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Dirigo Pines

9 Alumni Drive, Orono, ME 04473

(800) 558-0653

Verified Partner

3.78

(23 reviews)

Offers Assisted Living, Independent Living, and Memory Care

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Reviews of Dirigo Pines in Orono, Maine

3.78

(23 reviews)

  • Facility

    4.3

  • Staff

    4.2

  • Food

    4.1

  • Activities

    3.9

  • Value

    3.4

Karen

5

August 15, 2023

I visited this facility

Dirigo Pines was really nice. It's a place that I would absolutely love to go to. All your needs are met and everything's included, but it's just a tremendous amount of money. I went there in 2021, so I'm sure it's gone up since then with the price of oil and everything else. The person that gave the tour was very nice. Everyone up there was just fabulous. The apartments were very nice, too. Everything was immaculate and just gorgeous. The dining area was nice.

Renee

4

November 11, 2022

I visited this facility

Dirigo Pines was a high-end community. Their apartments were much newer and nicer. It's more up-to-date and modern, yet not as warm and friendly as the other facility we went to. I didn't meet very many staff. Their menu was much more upscale, but there were only two meals a day.

Barbara

5

July 4, 2022

I visited this facility

Dirigo Pines was gorgeous. It's a brand new facility. If only my mom was not quite as far down the Alzheimer's trail, that would be a good placement. It's beautiful and the staff seemed very nice.

Provider Response

Hello Barbara! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experience about Dirigo Pines . We strive to have a vibrant, active community that includes a full calendar of life enrichment programs for our residents to choose from. We are grateful that you and your loved ones enjoy them too! We love to provide great sources of joy, excitement and relaxation—each and every day. We're always sure to make time for laughter, connection and friendship, and include those ideals in everything we do. Sincerely, The Dirigo Pines Team

Margaret

5

August 29, 2021

I visited this facility

I found Dirigo Pines for my husband. He hasn't been there yet, but I liked the way that management handled the information part of it, and the outside grounds are perfect for my loved one, and I think they're well trained. It looked very good. The tour was very good and very informative. They were very nice. Everybody was very welcoming. The staff members that were actually working in the dementia care unit were very friendly, and you could see the rapport with their clients there was great. It has a nice layout, very welcoming, and warm. They have a lot of activities. They have outside activities and inside activities. They have laundry, hair care, and transportation to doctor's offices, and to different locations.

Provider Response

Hello Margaret! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experience about Dirigo Pines. We are dedicated to the long-term satisfaction and quality of life of our residents. We are continually evolving to meet the needs of residents today and tomorrow, and bring strength and stability to everything we do. We know that home may be a place, but it's also a feeling, a way of life and something we take seriously. Sincerely, The Dirigo Pines Team

Carla.S

5

June 1, 2021

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

My family member had been living in independent living for 18 months and recently moved to the Arbor. The staff at Dirigo Pines helped us along every step of the way getting her moved and has done everything possible to make the move easier for her. They're quick to contact us if there is an issue and open to questions from us or offering guidance on how to navigate the seemingly constant changes in our family member. I couldn't imagine not having this amazing support from such an outstanding team of staff. Thank you!

Provider Response

Hello Carla! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experience about Dirigo Pines. Our exceptional and caring associates work hard to ensure that you experience senior living at its finest. We are honored to know that when residents move into our community it's not just like home, it is home. Sincerely, The Dirigo Pines Team

garou76

5

October 6, 2020

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

My uncle is a current resident in Dirigo Pines Kenduskeag neighborhood. Our family has been very happy with the care and attention he has received.

JKH123

5

October 2, 2020

I visited this facility

Dirigo Pines is a beautiful campus with caring and attentive staff. Keeping my family member safe during COVID is a number one concern and they've done it wonderfully!

Provider Response

Thank you so much!

false promises

1

October 1, 2020

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

There have been so many changes at Dirigo Pines & Once we moved my dad was in it's been complete chaos especially with the way that Grace Management is handling Covid, loss of their executive director, the new sales director who has a total lack of interest for the existing residents and the increasing of fees to care for my dad. We will be moving him out of here as soon as possible. We are not the only ones.

concerned207daughter

1

September 21, 2020

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

This facility will sell you a bunch of goods, but they won't deliver. It use to be a wonderful facility 3 years ago before Grace Management took over and began cutting staff, reducing nurses, and replacing them with less qualified folks who essentially can give medication. Family members complain, but it goes nowhere.

KellyM207

1

September 21, 2020

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

This is the worst place to put your family member. My uncle is in the memory care unit. My cousin tried to call to check on him and could never get an answer. We couldn’t go see him because visitors aren’t allowed during the Coronavirus. His own doctor couldn’t get an update. Think again before putting anyone you love at this place. For $7000 a month we expect more

Swan8

5

May 4, 2020

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

The staff have been so wonderful to provide the opportunity to skype with my mother. Kindness and compassion are qualities the staff give my mother. I give them 5 stars.

