Cummings Health Care Facility

    5 Crocker Ave, Howland, ME, 04448
    3.3 · 6 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    3.0

    Great caregivers, administration needs improvement

    I found the caregivers fabulous, respectful, long-tenured and providing high-quality, homey care-meals were excellent with alternatives and I'm especially grateful to Julie Murphy. That said, administration is lacking: decisions sometimes ignore family wishes, I witnessed occasional poor care, undertrained or distracted staff (on phones), dirty visiting areas and inappropriate staff conversations, which undermined an otherwise welcoming environment.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    3.33 · 6 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      3.0
    • Staff

      3.3
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      3.3

    Pros

    • caring and fabulous staff
    • respectful treatment of residents
    • high-quality, appreciated care
    • homey, welcoming atmosphere
    • long-tenured staff / staff continuity
    • heartfelt welcome on admission
    • good dining with varied meal alternatives
    • specific staff praise (Julie Murphy)

    Cons

    • administration / management perceived as lacking
    • decisions sometimes not aligned with family wishes
    • reports of poor or inconsistent care
    • undertrained or inattentive staff
    • staff distracted by phones
    • dirty visiting area / cleanliness concerns
    • inappropriate staff conversations in public
    • neglectful behavior reported

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed but shows a clear split between strong praise for front-line caregivers and serious concerns about consistency, training, cleanliness, and management. Many reviewers express gratitude and confidence in the staff who provide day-to-day care, describing the team as fabulous, respectful, and capable of delivering high-quality care. Multiple comments highlight a warm, homey, and welcoming environment, with long-tenured staff providing continuity and a heartfelt welcome that reassures families. Specific individuals receive direct appreciation (notably Julie Murphy), suggesting that certain staff members stand out for their performance and compassion.

    At the same time, several reviews raise significant concerns about inconsistent care and lapses in professionalism. Some reviewers report poor care and instances of neglect, and others describe staff who appear undertrained or inattentive. Complaints include staff frequently using phones while on duty and having inappropriate conversations in public spaces, which undermines the otherwise positive perception of caregiving. These issues point to variability in staff behavior and competence that can leave family members feeling uneasy about resident safety and dignity.

    Facility-related concerns are primarily focused on cleanliness and the visitor experience. A dirty visiting area is cited, indicating lapses in housekeeping or public-area maintenance that contrast with the described "homey" atmosphere. Dining receives positive mentions: reviewers note great meals with alternatives, which contributes to the facility's comfortable, welcoming feel. However, there is little detailed information about activities or programming in the summaries provided, so assessments of social and recreational offerings cannot be made from these reviews alone.

    Management and administrative issues are a recurring theme. Several reviewers feel that administration is lacking and that some decisions are not well aligned with family wishes. This suggests a communication or policy gap between leadership and families, and may help explain some of the inconsistencies in care and professionalism reported. The coexistence of highly praised front-line staff and criticisms aimed at administration suggests that strong caregiving culture at the staff level may be undermined by systemic issues higher up.

    In summary, reviewers often experience the facility as warm and staffed by compassionate, long-standing caregivers who provide good meals and a reassuring welcome—attributes that many families and residents value highly. However, there are noteworthy and recurrent negative reports concerning management effectiveness, inconsistent staff training/behavior, cleanliness of public areas, and occasional neglect. The pattern is one of promising strengths on the caregiving side tempered by operational and supervisory problems that create variability in resident experience. Prospective families should be aware of both the facility's clear strengths in direct care and hospitality and the areas where reviewers have identified risks or dissatisfaction.

    Location

    Map showing location of Cummings Health Care Facility

    About Cummings Health Care Facility

    Cummings Health Care Facility is a small, for-profit nursing home situated in Howland, Maine. With a capacity of 34 beds, it provides both long-term care and short-stay rehabilitation services, participating in both Medicare and Medicaid programs to accommodate a range of resident needs and financial situations. The facility is not part of a continuing care retirement community, meaning it primarily offers focused nursing and rehabilitative care rather than a full spectrum of independent or assisted living options. Its ownership is corporate, and the facility functions independently, not within a hospital setting.

    The nursing home's care is structured to support residents with daily assistance related to both medical and non-medical needs, such as medication administration, dressing, personal hygiene, eating, and using the bathroom. The staff-to-resident ratio is a notable aspect, featuring an average of three hours and twenty-seven minutes of nursing attention per resident each day, with particularly strong consistency in staffing levels between weekdays and weekends. This level of care is essential in maintaining the well-being and daily functioning of the resident population, with a significant portion—about 87.4%—maintaining the ability to move, eat, or perform routine activities without assistance. Additionally, preventive care measures such as flu vaccinations are emphasized, with approximately 80.3% of residents receiving their annual influenza immunizations.

    Cummings Health Care Facility undergoes regular health, fire, and safety inspections to ensure high standards of resident protection and facility safety. Regular evaluations have addressed factors such as accident prevention, food safety, infection control, posting of nurse staffing information, environmental comfort, and the protocols provided to ensure residents are informed about their health and care plans. Areas under review have included supervision to prevent accidents, proper storage and preparation of food in alignment with professional standards, and the implementation of infection control programs. Certain inspection findings identified areas where the facility needed to improve, including providing adequate supervision, ensuring residents are fully informed about their health status, and promptly communicating with residents, families, and doctors in case of significant changes in a resident’s condition.

    The facility is designed to foster a safe and comfortable environment for its residents, paying attention to details such as environmental cleanliness and the creation of a homelike atmosphere that supports both safety and daily living activities. Though the home experienced periods of increased scrutiny by regulatory agencies due to documented patterns of care, measures have been taken to address these concerns and enhance the quality of service provided.

    Payment for services at Cummings Health Care Facility is available through both Medicare, for short-term rehabilitation following a qualifying hospital stay, and Medicaid for eligible long-term residents after other resources are exhausted. The facility encourages clear communication with families regarding costs and payment options to ensure transparency and help residents make informed decisions about their care.

    Overall, Cummings Health Care Facility maintains a steady commitment to meeting the personal and medical needs of its residents. Emphasis on staffing consistency, preventive health measures, and a dedication to continuous improvement in care practices underscore the facility's objective to provide a safe and supportive environment for older adults requiring nursing care in the community.

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