates a weighted deficiency score based on points assigned to health deficiencies identified in each active provider’s current health inspection survey and the two prior surveys (including revisits), as well as deficiency findings from the most recent three years of complaint investigations. More recent surveys are weighted more heavily than older surveys: the most recent period (cycle 1) is assigned a weighting factor of 1/2, the previous period (cycle 2) has a weighting factor of 1/3, and the second prior survey (cycle 3) has a weighting factor of 1/6. The weighted time period scores are then summed to create the survey score for each facility.
  • Staffing Domain. Using multiple reporting methods, CMS calculates the amount of time that the nursing staff spends with residents. This is measured across multiple dimensions, one each for three different levels of nursing, including Registered Nurses (“RNs”), Licensed Practical Nurses (“LPNs”), and Certified Nursing Assistants (“CNAs”), plus one metric that totals all contributions. These metrics are expressed in hours per resident per day. CMS also provides state-level and national averages for the metrics to allow for additional comparisons.
  • Quality Measures Domain. A set of quality measures (QMs) has been developed from MDS-based indicators to describe the quality of care provided in nursing homes. These measures address a broad range of functioning and health status in multiple care areas. The facility rating for the QM domain is based on performance on a subset of 11 (out of 18) of the QMs. Ratings for the QM domain are calculated using the three most recent quarters for which data are available. This time period specification was selected to increase the number of assessments available for calculating the QM rating, increasing the stability of estimates and reducing the number of facilities that do not have enough data to report QM ratings.
  • Abuse Flag. Abuse is always a concern in skilled nursing facilities. To highlight the issue, CMS has extracted this feature as its own flag. Facilities with an actual abuse event or where the potential for abuse has been shown for the past two years are flagged. The Health Inspection Score is capped at 2-stars for nursing homes that have been flagged for abuse.

Skilled nursing facilities that are new and do not have at least two surveys completed are not rated by CMS. These facilities may have health inspection scores that can be used to evaluate the facility.

One complication in Delaware nursing home inspections is the COVID-19 pandemic. Although inspections should be performed every 12 months, COVID has decreased this frequency. While CMS admits that only in “rare cases” do these inspections increase to 15 months, our analysis suggests that this time frame may be even longer. This report shows that the time between inspections is now just under 500 days (more than sixteen months). There are now hundreds of skilled nursing homes in the United States that have not been inspected in more than 24 months. This list shows the skilled nursing homes with the longest period since being inspected. According to the CMS data, these homes have not been inspected since 2018!

Skilled Nursing Home Abuse in Delaware

Abuse is always going to be an issue with skilled nursing facilities. Skilled nursing facility residents need help with so many basic things and they are suffering, confused, and frustrated. If you are the friend or relative of a nursing home resident, we guarantee that you will be constantly fretting about whether your loved one is receiving proper and timely care. Abuse feels like a violation of your trust, but it happens. CMS actively monitors nursing homes not just for actual abuse but also for indicators that suggest that abuse might be occurring. Homes where abuse has either occurred or might be occurring are flagged. A very high percentage of the worst skilled nursing facilities in Delaware have been flagged for abuse. We have marked these facilities both on the list of the worst skilled nursing facilities and on the detailed page for each of the facilities.

Skilled Nursing Homes in Delaware Compared to Nationwide

We have compared Delaware nursing homes to the nationwide average on several metrics. Delaware performed better than the national average on several metrics and worse on other metrics.

