Overall sentiment in the reviews is highly mixed: many reviewers praise the direct care staff, physical campus, and rehabilitation services, while a significant minority report serious operational and clinical failures. Positive comments repeatedly highlight warm, compassionate caregivers, individualized attention, and successful short-term rehab outcomes. Multiple reviewers describe clean, attractive grounds and newer buildings, a peaceful environment, and programs that help residents thrive—especially those needing enhanced assisted living or mobility support. For some families the transition went smoothly, and specific staff (including some care coordinators and individual caregivers) received strong personal endorsements.
At the same time, a number of reviews describe troubling and potentially dangerous lapses in care. Staffing shortages and long call-button delays are recurring themes; reviewers say these delays contributed to neglectful situations, including an account of a resident left in a bathroom and subsequent death. Several reviewers reported inadequate end-of-life education and a lack of pain-management protocols on-site, noting that IV pain medications were not available and that transfers (one cited transfer to Gosnell House) were required for adequate relief. These clinical gaps were particularly alarming to families managing serious illness or end-of-life scenarios.
Administrative and management concerns appear frequently and span multiple areas. Complaints include poor administrative follow-up, misrepresentation of patient progress, billing disputes, rude or insensitive responses about payment, and unclear or high costs. One reviewer reported being arranged to be discharged with transport via Uber instead of a medical transport service, and another cited improper discharge planning and lack of informed care coordination. There are also reports of differential or poor treatment of Mainecare patients, suggesting inconsistency in how patients are served depending on payer status. A reported firing over taking time off to care for a sick child raises additional concerns about HR practices and organizational compassion.
Staff behavior and consistency is a notable polarity in the reviews. Many describe staff as kind, responsive, and compassionate, with some care coordinators lauded for frequent updates and proactive coordination with physicians and families. Conversely, other reviewers describe staff as insensitive, nasty, or uninformed; a few allege privacy violations and uncaring bedside behavior. This suggests variability in training, supervision, or staffing levels: where staffing and leadership are solid, families experience excellent care; where they are lacking, families report serious dissatisfaction and safety concerns.
Facilities, dining, and activities generally receive positive remarks: reviewers repeatedly mention that the property is well maintained, clean, and welcoming, with pleasing outdoor spaces. Opinions on food are mixed — several reviewers praise the food as wonderful, while at least one called it "yucky." Activity offerings and community engagement are described positively by multiple reviewers, and several families noted that residents formed friendships and enjoyed daily help and programming.
Recommendations from reviewers are therefore split. Many highly recommend The Cedars for rehab, assisted living, and for residents who need personalized, respectful care in a pleasant environment. At the same time, some reviewers strongly advise others to look elsewhere, particularly for end-of-life care or for patients with complex pain-management needs. The most consistent red flags prospective residents and families should weigh are understaffing, inconsistent clinical protocols (especially around pain and end-of-life care), administrative responsiveness, discharge planning practices, and reports of negligent incidents. Prospective families should (a) ask specifically about staffing ratios and call-button response times, (b) inquire about on-site pain management policies and transfer protocols, (c) clarify billing, costs, and policies for Medicaid/Mainecare residents, and (d) request references or speak directly with current families about unit-level leadership and recent staffing stability. These targeted questions will help assess whether the strong positive experiences reported by many will be likely in a particular unit or at a particular time, or whether the concerning patterns described by other reviewers could be risks for their loved one.