For Poor Dad

1

April 28, 2020

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

My Dad has lived here since fall of 2015. The previous director was a nurse who truly was a caretaker, and that trickled on down to all of her staff. It felt like a loving environment and each and every staff member treated family with respect and showed personal interest in residents' lives. They used to stop in, just to see how my introvert Dad was doing. Random acts of kindness, very dedicated people who worked hard to maintain a high standard. Dirigo Pines is not what it was before Grace Management took over. There has been a near-total turnover in staff, as far as I can see. And my Dad is in a memory unit where consistency really matters. I cannot tell you how many times we have asked for a schedule to be maintained simply to cut my father's fingernails and toenails. They can't manage it, despite family repeatedly asking for it to be set to a calendar reminder somehow. In these COVID-19 days, I've called his "neighborhood" and left messages on their voicemail and my calls aren't returned. His doctor reached out two days in a row to their Coordinator line to set up a Zoom appointment for my Dad. I likewise emailed the nursing staff ahead of this appointment, due diligence as it was a new thing to have a remote appointment for Dad and he doesn't do well with surprises. No one responded until it was too late and the response was I didn't get a reply because of "staff cutbacks" and "we don't have any appointments scheduled for today." If family and doctors can't reach a human when they need to, in a timely fashion, who is looking out for our vulnerable family members? $7K a month, for what?

Susan

5

May 8, 2019

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

Dirigo Pines is extremely impressive. The facility is beautiful. The staff is amazing and very welcoming. My father's unit is clean. There's a bathroom in each room, and it's nice and bright. There's a lot going on. When I was there, they were making cookies, which smelled amazing, they had an exercise program going on in one area, and they were painting birdhouses in another area. They had a professional chef, so the food tasted like you're at a restaurant. We are getting above and beyond what I would expect.

Provider Response

Susan Thank you for the kind words. Our residents and their familes are family to us.

thekids

5

February 1, 2019

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

Two years ago, our parents moved into a new cottage at Dirigo Pines. They happily had input into personalizing the final construction details. Now they are enjoying the many musical evenings, senior sports contests, and academic presentations offered by the Inn and the cottage residents. When we visit, they are contented and often getting ready for the next social function. The seasonal outside work is taken care of, and there is a maintenance man to help with whatever they need. We don't worry about them using ladders or replacing lightbulbs. Their mail is delivered to their front door. They have made many new friends at cottage get-togethers and at the complimentary Inn breakfast. We are really pleased with their new living arrangements.

Provider Response

Thank you for letting us know that your parents are happy and enjoy living in the Dirigo Pines Community. We certainly strive to make sure everyone has this same experience.

bbear

5

January 25, 2019

I am/was a resident of this facility

This is a wonderful community in every sense. The proximity to the University of Maine and to Bangor provide a wealth of cultural activities, and on our campus we have a great variety of programs and events that we may participate in every single week, including lectures, music, exercise classes, art classes, game groups, and more. The campus is beautiful and has an interpretive nature trail that was developed and is maintained by residents. Wildlife is plentiful in the woods surrounding the campus. The staff are friendly and very helpful. I feel that they are friends, too. After looking at a number of other retirement communities in Maine, I am extremely pleased with my decision to move to Dirigo PInes.

BebeSue

5

January 24, 2019

I am/was a resident of this facility

We feel so lucky to be living in a Dirigo Pines cottage. Neighbors looked up and down the east coast for a retirement community and chose Dirigo Pines as the best. We feel the same way. DP is not just a place to live, it is a "community." Snow, ice, lawns, gardens, window washing (twice a year), even batteries in smoke detectors, and more, all taken care of for us. The nearby DP Inn is available for delicious meals, meeting rooms, and many activities. All cottages have two bedrooms and two baths. Some have finished the loft over the garage, some have basements.

twc99

5

January 23, 2019

I am/was a resident of this facility

My wife and I became owners of a cottage in the Dirigo Pines community over 13 years ago, and we remain completely satisfied with that decision. Our cottage is spacious, well designed, comfortable in all four seasons, and has proven adaptable to our changing health circumstances. Household maintenance and repair requests are promptly attended to, usually on the same day I report them; and summer lawn care and winter snow removal from streets, driveway, and walkway are very reliably handled. While we have our own dwelling space, we also have full access to programming and services including meeting space at the Dirigo Inn a couple of blocks distant. At our age we are heavily dependent on our car to get around the town of Orono and the larger Bangor area, and Dirigo Pines is situated near all the doctors, restaurants, shopping centers, and entertainment venues that we use. If at some future point we wish to give up our cottage, we could very happily transition to the appropriate level of housing available in the Inn. I can't imagine a better place to live than Dirigo at this stage of life.

Davlin

1

January 14, 2019

I am/was a resident of this facility

Let the buyer beware. Anyone considering purchasing a cottage at Dirigo Pines should be know that you must pay cash and, while the investment is substantial, you will not be allowed to tap into it. In the event of an emergency, you cannot use the asset to raise capital. We were told otherwise and are currently being held hostage with no recourse other than to sell our cottage which is proving to be very difficult.

