Overall sentiment: The collected reviews paint Scarborough Terrace as a largely well-regarded, smaller-scale senior living community with an overwhelmingly positive emphasis on staff quality, personalized care, and a warm, family-like atmosphere. Most reviewers highlight the long tenure and compassion of caregivers and nurses, fast responsiveness to family concerns, and frequent, transparent communication (daily photos, texts, monthly Zooms/newsletters). Many families report smooth transitions at move-in and immediate settling-in of residents, which is reinforced by repeated praise for particular staff members (frequently named in reviews) who coordinate moves and maintain direct family contact.
Care quality and staffing: A dominant theme is the perception of high-quality, individualized care. Reviewers consistently note 24/7 availability of nursing and medication management, in-house medical and therapy services, and proactive advocacy by staff and nursing leadership. The memory-care Rose Garden and assisted-living teams receive multiple accolades for attentive, compassionate care and for keeping residents engaged. Staff continuity and long tenure are repeatedly mentioned as differentiators that help staff know residents by name and provide personalized attention. That said, a minority of reviews raise operational concerns: some report understaffing (notably on night shifts), inconsistent caregiver capabilities, and occasional management problems. These critiques appear infrequent relative to the volume of praise but are notable and worth verifying during tours.
Facilities, grounds, and services: The physical facility receives strong positive feedback. Reviewers describe the building as clean, bright, and hotel-like with sunny rooms and senior-friendly bathrooms. Grounds, gardens, and walking paths are frequently praised for being well-maintained and resort-like, promoting outdoor activity and relaxation. The community offers multiple on-site services (hairdresser, podiatry/foot care, physical therapy) and convenient transportation, which many families find valuable. The layout has drawn a few comments about being confusing due to multiple levels and elevators; prospective residents should walk the floorplan during a visit to confirm ease of navigation for their needs.
Activities, social life, and family engagement: A clear strength is the breadth and variety of activities and family events. Reviews mention a robust calendar — fitness classes, arts and crafts, live music, concerts, theater room movies, ice cream outings, Casco Bay cruises, BBQs, and themed family nights — and many families appreciate frequent, family-friendly programming. The community’s event coordinators and activity staff receive frequent praise. Reviewers consistently note that participating in activities has improved residents’ social engagement and well-being.
Dining and food service: Dining receives mixed-to-positive feedback overall. Many reviewers praise the on-site chef and dining staff, reporting good meals, special-diet accommodations (including diabetes care), and pleasant dining experiences. However, some reviewers reported issues — especially with evening meals being bland, served late, or arriving cold; dry sandwiches were mentioned — indicating variability in meal quality or meal-service timing. These mixed reports suggest asking specific questions about meal schedules, sample menus, and special-diet handling during a tour.
Cost, billing, and vendor concerns: Financial concerns appear in multiple reviews. Some find Scarborough Terrace competitively priced and better value compared with area facilities, while others describe it as pricey or express worry about running out of money. There are reports of fee increases (one specifically cited an 8.5% increase) and at least one complaint about Pharmerica pharmacy pricing that resulted in a BBB complaint. Prospective residents should review contract terms carefully, ask about annual increases, and clarify pharmacy and ancillary vendor arrangements.
Management and isolated negative reports: The facility’s smaller, family-run character is frequently lauded as producing more personalized attention and less corporate focus on the bottom line. However, there are isolated negative reports, including a few strong allegations of neglect, incompetence, or cover-ups, and at least one review describing rude interaction with management and a subsequent move to another facility. While the majority of reviews reflect strong satisfaction, these outliers underscore the importance of checking state inspection records, staffing ratios (especially at night), recent complaint history, and speaking with current residents and families during a tour.
What this means for prospective residents: Scarborough Terrace is likely a strong fit for families seeking a clean, well-kept, smaller community that emphasizes personalized care, frequent family communication, active social programming, and an appealing campus with gardens and outdoor paths. The facility’s strengths are staff quality, continuity of care, breadth of activities, and an all-inclusive model that many families find reassuring. Important due-diligence steps before deciding should include confirming current staffing levels (especially overnight), asking for specifics on meal service times and sample menus, clarifying fee increase policies and pharmacy billing, touring the memory-care unit if applicable, and reviewing the contract for in-room amenities (kitchenette expectations) and transportation services. Overall, the reviews recommend Scarborough Terrace strongly but advise prospective residents to verify details related to cost, vendor pricing, staffing patterns, and any recent administrative issues during an in-person visit.
