Commonsense Housing - Sherman Ave in Bangor, ME

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.

Hospitals

• Eastern Maine Medical Center (0.3 miles)
• St Joseph CBO (0.7 miles)
• St Joseph Hospital (0.8 miles)
• St Joseph Healthcare Park (0.8 miles)
• Northern Light Acadia Hospital (1 miles)
• Sleep Center of Maine (1.6 miles)
• Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (1.7 miles)

Physicians

• Husson Pediatrics (0.3 miles)
• Baldacci John (0.5 miles)
• Pandey, Sanjay Saint Joseph Internal Medicine (0.6 miles)
• Mark Henderson (0.6 miles)
• Northeast Neurosurgery (0.8 miles)
• Medimaine Health Associates (0.8 miles)
• Paul N Smith (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Westgate Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• PCHC - Penobscot Community Health Center Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Pchc Pharmacies (1.3 miles)
• Affiliated Pharmacy Service (1.3 miles)
• Hannaford Pharmacy (1.3 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.3 miles)
• Pizza Hut (0.4 miles)
• Dorr Lobster Seafood Market (0.4 miles)
• KFC (0.4 miles)
• Dysart's Restaurant Broadway (1 miles)
• Gifford's Famous Ice Cream (1.1 miles)
• Wendy's (1.2 miles)

Cafes

• Tim Hortons (0.3 miles)
• West Market Square Artisan Coffeehouse (1.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• First United Methodist Church (0.8 miles)
• Glad Tidings Church (0.9 miles)
• Grace Church Bangor (1.7 miles)

Parks

• Bangor Dog Park (0.9 miles)
• City of Bangor Parks & Recreation (1.2 miles)
• Chapin Park (1.4 miles)

Transportation

• Dick's Taxi (1.5 miles)
• Car Rental Bangor (1.7 miles)
• Uhaul (1.8 miles)
• Dl6219 Bgr-Lga (1.8 miles)
• Bangor International Airport (BGR) (1.8 miles)
• Bangor Airport baggage claim (1.8 miles)

Theaters

• Queen City Cinema Club (1.6 miles)
• Bangor Mall Cinemas 10 (1.6 miles)