Nursing Home Communities in Camden, ME

"My grandmother had had multiple falls before she ended up going to Windward Gardens in Camden, Maine. At first she was not excited about this and, with the generation she grew up with, felt we were "committing" her. I'd say that within about a week she had grown to love it there. The staff was always so warm and welcoming and she quickly found that she had found a new home and group of friends. Their shuttle bus made her capable of continuing to go on shopping trips and going to church "“ but now she got to go on these trips with her friends. They held activities throughout each day, including group exercise, wine and cheese and various craft activities. At last she felt safe in the place she was living, knowing that people were always around if she needed help, and with everything being handicap accessible, she had less fear of falling down. We all quickly grew fond of her roommate especially, who grew to be part of the family, just as many of the staff members did. The last Christmas I spent at Windward Gardens was the best Christmas I have ever had. Her friends stopped by and the staff gave us a nice private dining room to share a family dinner. In my grandmother's final days, she was moved upstairs to the medical unit, where sadly, she ended her days. The staff upstairs couldn't have been more supportive and caring during those last days "“ compassion was shown during this time that I will never forget. I have many fond memories with my grandmother at Windward Gardens and would recommend it to anybody looking for a senior care facility. "

"The staff and services were great. Emergencies were always responded to. Maintenance was on the ball and the lawn/landscaping always looked sharp. There were sweeping fields of grass and the houses were placed far enough apart. The units themselves were fairly nice on the inside, with radiant heat flooring and decent kitchens. There was wall-too-wall carpet in each room that was thick, fluffy, and soft. Windows were spaced in a way that always let the warm daylight in, although the halls could get pretty dark. Interior construction was high quality, with thick walls and high ceilings, but the design provided hallways that were a bit too narrow. The provided lighting was a little gross looking because it was fluorescent, however the house was nice and cozy with table lamps turned on. The only real gripe I had was with the exterior--it was a bit tacky. The unit was painted an unnatural, gaudy yellow hue with white trim. The whole thing was vinyl sided which made gave it the appearance of being fake and cheap. The living experience at least was good though. "

"My dad moved into Breakwater Commons. What I like best is the great staff and the nice facility. It's new, with nice views, outdoor spaces, and it's very friendly. The size of the room is very nice, with large windows, modern, very clean, and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. And, outdoor patios that the residents can use, so they get outside every day when the weather's nice, to get fresh air. The staff is so sweet and kind. The activities are the area that I don't have a very good sense of because he's been moved from rehab to the memory care unit while I wasn't there. I don't think the activities are very interesting or good for him. So, I wish there were more activities."

"We like the flexibility at The Residence at Tall Pines. My mom can go from independent living to assisted if necessary, and stay in the same room. The person who gave the tour seemed fine. Their basic room seemed spacious enough for her needs, and they have one-bedroom and two-bedroom options. The place was very, very clean, and very pleasant. They had some exercise facilities, they have a hairdresser that comes in, they have a library, and space for gathering."

"I found the facility was clean and inviting. The staff was friendly, and I think most of them realy cared about the residents. At times it felt sterile and dreary. I think the biggest challege in improving this facility is trying to keep an assisted living center in Maine upbeat. There needs to be more activity, however that is a challenge in a small community, with a cold enviroment.My grandfather lived here for over three years, and eventually passed away while living there. I never felt good about him being there, but understood they did their best, and it was above average compared to other nursing homes in the area.I was never concerned with the skill level or qualifications of the staff, and that was reassuring. "

"Deer Isle Nursing Home has a very beautiful location in Coastal Maine, surrounded by semi- forest. There are garden areas designed for residents to relax in, but rarely is it used. A few old time songs constantly play in rotation over the intercom, which my grandmother is not fond of. Harsh lighting and bland decor make it a rather dreary place to visit, but there are splashes of life in some of the original paintings that line the hallways. One of the worst aspects of this place is the terrible food, whos quality is comparable to a school lunch menu on a tight budget. As far as I can tell, though, the staff are considerate of the residents, and try to make it as amusing a place to live as possible. There are regularly sing alongs, coffee hour, exercising, board games as well as a beauty salon, resident cats and birds, and therapeutic dogs who visit. People seem to enjoy the dogs a lot. A bus also caters to the residents of the nursing home, bring competent seniors to the surrounding areas of Blue Hill and Bangor. This is an important service when considering the somewhat isolated, rural location and the inevitable boredom of living in what amounts to a hospital hotel. "