Maine Veterans' Home Bangor has been around since 1995 and serves veterans and their families, offering a range of care from short-term rehab to long-term skilled nursing, memory care, residential services, and respite care. The facility is one of six in the Maine Veterans' Homes system, with others in Augusta, Caribou, Machias, Scarborough, and South Paris, all dedicated to caring for people who've served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The building sits on Hogan Road in Bangor and has modern, spacious living spaces, a newly renovated skilled unit, quiet rooms for rest and meditation, barber and beauty shop, as well as patios and outdoor spots for residents and families to enjoy time together. Inside, you'll find community living rooms, multipurpose spaces with large TVs, and a café-style dining room where residents and guests can pick from varied menus, and the chefs and meal planners focus on nutritious options.
The home has a total bed capacity of 150, broken down into 28 for skilled rehab and nursing, 26 for long-term care, 20 for residential care, plus private rooms on memory care units, and 30 beds available for domiciliary care. The staff, both full-time and part-time, number about 290 and include nurses with 24-hour coverage, a medical director, therapy staff known for being helpful and accommodating, and an admissions team ready to walk families through applications, benefits, eligibility, and payment. There's a Maximus evaluation process to figure out eligibility for care, and residents can pay through VA benefits, Aid and Attendance stipends, Medicare, MaineCare, long-term care insurance, or privately, depending on their needs and situation. Medicare may cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a hospital stay that meets certain rules. Veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability can get full VA coverage. The facility stands apart as its own nonprofit, not run by the VA, which means it's focused on serving Maine veterans' needs.
Doctors, nurses, and therapists make individualized care plans, working to meet residents' health needs and goals, integrating rehab therapy and recreational activities, which seem to get high marks from residents and families. Activities are always on the schedule, from outings like parades and fishing trips, to community dining, indoor games, and social programs that have brought the facility a few honors for both quality activities and its friendly, helpful staff. Veterans' organizations also help run volunteer programs and support events. Residents can get pharmacy service through MVH Pharmacies, can use wheelchair vans and buses for community trips, and have access to a therapy apartment suite and therapeutic pool for rehab, so there's support for folks looking to get stronger and re-enter the community safely. The culture at Maine Veterans' Home Bangor is steady and familiar, with a focus on respect, dignity, and veterans' unique needs-staff recognize the meaning of military service, and aim to support people with compassion rather than flash.
