97 Sherman Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Commonsense Housing - Sherman Ave
Pros
They are a caring group of people.- The facilities are nice and the staff are good.
- They are professional and intelligent.
- They would trust the company with family.
- Common Sense Housing is a great place for loved ones to live and be cared for.
- Most staff are great.
- The place is very pretty.
Cons
The reviewers’ family had a poor experience, with their loved one’s care and communication being a constant struggle.- The staff are intimidated, threatened, and bullied by the two head administration.
- The day shift seems to think they don’t have to clean up after the members or themselves, indicating neglect of basic duties.
- The main admins need management training and should show more appreciation and respect to the workers who keep the business running.
Review
This community is best suited for families that prize a warm, home-like atmosphere where frontline caregivers genuinely connect with residents, and where the physical environment feels welcoming and well maintained. It works well for seniors who want daily care delivered with personal attention and for families prepared to navigate occasional leadership friction in exchange for a dependable, caring staff presence. The sentiment that the facility is trustworthy with a loved one persists in some reviews, underscoring that the day-to-day care and the resident experience can be solid when the right staff are on shift.
At the same time, clear caveats point toward alternatives for families with stricter requirements around administration, communication, and consistency. If unfaltering, proactive leadership and transparent family updates are non-negotiable, or if a resident requires highly regimented oversight and uniform housekeeping across every shift, this community may not meet those expectations. Potential residents who demand flawless internal communication, consistently clean common areas, and predictable operational cadence should compare options where leadership and front-line morale appear steadier and more uniformly aligned.
The strongest upside rests with the direct care team and the living environment. Reviewers repeatedly highlight a caring group of people, with staff who are professional and intelligent, and with residents described as wonderful. The facilities themselves are noted as pleasant and appealing, reinforcing a sense of comfort and dignity for people who spend substantial time there. In practice, these strengths translate into meaningful daily benefits: friendly interactions, attentive assistance, and a setting that supports social engagement and regular activity. When the care staff are engaged, the resident experience stays positive even amid organizational strains.
Yet the most significant drawbacks center on leadership and housekeeping consistency. Several accounts describe two head administrators as intimidating or unsupportive, with frontline staff feeling pressure or fear in expressing concerns. That kind of dynamic can undermine morale, hinder reliable communication with families, and create an uneven care atmosphere when supervisory priorities drift. On the floor, some day shift workers are perceived as less motivated about basic cleanliness, even as overnight staff perform better at cleanup. These operational gaps matter, because they shape daily safety and comfort and can erode trust over time if not addressed.
Balancing the pros and cons, prospective buyers should approach with a concrete plan to verify leadership stability and day-to-day reliability. Ask how leadership engages with staff and families, what steps are in place to ensure consistent cleanliness across shifts, and how resident care plans are reviewed and updated. Request candid conversations with frontline supervisors, check recent staff retention trends, and seek current family references to gauge whether the community has truly stabilized. If the impression is that administrative friction has been reduced or is being actively managed, and if the care team demonstrates dependable communication and accountability, the positives can outweigh the negatives.
Bottom line: Commonsense Housing on Sherman Ave offers a practical, compassionate option for families prioritizing a friendly, homey milieu and solid daily care. The combination of caring frontline staff and a pleasant physical environment provides real value. However, the weight of leadership friction and variable housekeeping consistency means this community may not be the best fit for those needing unwavering administrative certainty and perfectly predictable operations. For those willing to pilot the relationship, with clear expectations, proactive questions, and a focus on monitoring ongoing leadership and communication, the option can deliver meaningful quality of life improvements for a loved one.
3 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Cable or satellite TV
Dining room
Fully furnished
Garden
Housekeeping services
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Telephone
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Bangor International (2 miles away)
24-hour supervision
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Special dietary restrictions
Transportation arrangement (medical)
Transportation to doctors appointments
Assisted Living Expenses and Long-Term Care Insurance: A Comprehensive Exploration
Securing Financial Support for Assisted Living: A Comprehensive Overview
Social Security Benefits and Assisted Living: Navigating Options Across the U.S.