Seaside Nursing & Retirement in Portland, ME

Pros

• The CNAs and nurses are kind and helpful.
• Rooms are kept clean and tidy.
• The staff is very accommodating.
• The private rooms are great.
• The facility is in good shape, clean, and the staff is good.
• The physical therapy department is topnotch.
• The nurses and CNAs are very dedicated, often working long hours.

Cons

• The roommate's TV was blasting loudly and no one required headphones, giving the visitor a headache after two hours.
• Some staff members were rude or uncaring; at times nurses were drunk or apathetic and lazy.
• Patients were left without a call button or without access to help for extended periods, including sitting on a commode for over 30 minutes.
• Response to call buttons was slow, often taking more than 45 minutes.
• The food was bland and unseasoned, with claims that the same chicken was served under different names.
• Care was inconsistent due to high turnover and lack of coordination; records were not updated and nursing/CNA staff were not consistently reviewing medical needs.
• There were safety and negligence concerns, such as a nurse pulling a patient up roughly and causing bruising, or a nurse telling a family to take the patient back to the hospital.
• The facility's overall care was described as not meeting expectations; several reviewers would not recommend it and called it a joke or undeserving of a star.
• Some residents were left in bed all day without assistance, leading to declined mobility and worsening condition.

Review

Seaside Nursing & Retirement in Portland is best suited for families pursuing short-term rehabilitation where physical and occupational therapy can drive meaningful recovery, and for residents who want a one-story, home-like setting with private rooms, routine activities, and a generally clean environment. When staff engagement is consistent, the rehabilitation program can translate into genuine functional gains and a steadier path back to independence. The community appears strongest for those who can stay actively involved, press for timely care, and use advocacy to ensure that care planning stays front-and-center. This is the model that tends to yield the most reliable outcomes, provided the day-to-day care is steady and well-coordinated.

However, Seaside may not be the right fit for those requiring constant, predictable oversight or highly specialized medical management. Families should consider alternatives if a resident needs reliable 24/7 monitoring, immediate response to calls, or dementia-focused care, given repeated indications of understaffing and uneven response times. Long-term residents with complex or escalating needs may be better served elsewhere, where staffing levels and continuity are more consistently maintained. For anyone prioritizing transparent care cultures, strong nurse-to-patient ratios, and dependable transfers, a careful apples-to-apples comparison with other Portland options is essential before making a commitment.

On the positive side, the rehab and therapy side of Seaside is frequently praised. The therapy teams can deliver attentive, capable care, and several nurses and CNAs are described as genuinely caring when fully engaged. The facility's upkeep - clean rooms, accessible amenities, and a campus layout that supports mobility and social activity - also stands out. In practice, these strengths translate into real progress for residents who receive consistent therapy and attentive supervision, and they help create a livable, supportive environment during recovery or ongoing wellness efforts.

Conversely, the negatives carry substantial weight and cannot be dismissed. Persistent concerns about staffing gaps and turnover yield delayed call responses, inconsistent routines, and care gaps that frustrate families and threaten safety. Reports of rough handling, inadequate monitoring, and patchy documentation point to real risks of miscommunication and insufficient oversight. Food quality is a frequent complaint, with bland or uninspired options undermining day-to-day satisfaction. Roommate matching is inconsistent, and several accounts describe disengaged staff or front-desk inattention, which amplifies the impression that reliability varies by shift. Taken together, these patterns create meaningful day-to-day risk for residents.

The best-case math here hinges on staffing stability and the ability to harness Seaside's therapy strengths consistently. When a facility can sustain reliable coverage, ensure prompt call responses, and keep care plans current across shifts, the beneficial elements - effective rehabilitation, respectful caregivers, and a clean, well-maintained setting - become the dominant narrative. For families, this means recognizing that the upside is real, but contingent on concrete operational stability. If a resident will rely heavily on consistent nursing attention and on daily medication or monitoring, the variability may erode overall outcomes. The decision should weigh both the solid rehab potential and the serious safety concerns that appear in the record.

Practical next steps demand a deliberate, hands-on evaluation. Visiting during multiple shifts and speaking directly with rehab leaders, nursing leadership, and front-line staff is essential. Request current staffing ratios, typical response times, and clear pathways for updating care plans and MARs. Probe how meals can be tailored within dietary constraints and whether an anytime menu option exists to improve satisfaction. Inquire about roommate reassessment intervals and how often residents are moved to better matching arrangements. Review state inspection findings and, when possible, talk with current residents or families about consistency of care. For families prioritizing accountability, transparent communication, and dependable therapy access, Seaside deserves a thorough, concrete assessment rather than a hasty placement.

This area of Portland, Maine offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of senior citizens. With several cafes nearby such as Tandem Coffee Roasters and Little Woodfords, residents can enjoy socializing and relaxing in a comfortable setting. The presence of reputable healthcare facilities like Martin's Point Health Care and Portland Gastroenterology Center ensures convenient access to medical services. Additionally, the proximity of pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens provides easy medication refill options. For recreational activities, parks such as Lincoln Park and Fort Allen Park offer peaceful spaces for leisurely walks or picnics. Furthermore, with theaters like Patriot Cinemas nearby, seniors have opportunities for entertainment and cultural enrichment. Overall, this part of Portland combines convenience, healthcare accessibility, dining options, recreational opportunities, making it an ideal location for seniors looking for a vibrant community to retire in.

Cafes

• Tandem Coffee Roasters - Cafe & Roastery (0.9 miles)
• Coveside Coffee (1.2 miles)
• Little Woodfords (1.4 miles)
• Coffee By Design (1.5 miles)
• Bintliff's American Cafe (1.6 miles)
• Speckled Ax (1.6 miles)
• Bard Coffee (1.6 miles)

Physicians

• Martin's Point Health Care (1 miles)
• Giles Eye Care (1.1 miles)
• Portland Gastroenterology Center (1.1 miles)
• Eyecare Today (1.2 miles)
• Mkm Ent Associates at Mercy (1.2 miles)
• Valdez, Joseph Dr - Portland Internal Medicine (1.2 miles)
• Access Wellness (1.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Root Wild Kombucha (1 miles)
• Portland Zoo (1 miles)
• The Shop By Island Creek Oyster (1 miles)
• Rising Tide Brewing Company (1 miles)
• Terlingua (1.2 miles)
• Oxbow Blending and Bottling (1.2 miles)
• Anoche (1.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Apothecary By Design (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Newport Strategies (1.7 miles)
• Wellness Connection of Maine (1.9 miles)

Parks

• Lincoln Park (1.5 miles)
• Fort Allen Park (1.5 miles)
• Deering Oaks Park (1.6 miles)
• Congress Square Park (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Portland Public Health Division (1.5 miles)
• HealthSouth (1.8 miles)
• Maine Medical Center-Brighton Campus (1.8 miles)
• Mid Coast Hospital (1.8 miles)
• The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital (2 miles)
• Mercy Hospital Infusion Unit (2 miles)
• Maine Medical Center - Chaplain's Office (2 miles)

Theaters

• Patriot Cinemas (1.6 miles)