Best Nursing Homes in Portland, ME

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 5 nursing homes in Portland, ME using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in ME
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Portland, ME our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in Portland, ME.
5 homes
Other senior care options in Portland:
Avg Overall CMS Rating: 4.0/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Portland, ME. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating: 4.3/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Portland, ME. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating: 3.3/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Portland, ME. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.0/ 5

Compare Nursing Homes around Portland (Metro Area)

Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the ME Dept. of Health & Human Services (DHHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. PC (Palliative Care): Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Maine average is: 52.1% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
Gorham House
NH
AL
IL
MC
RC
SNF
Gorham
69
Facility 69
ME AVG 20
Rank #35 / 356
90.3%
Facility 90.3%
ME AVG 87.5
Rank #144 / 239
+3%
5.20
Facility 5.20
ME AVG 4.50
Rank #5 / 30
+39%+16%
$0
Facility $0
ME AVG $26.4k
Rank #1 / 30
16
Facility 16
ME AVG 28.5
Rank #3 / 30
4.0
Facility 4.0
ME AVG 5.9
Rank #7 / 30
-62A-
64
Facility 64
ME AVG 36
Rank #63 / 357
Todd Beaulieu
$14.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $14.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
ME AVG $17.8M
Rank #9 / 27
$8.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $8.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
ME AVG $7.2M
Rank #10 / 27
58.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 58.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
ME AVG 52.1%
Rank #5 / 27
205166
Lunder Memory Care at The Cedars
NH
AL
IL
MC
SNF
Portland (North Deering)
102
Facility 102
ME AVG 20
Rank #12 / 356
76.0%
Facility 76.0%
ME AVG 87.5
Rank #185 / 239
-13%
5.10
Facility 5.10
ME AVG 4.50
Rank #6 / 30
+40%+13%
$0
Facility $0
ME AVG $26.4k
Rank #1 / 30
26
Facility 26
ME AVG 28.5
Rank #11 / 30
5.2
Facility 5.2
ME AVG 5.9
Rank #12 / 30
-78-
54
Facility 54
ME AVG 36
Rank #89 / 357
Jha Services, Inc
$12.1MFiscal year ending 04/2024
Facility $12.1MFiscal year ending 04/2024
ME AVG $17.8M
Rank #13 / 27
$8.1MFiscal year ending 04/2024
Facility $8.1MFiscal year ending 04/2024
ME AVG $7.2M
Rank #11 / 27
67%Fiscal year ending 04/2024
Facility 67%Fiscal year ending 04/2024
ME AVG 52.1%
Rank #4 / 27
205003
Sedgewood Commons
NH
HOS
MC
PC
RC
SNF
Falmouth (Falmouth Foreside)
91
Facility 91
ME AVG 20
Rank #14 / 356
69.5%
Facility 69.5%
ME AVG 87.5
Rank #204 / 239
-21%
4.15
Facility 4.15
ME AVG 4.50
Rank #17 / 30
+23%-8%
$0
Facility $0
ME AVG $26.4k
Rank #1 / 30
28
Facility 28
ME AVG 28.5
Rank #17 / 30
7.0
Facility 7.0
ME AVG 5.9
Rank #22 / 30
-63-
13
Facility 13
ME AVG 36
Rank #262 / 357
Jolene Mclean
$11.3MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility $11.3MFiscal year ending 09/2023
ME AVG $17.8M
Rank #14 / 27
$5.6MFiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility $5.6MFiscal year ending 09/2023
ME AVG $7.2M
Rank #17 / 27
49.1%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
Facility 49.1%Fiscal year ending 09/2023
ME AVG 52.1%
Rank #19 / 27
205159

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every ME community we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 analyzed for Portland.

Overview of Gorham House

Gorham House is a hidden gem nestled in the peaceful town of Gorham, Maine. This exceptional residence offers a range of services to meet the unique needs of seniors, including assisted living homes, nursing home care, and memory care living. With a commitment to excellence, Gorham House ensures that residents receive the highest quality of care and support.

From weekly housekeeping services to convenient transportation options, Gorham House strives to create a worry-free lifestyle for residents. With fully staffed LPNs and RNs available 24 hours a day, the nursing home care provided is of the utmost quality. Gorham House has built a reputation for its dedication to nursing home quality measures, ensuring that residents receive top-notch care that exceeds industry standards. The home also offers a variety of floor plans to suit the preferences and requirements of residents. Whether it’s independent living, assisted living, or specialized memory care, seniors can find a living space that meets their specific needs and desires.