Victor

5

November 28, 2018

I visited this facility

Dirigo Pines is near Bangor. They have good transportation to Bangor, a nice library, a pond, a billiard table, and all kinds of things that older people can do in the community. They have an apartment with a full kitchen in it. If you want it, they have an extra room, which you can use as your own library or computer room if you want it separate. They allow pets, too. The person who took us around was very good. We had a noon meal, and it was excellent. Everything was outstanding. I really liked it. I would recommend them. The staff was very attentive. The cleanliness was excellent. The main entrance was very nice, very comfortable, and homey.

Provider Response

Dear Victor, I appreciate you sharing this review with us at Dirigo Pines. We really strive to provide a very positive first impression to our prospective residents. We think we have something very special at Dirigo Pines and work hard to maintain a homelike environment that provides amenities that will serve to maintain the highest level of independence for our residents. We recognize how difficult it is for people when moving from their beloved home which is why we make every effort to make their living experience at Dirigo Pines very positive. Just as our motto says, "It isn't homelike, it is home"! We are also pleased to offer the whole continuum of care so that our residents can age in place. So we encourage people to contact us if they are beginning the search for a nice, safe retirement community. We hope we can be of help to them in the future. Sincerely, Susan A. Habeeb RN. BSN. Director of Community Outreach Dirigo Pines

Shell60

5

November 30, 2017

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

My sister is a resident at Dirigo Pines in the Arbor Neighborhood. It does my heart wonders that the staff takes excellent care of her! The facility is immaculately clean, friendly, and professional. A special thanks to Stephanie, Deb and Dan for their kindness, patience, and friendliness. They are AWESOME! Michele Brown

sheet size

2

June 13, 2017

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

it was a very disappointing experience for my Dad. Safety (Dad fell twice that we were told and a third evidence of a fall we were not told about and questioned by the Dr at a hospital visit) and hygiene ( calls were made to family about condition of resident. phone calls to floor had to be made to correct situation) were major concerns. Staff were complaining about "understaffing"..facility told us that they were fully staffed...IF that was the case then those there on floor were not doing their job. Met with director, told that they would do a better job...offered us a room at a different level of care for the same price.Dad was in the hospital after an incident at DP facility and we were not going to send him back. We had made other arrangements. I need to tell anyone thinking of putting a loved one at DP to please check it out thoroughly, visit often to keep your eyes open .I am in the medical field and I think my overall opinion is well founded. ,

kathleen854303

1

May 30, 2017

I visited this facility

Dirigo was a beautiful place but too expensive, and if their income decreases in five years, they will make them leave. It was independent, but they had people on- site, plus housekeeping and nursing if the person needs help with medication. It was a beautiful loacation that had about the same things as the other places.

Tricia9

5

January 24, 2015

I visited this facility

This a great place for independent living and would most likely picked to live. The dwellings are spaced out nicely with wooded views abound. There is a lake for fishing which was a plus for us. The choice of home plans was varied and they are expanding. This would make it possible to make decisions as it was being built. Food was delicious, meals are not offered in the plan with the cottages but you can purchase the meals in the diningroom. Due to the distance from family this is not on the top of the our list. Wish it was further south it would be my first choice.

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Costs for Dirigo Pines in Orono, Maine

Assisted Living

This level of care provides support for those who need help with personal care needs such as cleaning, bathing, and dressing. Residents selecting this level of care are treated to many amenities in a home-like atmosphere, while getting support in their daily lives.

$4,295

Starting Price

Independent Living

Independent Living is for those who desire the feel of a private residence with the amenities and activities available in a planned community, such as fitness classes, game nights, and group excursions. Services such as cleaning and groundskeeping are often available.

$4,075

Starting Price

Memory Care

Memory Care is specifically designed to meet the needs of those with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Specially trained staff members assist with activities of daily living (such as bathing and dressing) and provide therapies to slow further loss of cognitive abilities.

$7,335

Starting Price

Services and Amenities of Dirigo Pines in Orono, Maine

Room and housing options

  • 1-bedroom apartments
  • 2-bedroom apartments
  • Companion Suites: We do not offer companion suites

General

  • Respite Care
  • Minimum Age: 55 for Cottages, 62 in building
  • Pets Allowed: Small Pets Allowed

Licenses

  • State Licenses: Level 2 - ALLS5813 Level 4 - ALLS5814

About Dirigo Pines in Orono, Maine

Dirigo Pines is nestled in the small town of Orono, Maine, which is just an hour from Acadia National Park. Family members describe this facility as immaculate and beautiful, and they note that the grounds, which span 68 acres, include a lake where the residents can fish. The facility offers a choice of a studio, one- or two-bedroom apartment or cottage, and guests say that the cottages are spaced nicely and have views of the woods. Relatives praise the community's friendly, professional staff and delicious food. Residents can have small pets.

Map of Dirigo Pines

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