Cycle 1 Total Number Of Health Deficiencies 10.20 Higher
Cycle 1 Total Number Of Fire Safety Deficiencies 1.00 Lower
Cycle 2 Total Number Of Health Deficiencies 12.80 Higher
Cycle 2 Total Number Of Fire Safety Deficiencies 1.00 Lower
Cycle 3 Total Number Of Health Deficiencies 15.60 Higher
Cycle 3 Total Number Of Fire Safety Deficiencies 1.20 Lower
Average Number Of Residents Per Day 85.10 Higher
Reported Nurse Aide Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 2.30 Higher
Reported Lpn Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 0.95 Higher
Reported Rn Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 1.08 Higher
Reported Licensed Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 2.03 Higher
Reported Total Nurse Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 4.33 Higher
Total Number Of Nurse Staff Hours Per Resident Per Day On The Weekend 3.79 Higher
Registered Nurse Hours Per Resident Per Day On The Weekend 0.75 Higher
Reported Physical Therapist Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 0.11 Higher
Total Nursing Staff Turnover 47.70 Lower
Registered Nurse Turnover 41.20 Lower
Number Of Administrators Who Have Left The Nursing Home 0.50 Lower
Case-mix Rn Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 0.37 Lower
Case-mix Total Nurse Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day 3.07 Lower
Number Of Fines 1.60 Lower
Fine Amount In Dollars 31,320.00 Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Whose Need For Help With Daily Activities Has Increased 14.09 Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Lose Too Much Weight 5.34 Lower
Percentage Of Low Risk Long Stay Residents Who Lose Control Of Their Bowels Or Bladder 52.95 Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents With A Catheter Inserted And Left In Their Bladder 0.73 Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents With A Urinary Tract Infection 1.95 Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Have Depressive Symptoms 4.35 Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Were Physically Restrained 0.23 Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Experiencing One Or More Falls With Major Injury 3.90 Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Assessed And Appropriately Given The Pneumococcal Vaccine 94.80 Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Received An Antipsychotic Medication 10.98 Lower
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Assessed And Appropriately Given The Pneumococcal Vaccine 81.50 Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Newly Received An Antipsychotic Medication 0.76 Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Whose Ability To Move Independently Worsened 17.21 Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Received An Antianxiety Or Hypnotic Medication 17.31 Lower
Percentage Of High Risk Long Stay Residents With Pressure Ulcers 6.14 Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Assessed And Appropriately Given The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 97.17 Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Made Improvements In Function 78.00 Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Were Assessed And Appropriately Given The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 81.47 Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Were Rehospitalized After A Nursing Home Admission 20.55 Lower
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Had An Outpatient Emergency Department Visit 11.86 Lower
Number Of Hospitalizations Per 1000 Long-stay Resident Days 1.86 Higher
Number Of Outpatient Emergency Department Visits Per 1000 Long-stay Resident Days 0.84 Lower

FAQs About Nursing Homes in Delaware

How Many Nursing Homes in Delaware

There are 44 skilled nursing facilities registered with CMS in Delaware with a total of 4,850 beds. Average occupancy was 77.23% in August 2023.

Delaware has 4 homes that are rated as having one star on the CMS 5-Star Rating System. Approximately 12.64 percent of the total number of available skilled nursing beds in Delaware are in one-star facilities. In Delaware, occupancy is higher in skilled nursing facilities where the CMS 5-Star Rating is higher than one-star.

How to Report a Nursing Homes in Delaware

If you run into an issue at a Delaware nursing home, there are a few steps you can take to make sure the issue is reported. First, speak with the immediate staff. If the problem is not solved, speak with a director or administrator, doctor, or any other employee of a high level.

As required by Medicare and Medicaid, reports and complaints must go through a grievance procedure. Per the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a grievance is “an expression of dissatisfaction (other than an organization determination) with any aspect of the operations, activities, or behavior of a Medicare health plan, or its providers, regardless of whether remedial action is requested”. All grievances must be filed in writing or verbally within 60 days of the event prompting the grievance.

To report a Delaware nursing home for quality of care, go through a grievance procedure through your Medicare or Medicaid plan. You can also go through the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care-Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIO). These groups serve to help with complaints made regarding the quality of care by Medicare providers. You can also choose to go through both Medicare and a BFCC-QIO.

Worst Nursing Homes in the Largest Delaware Cities

All of the following nursing homes have been given a Weighted Health Inspection Score by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Every year, nursing homes in Delaware go through an unannounced inspection performed by independent state examiners. These examiners look at factors such as cleanliness, hazards, and safety to perform the inspection. Points are given to nursing homes based on their deficiency in a certain category. Thus, a higher Weighted All Cycles Score means more problems and lower quality of care.

The list below ranks the homes with the highest (worst) weighted scores. The score is shown next to the facility name. The list also shows the two most recent deficiencies for each of the nursing homes.

Worst Nursing Homes in Dover

  • Hennis Care Centre of Dover (204.5)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2023-06-02)
    • Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2023-06-02)
  • Country Club Center I (127.333)
    • Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2023-07-10)
    • Allow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care. (2023-06-08)
  • Excel Care at Dover (103.167)
    • Provide at least two remote exits on each floor or fire section of the building. (2022-07-27)
    • Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. (2022-07-26)
  • Complete Care at Silver Lake LLC (101.333)
    • Assess the resident when there is a significant change in condition (2023-01-23)
    • Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals. (2023-01-23)
  • New Dawn Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (76.667)
    • Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2023-05-16)
    • Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs. (2023-05-16)
  • Cadia Rehabilitation Capitol (61)
    • Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2022-05-16)
    • Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights. (2022-05-16)
  • Center at Eden Hill, LLC (60.667)
    • Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered. (2022-01-14)
    • Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2022-01-14)
  • Westminster Village Health (42)
    • Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2022-03-01)
    • Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2022-03-01)
  • Diversicare of Dover (22)
    • Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times. (2022-10-31)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2022-10-14)
  • Riverside Rest Home (18)
    • Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (2023-01-20)
    • Provide exit doors that are held open by devices that will automatically close on the activation of a fire alarm or smoke detector. (2022-12-16)