Contact Gorham House

Overview of Lunder Memory Care at the Cedars

While conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia come with a considerable amount of challenges with everyday life, a diagnosis doesn’t mean you can’t lead a fulfilling life anymore. Understanding and building upon this, The Lunder Memory Care Household at Sam L. Cohen Households, a memory care facility at The Cedars in Portland, Maine, offers a secure and comfortable environment needed for memory care communities.

Ensuring that each resident receives personalized wellness programs that account for changing abilities and needs, The Cedars’ compassionate and professional staff offers the exact support that each resident deserves. Living arrangements are made safe, cozy, and respectful of privacy, while also providing spaces for socialization to foster a warm sense of community.

Contact Lunder Memory Care at The Cedars

Overview of Sedgewood Commons

Sedgewood Commons sits in the Falmouth Foreside neighborhood of Falmouth, Maine, a quiet, car-dependent stretch where you’ll want a vehicle for most errands (Walk Score: 13). It’s a single-story nursing home with 91 beds, split between private and semi-private rooms, and it covers a wide range of care: nursing home services alongside hospice, memory care, palliative care, and respite stays.

This place runs nearly full almost all the time. Occupancy sits at 94.7%, and the average resident stays about 208 days, just under seven months. That’s a long enough window to suggest most people here aren’t passing through for a quick recovery; they’re settling in. Sedgewood Commons takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and the breakdown tells its own story: most new residents come in paying privately (56%), usually for a four to five month stretch. Medicare residents make up 41% of admissions and usually cycle through in about a month, the classic short-term rehab pattern. Medicaid residents are a smaller slice of new arrivals, but when they’re here, they tend to stay for years, not months.

Staffing breaks down across three roles: registered nurses put in 56 minutes per resident each day, licensed practical nurses add 29 minutes, and nurse aides contribute the largest chunk at 2 hours and 18 minutes. Combined, that’s 3 hours and 49 minutes of nursing attention per resident daily, a mix that spans clinical oversight down to hands-on, day-to-day help.

Residents here also have a formal say in how things run. An Active Resident Council meets regularly to weigh in on policies, care quality, and activities, which is a structural detail worth noting if you care about residents having actual input rather than just programming handed down to them. There’s also a fitness and recreation amenity for residents who want to stay physically active.

Taken together, this is a facility built for both short stays and long ones, with a payer mix and length-of-stay pattern that points to a community comfortable handling both ends of that spectrum.

Contact Sedgewood Commons

Overview of The Cedars Portland

Located in the bright and peaceful residential area of Ocean Avenue, Portland, ME, The Cedars goes above and beyond to deliver assisted living, independent living, memory care, skilled nursing, and short-term rehabilitation for residents to have the finest retirement. The community values residents’ privacy, providing a wide selection of cozy and well-designed floor plans to foster comfort and familiarity. With its long history of exceptional care and assistance since 1929, The Cedars continuously provides a safe place for residents to flourish and experience meaningful things.

Combining the utmost comfort and medical expertise, the community ensures residents’ needs and aspirations are well-cared for. As a non-profit community, The Cedars strives to provide accessible and up-to-date care to enjoy every moment of their best years.

Contact The Cedars Portland

Overview of Assisted Living Household at the Cedars

Assisted Living Household at the Cedars is a 44-bed assisted living community located at 650 Ocean Avenue in Portland, Maine. Serving older adults in Cumberland County, the facility operates as part of a nonprofit retirement community offering a continuum of care that includes independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

The community currently maintains a 77% occupancy rate, with 34 of its 44 beds filled. This is below the Maine state average of 83.1%. Current figures indicate that the facility has available capacity to accommodate new admissions.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification, has conducted four inspections at this facility, which is below the state average of 10. An April 23, 2024, survey identified deficiencies involving missing consent forms, unclean refrigerators, bathrooms lacking call bells, and water temperatures exceeding allowed limits. A follow-up inspection on May 29, 2024, found the facility in substantial compliance with zero deficiencies. No fines, enforcement actions, or substantiated complaints appear in the records.

On-site services include rehabilitation, short-term rehab, and skilled nursing care. The facility operates under a nonprofit structure and a person-centered care model within the broader campus. Staffing ratios, payment options, and specific amenity counts are not publicly reported in the source data, so families should request this information during a tour.

This community suits families seeking assisted living within a nonprofit continuum-of-care campus. Families evaluating Assisted Living Household at the Cedars should confirm current Medicaid and payment options and verify staffing levels directly with the facility before making a placement decision.

Contact Assisted Living Household at the Cedars

Ranking Methodology

How we rank these nursing homes

Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports.

  • CMS data
  • 5 weighted categories
  • Updated quarterly
Full methodology

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Care Quality
  • 20%
    Staffing
  • 20%
    Regulatory
  • 20%
    Operational
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Care Quality 35%

The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.

