Cedars Nursing Care Ctr in Portland, ME

Pros

• The Cedars is a standout campus with a thoughtful approach to aging, reflecting professionalism and respect for residents.
• The enhanced assisted living program fills a critical gap and is delivered with intention.
• The Cedars is described as one of the best facilities in the state, with exceptional rehabilitation and a beautiful, well-kept campus.
• The staff are warm, kind, caring, and responsive, giving families confidence in the care their loved ones receive.
• Residents and families consistently praise the staff for personalized, attentive care and for knowing residents well.
• Care coordinators at The Cedars are proactive and communicative, coordinating care across settings.
• The environment is welcoming and pleasant, with positive experiences noted across multiple locations within the Cedars campus.

Cons

• The receptionist is very rude.
• There aren't enough staff for patient care, and some staff sit on cell phones instead of helping.
• The facility is severely understaffed and many staff won't lend a hand or perform basic wellness checks.
• Red button alerts from patients go unanswered for long periods, sometimes over an hour.
• End-of-life care is poorly managed, with no pain management protocols and staff lacking education on comfort care.
• Management is horrible and unresponsive, with little follow-up on complaints.
• Billing practices are rude and uncooperative, with families billed thousands after a stay.

Review

Cedars Nursing Care Center in Portland, Maine is best suited for families seeking a rehabilitative-focused stay in a modern, well-maintained campus where mobility challenges and transition care are addressed with intentional programming and a visible emphasis on individualized support. The setting appeals to seniors who value a newer facility feel, thoughtful aging services, and a care coordination approach that can guide transitions between rehab, assisted living, and home. It is less ideal for those who require unwavering around-the-clock nursing attention, highly consistent end-of-life pain management, or a facility with flawless administrative responsiveness.

Alternatives should be considered by families whose loved one demands reliable, immediate response to call bells, or who prioritize hospice-level comfort with proven pain management protocols. Front-desk interactions, inconsistent staffing levels, and occasional gaps in responsiveness have a meaningful impact on daily peace of mind. If privacy, timely care, and predictable communication are non-negotiables, a different community with more robust nurse coverage and stronger administrative accountability may be the prudent choice. Those whose financial arrangements hinge on complex insurance and billing practices should also scrutinize guarantees and follow-up carefully.

On balance, the strongest positives lie in the campus's thoughtful design and the breadth of care options. The Cedars presents a standout environment with updated buildings, a clear commitment to mobility and individualized care, and an enhanced assisted living pathway that fills important gaps for residents who aren't ready for full nursing facility placement. Care coordinators and several frontline staff are repeatedly cited as capable, warm, and responsive, and rehab-focused pathways yield meaningful progress for many residents. In short, the facility can deliver meaningful improvement and a positive day-to-day experience when staffing aligns with resident needs.

Yet the most persistent downsides center on understaffing and uneven care delivery. Review narratives are consistent about insufficient hands-on care, with red-button calls sometimes going unanswered for extended periods and caregivers occasionally missing routine wellness checks. Rude or dismissive behavior at the reception desk does little to bolster confidence in frontline service, and administrative responses to problems - especially around end-of-life comfort care and billing - vary enough to erode trust. These gaps are not universal, but they are frequent enough to require serious risk assessment for families counting on steady, compassionate, comprehensive care.

The end-of-life and pain-management dimension is one of the clearest fault lines. Several accounts describe a lack of protocols, limited access to timely medication administration, and difficult transitions that forced families to seek alternate arrangements. When a loved one is fragile or at the threshold of hospice care, these gaps can be inescapable and costly in emotional and logistical terms. Management quality appears inconsistent, and when promises are made to follow up, they are not always fulfilled. That combination is enough to reframe Cedars as a good option for rehab and daily support, but with notable caveats for anyone prioritizing dignified, tightly coordinated end-of-life care.

If Cedars is on the short list, approach it with a concrete plan: request a candid multi-shift tour to observe staffing patterns, ask for a dedicated care coordinator who will remain the consistent point of contact, and verify response-time commitments for call bells and essential needs. Probe the specifics of end-of-life protocols, pain management options, and privacy practices in sensitive rooms. Confirm pricing details up front and obtain written assurances about what is included in the quoted rate. In the hands of an attentive team and a proactive family, Cedars can deliver solid rehab outcomes and a warm, supportive atmosphere; in less favorable circumstances, the same gaps can undermine the overall experience.

This part of Portland, Maine, offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a convenient and diverse neighborhood. With multiple physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals within close proximity, residents have easy access to healthcare resources. Additionally, the abundance of cafes and restaurants provides opportunities for socializing and dining out. The nearby parks offer green spaces for leisurely strolls or outdoor activities. Overall, this area offers a mix of healthcare facilities, dining options, and recreational areas that cater to the needs and interests of older individuals considering senior living in Portland.

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)