The Cedars in Portland, ME

Pros

• The Cedars is a standout campus with a thoughtful approach to aging.
• The enhanced assisted living program fills a critical gap and is delivered with intention.
• The Cedars continues to evolve with professionalism and respect for the people who live there.
• It is very welcoming upon arrival.
• It is an absolutely amazing community with wonderful residents and staff.
• The staff are warm, kind, caring, and responsive.
• It is one of the best facilities in the state.
• The facility has well-kept lawns, a clean property, and a pleasant environment.
• The Cedars and its staff are kind to residents, know them well, and accommodate their likes and needs.

Cons

• The receptionist is very rude.
• There are not enough staff for patient care, and staff are often on cell phones when assistance is requested.
• The facility is severely understaffed, and many staff won't lend a hand or perform basic wellness checks.
• Red-button calls go unanswered for long periods, sometimes over an hour.
• Management is horrible, with billing issues and rude treatment regarding payment.
• End-of-life care lacks protocols for pain management and comfort.
• Residents have been left unattended, including being placed in a bathroom and not checked on.
• Privacy and dignity are not always respected, with instances of privacy violations by staff.

Review

The Cedars in Portland, ME is best suited for families seeking a thoughtfully designed campus that supports mobility and daily living with a clear emphasis on individualized care. This community shines for residents who want a welcoming environment, meaningful rehab pathways, and a structured plan that can adapt as needs evolve. Those prioritizing consistently rapid nurse responses, unwavering 24/7 attentiveness, and flawless end-of-life protocols should consider alternatives. The facility's strengths are real - well-kept grounds, rehabilitation momentum, and a culture that, when staffing is aligned, delivers genuine comfort and progress. Prospective families should weigh the appealing campus culture against the volatility that can accompany staffing gaps.

Pros center on the campus's intentional design and care framework. The Cedars offers newer buildings that accommodate mobility challenges, an enhanced assisted living program, and robust care coordination that keeps families in the loop. Across many accounts, residents benefit from attentive caregivers who, when available, provide compassionate, thoughtful support. Rehab and transitional care are frequently praised, with stories of meaningful improvement and safe, orderly progress from hospital to home. The combination of a calm environment, good meals, and structured activity options creates a compelling value proposition for those who can rely on steady staffing and consistent execution of care plans.

The principal drawbacks cluster around staffing and reliability. Understaffing surfaces as delayed responses to residents' needs, with red-button calls taking substantial time to be answered in some cases. Front-desk interactions can leave a negative first impression, even as many caregivers are described as kind and capable. End-of-life care is a persistent concern for several families, with reports of limited pain management protocols and inconsistent attention to comfort measures. Administrative issues - billing surprises, promises of follow-up that never fully materialize, and a perception of uneven organizational support - further complicate trust. Taken together, these factors can overshadow the positives and make the day-to-day experience highly variable.

When the pros align with the staffing realities, The Cedars demonstrates meaningful value. Care coordination is not just a checkbox - it translates into clearer updates, better planning, and smoother collaboration with doctors and outside services. Families that actively engage with the care coordinator often report better communication, more coordinated transitions, and a sense that someone is overseeing the resident's overall trajectory. In those moments, the enhanced living environment and rehab momentum become a sustaining strength. However, the same strengths cannot consistently compensate for recurrent gaps in response times and administrative follow-through, which is why ongoing diligence from families is essential to avoid misalignment between expectations and day-to-day care.

For families weighing long-term assisted living versus short-term rehab, The Cedars can be an excellent choice if the aim is mobility support, a respectful atmosphere, and active care coordination at a reasonable pace of care. Price sensitivity matters too; several reviews reference premium costs alongside a desire for dependable service, so scrutinizing billing practices and discussing total-cost expectations upfront is prudent. For those with pressing end-of-life needs or intense pain-management requirements, compare the campus's protocols with other facilities that emphasize palliative expertise and more predictable escalation pathways. In short, the Cedars rewards proactive oversight and clear communication; without that, risk rises that the good care stories don't consistently translate into daily reassurance.

Decision-makers should conduct multi-timeframe visits, meeting with a care coordinator to assess responsiveness, care planning, and coordination with external providers. Ask for concrete examples of response-time targets, staffing ratios across shifts, and how privacy is preserved during sensitive moments. If rapid, reliable care and transparent billing are non-negotiables, alternatives with stronger staffing stability may be the safer choice. For families prioritizing a warm, well-maintained environment with substantive rehab and a collaborative care model, The Cedars offers substantial upside - provided there is ongoing oversight and active engagement. In the right configuration, this community can be a dependable partner in aging well; in other circumstances, it risks delivering more stress than serenity.

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)