The Cedars

Pros

• The Cedars is a standout campus with a thoughtful approach to aging.
• Its newer buildings reflect a clear commitment to individualized care, especially for residents with mobility challenges.
• The enhanced assisted living program fills a critical gap and is delivered with intention.
• Across levels of care, The Cedars continues to evolve with professionalism and respect for the people who live there.
• The campus is very welcoming upon arrival.
• It is an absolutely amazing community with wonderful residents and staff.
• The staff and the care are excellent.
• The staff are warm, kind, caring and responsive, and residents are in a safe place with excellent care.
• The staff are kind to residents, know them well, and accommodate their preferences.
• The grandmother loved the caring and attentive staff, the peaceful environment, and the food.
• Great staff and a lovely facility.
• One of the best facilities in the state.
• The transition to Cedars assisted living went well.
• The mother is happy with the care.

Cons

• The receptionist is extremely rude and aggressive toward visitors.
• The facility is severely understaffed, harming patient care and comfort.
• Many staff are inattentive, often on cell phones, and don't perform basic wellness checks.
• Red emergency calls go unanswered for long periods (often 45 minutes to an hour).
• Management is unresponsive, with promised follow-up rarely delivered.
• End-of-life care is inadequately managed, with no proper pain management protocols.
• Families have had to move loved ones elsewhere to obtain essential pain relief.
• Billing practices are opaque and include surprise charges with poor communication.
• Overall, the facility provides poor service and empathy, despite a few good staff members.
• The facility is not recommended for hospice care; concerns about privacy and dignity were noted.

Review

The collection of remarks paints a facility campus with real highs and painful lows, depending largely on which building you're in, who you encounter, and what kind of care you're seeking. On the negative side, several reviewers describe a stark mismatch between expectations of compassionate, responsive care and the daily realities they faced. The experience often starts at the front desk: a few reviewers report a rude, unwelcoming reception, with one describing a receptionist as having a "very nasty attitude" and snapping at a delivery person in a way that left a lasting impression. Coupled with reports of insufficient staff for patient care and staff who appear distracted - sometimes scrolling on cell phones or failing to answer call bells in a timely fashion - the sense that basic needs and urgent concerns are being missed becomes a recurring theme. The most troubling stories center on delayed responses to gravity-of-situations, such as patients pressing red alarms and waiting extended periods for someone to arrive, sometimes for close to an hour or more.

Several firsthand accounts emphasize the emotional toll of feeling abandoned in urgent moments. A mother and her roommate, both residents, are described as repeatedly pressing red buttons with no timely response. In one account, a CNA finally checks in after about 45 minutes, long after the alarm was raised. The reviewers describe a setting where timely checks and consistent attention to comfort and safety are not reliably delivered, and where family members are forced to witness or intervene in what they perceive as a persistent failure to respond.

The critiques extend into end-of-life and hospice care. One reviewer highlighted a lack of end-of-life protocols and pain management options, recounting that IV pain medications or a Macy catheter were not in place when needed and noting a stressful shift to another facility (Gosnell House) to obtain appropriate relief for their loved one. The same reviewer recounted that follow-through from administrative levels after lodging complaints was lacking, leaving them with a sense that the facility's overall approach to comfort at the end of life was inconsistent at best. In another posting, a family questioned the level of empathy and support for a parent nearing the end of life, describing the overall experience as distressing and not aligned with what they expected from a place billing themselves as a comprehensive senior-care campus.

Not all feedback, however, is bleak. The Cedars is repeatedly described as a campus that has meaningful strengths, especially in its newer buildings and its approach to aging. Some reviewers praise the physical environment as thoughtfully designed to support mobility-challenged residents, with comments about the enhanced assisted living program filling important gaps in care. Several accounts mention strong, deliberate efforts to provide individualized care, professionalism, and respect for residents. The campus is described as welcoming upon arrival by some families, with routine expressions of appreciation for the kindness of many staff members and a sense that, when things go right, the care provided can be excellent.

Within the spectrum of experiences, many reviews highlight dedicated caregivers who stand out in a positive light. A number of families praise specific staff for warmth, attentiveness, and responsiveness, underscoring that there are compassionate individuals who do their best to bridge gaps created by staffing pressures. In particular, anecdotal praise for well-run rehab experiences and patient-centered attention appears in multiple comments. A resident's family spoke highly of a Hoffman Center rehab stay, noting that balance between rest and therapy was well managed and that staff were warm and supportive. Other entries exult in the quality and kindness of nurses and aides who make an effort to know residents individually and tailor their approach accordingly.

Cost and administrative practices emerge as another frequent point of contention. Several reviewers recount being confronted with high bills, sometimes after insurance coverage ended, with painful surprises and a perception that billing practices were opaque or unhelpful. A specific story recounts a family being billed for thousands of dollars after a loved one's discharge, followed by rude or unsympathetic responses from management when attempts were made to address the charges. Some reviewers circle back to this theme as evidence that, beyond the front-line care workers, the administrative and financial sides of the campus can feel uncompassionate or uncooperative when disputes arise. The contrast between moments of compassionate caregiving and the broader dissatisfaction with administration and billing is striking and recurrent.

Several reviews also touch on the human dimension of policy and patient placement. One family describes a caregiver coordinator who seemed unsympathetic, even aggressive, when discussing a patient's prognosis and placement options, including discussions about payer sources. Another reviewer criticizes the use of third-party transport for a patient's return home, alleging that inappropriate or insufficient transportation arrangements undermined the patient's safety and dignity. These stories reinforce a perception that some aspects of care coordination and patient advocacy could be more empathetic and better aligned with the needs and rights of vulnerable residents.

Taken together, the body of comments portrays a campus with undeniable strengths in certain areas - particular facilities, thoughtful design, and some exceptionally caring staff - while also revealing systemic gaps that can undermine trust and satisfaction. The most consistent cautions for prospective families are to scrutinize staffing levels and responsiveness on the specific campus you're considering, to inquire about end-of-life and pain-management protocols, and to review billing practices carefully before committing to prolonged stays. For some residents and families, the Cedars and its associated centers offer a high quality of life and meaningful care; for others, especially during difficult medical or ethical circumstances, the experience can fall short of expectations, prompting difficult choices about whether to stay, move, or seek care elsewhere. In all, the thread that ties these accounts together is the critical balance between genuine kindness and the realities of understaffing, administrative pressure, and the imperative to respond swiftly and compassionately to those most in need.

This part of Portland, Maine, offers a convenient and accessible location for senior living with various amenities nearby. There are several physicians and pharmacies within a short distance, providing easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are cafes and restaurants offering a variety of dining options for socializing and relaxation. The proximity to hospitals like Mid Coast Hospital and The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital ensures peace of mind in case of any medical emergencies. Parks such as Lincoln Park and Deering Oaks Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisurely strolls. Overall, this neighborhood offers a well-rounded environment suitable for seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living experience.

Physicians

• Giles Eye Care (0.5 miles)
• Martin's Point Health Care (1 miles)
• Decory Yvonne (1.2 miles)
• Maine Medical Partners Otolaryngology - Portland Office (1.4 miles)
• Eyecare Today (1.5 miles)
• Access Wellness (1.6 miles)
• Mkm Ent Associates at Mercy (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• Coveside Coffee (1.4 miles)
• Tandem Coffee Roasters - Cafe & Roastery (1.6 miles)
• Little Woodfords (2 miles)
• Coffee By Design (2.1 miles)
• Bintliff's American Cafe (2.1 miles)
• Speckled Ax (2.2 miles)
• Bard Coffee (2.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Woodford F & B (1.5 miles)
• Root Wild Kombucha (1.6 miles)
• Portland Zoo (1.6 miles)
• The Shop By Island Creek Oyster (1.6 miles)
• Rising Tide Brewing Company (1.6 miles)
• Terlingua (1.8 miles)
• Oxbow Blending and Bottling (1.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Cvs North Portland (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Apothecary By Design (1.9 miles)
• Rosemont Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Mid Coast Hospital (1.6 miles)
• HealthSouth (1.9 miles)
• Maine Medical Center-Brighton Campus (2 miles)
• Portland Public Health Division (2.1 miles)
• The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Lincoln Park (2.1 miles)
• Deering Oaks Park (2.1 miles)
• Fort Allen Park (2.1 miles)
• Congress Square Park (2.3 miles)

Theaters

• Patriot Cinemas (2.2 miles)