  • Includes
  • Overall Rating
  • Health Inspection
  • QM Rating
  • Long-Stay QM
  • Short-Stay QM
02

Staffing Adequacy 20%

The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.

  • Includes
  • Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
  • RN vs State
  • Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
  • RN Turnover
03

Regulatory & Safety Record 20%

Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • Citations
  • Citations/Inspection
  • Severe Citations
  • Fines
  • Accreditations
04

Operational & Financial Stability 20%

Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy vs State
  • Avg Length of Stay
  • Revenue
  • Payroll %
  • Years in Operation
  • Admin Tenure
05

Environment & Accessibility 5%

Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • BBB Rating
No paid rankings Facilities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Portland Nursing Home Facilities Overview

  • Avg payroll costs: $4,690,104.54 (Maine avg: $4,679,595.58)
  • Avg home costs: $7,531,964.08 (Maine avg: $6,299,057.58)
  • Avg occupancy: 67.60% (Maine avg: 86.33%)
  • Avg bed count: 94 (Maine avg: 92)
  • Avg home revenue: $13,072,542.46 (Maine avg: $15,232,051.39)

Community-level financial and occupancy data

  • MARQUIS MILL PARK: 85.97% occupancy, 72 beds, $23,840,791.00 home revenue, $4,508,937.00 payroll costs, $7,739,230.00 home costs.
  • MARQUIS VERMONT HILLS: 64.52% occupancy, 73 beds, $10,086,310.00 home revenue, $2,693,650.00 payroll costs, $4,007,658.00 home costs.
  • MARQUIS MT TABOR: 51.67% occupancy, 102 beds, $16,407,882.00 home revenue, $4,421,472.00 payroll costs, $7,966,583.00 home costs.
  • MENLO PARK HEALTH CARE: 82.89% occupancy, 83 beds, $13,666,149.00 home revenue, $4,594,915.00 payroll costs, $6,375,183.00 home costs.
  • PORTLAND HEALTH AND REHAB CENTER: 46.00% occupancy, 57 beds, $7,614,069.00 home revenue, $3,647,512.00 payroll costs, $5,565,161.00 home costs.
  • WEST HILLS CONVALESCENT CENTER L.P.: 49.61% occupancy, 180 beds, $17,016,942.00 home revenue, $6,795,813.00 payroll costs, $10,174,966.00 home costs.
  • MARQUIS CENTENNIAL POST ACUTE REHAB: 71.50% occupancy, 80 beds, $14,600,965.00 home revenue, $4,307,724.00 payroll costs, $5,540,919.00 home costs.
  • MARQUIS PIEDMONT POST ACUTE REHAB: 60.86% occupancy, 150 beds, $12,615,955.00 home revenue, $5,526,998.00 payroll costs, $6,366,732.00 home costs.
View Chart Data Table
MetricPortlandMaine
Avg payroll costs$4,690,104.54$4,679,595.58
Avg home costs$7,531,964.08$6,299,057.58
Avg occupancy67.60%86.33%
Avg bed count9492
Avg home revenue$13,072,542.46$15,232,051.39
CommunityOccupancyBedsHome RevenuePayroll CostsHome CostsMedicareMedicaidPrivate Pay
MARQUIS MILL PARK85.97%72$23,840,791.00$4,508,937.00$7,739,230.0052.16%7.71%40.13%
MARQUIS VERMONT HILLS64.52%73$10,086,310.00$2,693,650.00$4,007,658.0035.13%39.14%25.73%
MARQUIS MT TABOR51.67%102$16,407,882.00$4,421,472.00$7,966,583.004.25%71.06%24.69%
MENLO PARK HEALTH CARE82.89%83$13,666,149.00$4,594,915.00$6,375,183.003.46%85.18%11.36%
PORTLAND HEALTH AND REHAB CENTER46.00%57$7,614,069.00$3,647,512.00$5,565,161.004.98%60.56%34.46%
WEST HILLS CONVALESCENT CENTER L.P.49.61%180$17,016,942.00$6,795,813.00$10,174,966.0010.83%64.66%24.51%
MARQUIS CENTENNIAL POST ACUTE REHAB71.50%80$14,600,965.00$4,307,724.00$5,540,919.0015.83%57.79%26.38%
MARQUIS PIEDMONT POST ACUTE REHAB60.86%150$12,615,955.00$5,526,998.00$6,366,732.003.73%23.43%72.84%
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Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Portland, ME

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Maine?

Assisted living in Maine is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does Maine Medicaid cover nursing home care?

Yes — Maine Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.

What is nursing home care?

Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.

How many nursing homes are listed on this page?

This page features 5 nursing homes in Portland, ME. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right nursing home in Portland, ME?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Portland, ME, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting nursing homes in Portland, ME?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.