Worst Nursing Homes in Wilmington

  • Regency Healthcare and Rehab Center (173.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive. (2023-06-29)
    • Not transfer or discharge a resident without an adequate reason; and must provide documentation and convey specific information when a resident is transferred or discharged. (2023-06-29)
  • Autumn Care of Myrtle Grove (173)
    • Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility. (2023-04-05)
    • Meet other general requirements. (2023-04-05)
  • Kentmere Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (166.167)
    • Ensure that nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies to care for every resident in a way that maximizes each resident's well being. (2022-06-03)
    • Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2022-06-03)
  • Cadia Rehabilitation Pike Creek (126.167)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-03-24)
    • Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered. (2023-03-24)
  • Aperion Care Wilmington (104.667)
    • Provide properly protected cooking facilities. (2023-02-16)
    • Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2023-02-16)
  • Promedica Skilled Nursing and Rehab - Pike Creek (100.667)
    • Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2022-09-27)
    • Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2022-09-27)
  • Kutz Rehabilitation and Nursing (90.333)
    • Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2023-02-10)
    • Use approved construction type or materials. (2023-02-10)
  • Northchase Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (87.667)
    • Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke. (2023-04-07)
    • Ensure that special areas are constructed so that walls can resist fire for one hour or have an approved fire extinguishing system. (2023-04-07)
  • Azalea Health and Rehab Center (84)
    • Have the Quality Assessment and Assurance group have the required members and meet at least quarterly (2023-07-19)
    • Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations. (2023-07-19)
  • Gilpin Hall (80.667)
    • Develop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals. (2021-10-01)
    • Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason. (2021-10-01)

Worst Nursing Homes in Middletown

  • Middlesex Health Care Center (357.167)
    • Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2023-01-25)
    • Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2022-12-09)
  • Grand Islander Center (209.833)
    • Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality. (2023-05-18)
    • Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2023-05-18)
  • Majestic Care of Middletown LLC (172.333)
    • Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2023-06-01)
    • Honor the resident's right to manage his or her financial affairs. (2023-05-10)
  • Oak Hill Center For Rehabilitation and Nursing (122.667)
    • Provide each resident with a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet that meets his or her daily nutritional and special dietary needs. (2023-04-09)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-04-09)
  • Hawthorn Glen Nursing Center (93.333)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-06-16)
    • Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections. (2023-06-16)
  • Willow Knoll Post-Acute and Senior Living (88.5)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2021-11-23)
    • Honor the resident's right to receive visitors of his or her choosing, at the time of his or her choosing. (2021-08-25)
  • Apple Rehab Middletown (88.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2023-04-19)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-04-19)
  • The Laurels of Middletown (69.333)
    • Provide activities to meet all resident's needs. (2021-06-11)
    • Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2021-06-11)
  • Cadia Rehabilitation Broadmeadow (65.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2022-01-07)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2022-01-07)
  • Royal Middletown Nursing Center (58)
    • Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2023-03-10)
    • Respond appropriately to all alleged violations. (2023-03-10)

Worst Nursing Homes in Newark

  • Embassy of Newark (196.333)
    • Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2023-03-21)
    • Hire a qualified full-time social worker in a facility with more than 120 beds. (2023-03-21)
  • Flint Ridge Nrsg and Rehab Ctr (133.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive. (2023-06-15)
    • Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health. (2023-06-15)
  • Millcroft Living (86)
    • Perform COVID19 testing on residents and staff. (2021-11-01)
    • Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2021-11-01)
  • Altercare Newark North Inc. (82)
    • Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-01-06)
    • Allow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care. (2023-01-06)
  • New Vista Nursing and Rehabilitation Ctr (77.333)
    • Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2023-05-12)
    • Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2023-05-12)
  • Newark Manor Nursing Home (60.333)
    • Ensure staff are vaccinated for COVID-19 (2022-04-10)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2022-04-10)
  • Altercare Newark South Inc. (52.667)
    • Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2023-06-02)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2022-10-21)
  • Wayne Health Care (48.833)
    • Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health. (2022-07-22)
    • Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2022-07-22)
  • Arlington Care Center (48.667)
    • Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2022-09-21)
    • Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health. (2022-09-21)
  • Churchman Village (46)
    • Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2022-10-10)
    • Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2022-10-10)

Worst Nursing Homes in Lewes

  • Harbor Healthcare and Rehab Ctr (55.333)
    • Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2023-03-20)
    • Honor the resident's right to share a room with spouse or roommate of choice and receive written notice before a change is made. (2023-03-20)
  • The Moorings at Lewes (29.333)
    • Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-02-17)
    • Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason. (2023-02-17)

Worst Skilled Nursing Homes in Other States

See the worst skilled nursing homes in other states: