Country Villa Retirement Home

    509 Kenduskeag Ave, Bangor, ME, 04401
    4.4 · 20 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Warm attentive home-like care recommended

    I placed my mother here and have been very pleased - warm, home-like atmosphere with kind, attentive staff, 24-hour supervision, and excellent home-cooked meals (homemade desserts too). Rooms are comfortable with private baths, lots of natural light, and pleasant outdoor seating; the activity calendar, weekly hair appointments, laundry and daily housekeeping keep residents social and well cared for. It's good value and welcoming overall; note the dining area can be a bit cramped and I've heard isolated reports of inconsistent care, but our experience has been positive and I highly recommend it.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.40 · 20 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.6
    • Staff

      4.5
    • Meals

      4.5
    • Amenities

      3.7
    • Value

      4.3

    Pros

    • Welcoming gardens and front-porch rocking chairs
    • Warm, friendly and attentive staff
    • Large rooms with private bathrooms
    • Lots of natural light and well-decorated common areas
    • Impressive activity calendar and broad range of social activities
    • Home-cooked meals, homemade desserts and generally strong dining praise
    • Clean, warm and homelike atmosphere reported by many reviewers
    • 24-hour supervision and convenient location close to home
    • Daily housekeeping and laundry services
    • Weekly hair appointments and other regular services
    • Friendly residents and opportunities for socialization and outings
    • Reasonable price and perceived good value
    • Improvements and positive changes noted under new ownership
    • Small, home-like facility and welcoming culture
    • Supportive and professional director/management (in multiple reviews)
    • Ample outdoor seating and shaded areas
    • Pleasant proprietor and convenient building layout

    Cons

    • Reports of neglect and poor supervision (resident not awakened for meals)
    • Serious communication failures with family (911 called without notification)
    • Allegations that some residents were isolated and not allowed to socialize
    • Staff conflicts, gossiping and unprofessional behavior reported
    • Poor or inconsistent staffing levels leading to neglect in some accounts
    • Facility reportedly sold without notice to families
    • Inconsistent cleanliness (some reviewers describe cleanliness as so-so)
    • Mixed dining experiences: some say food unappealing and dining disorganized
    • Small dining area and, for some, small resident rooms
    • Dark hallways and need for minor repairs/upgrades cited
    • Conflicting reports from staff producing inconsistent information
    • Some reviewers observed residents not interactive or appearing lonely

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment about Country Villa Retirement Home is mixed but leans positive among the majority of reviewers, with strong recurring praise for the facility’s homelike atmosphere, caring staff, and active social program. Many reviewers describe the setting as quaint and beautifully decorated, with welcoming gardens, front-porch rockers, ample outdoor seating, and common areas filled with natural light. Numerous guests and family members highlight large rooms with private baths, daily housekeeping and laundry services, weekly hair appointments, and other amenities that contribute to a comfortable, home-like environment. The activity calendar and range of social activities receive consistent commendation; reviewers note that the facility organizes outings, trips, and regular activities that help residents make friends and avoid isolation. Dining is frequently praised as home-cooked and hearty — several reviewers specifically mention homemade desserts and “top-notch” meals — and many families say the facility represents good value, especially under recent improvements noted by new ownership.

    Care quality and staff performance are among the most commonly discussed themes and show a divergence in experience. A substantial portion of reviews are very positive about staff: words such as kind, supportive, attentive, professional, and treating residents like extended family recur across multiple summaries. Reviewers frequently mention caring directors and staff who are client-focused, provide hugs, and create a warm, welcoming culture. Several reviewers explicitly state that their family member adjusted well, is happy, and would not want to leave. Services such as 24-hour supervision and proximity to home are also reported as reassuring positives.

    Counterbalancing these positive accounts are a number of serious and concerning negative reports that cannot be ignored. Some reviewers recount troubling incidents of neglect: one account states a resident had declined care over months and staff were reportedly unable to rouse her for meals, eventually calling 911 without informing the family until after hospitalization. Other summaries describe residents being isolated — sitting in bedrooms alone all day and not being allowed to socialize — and general neglect due to poor staffing. Multiple reviewers mention unprofessional behavior among staff, including whispering, back-biting, conflicting statements to families, and disorganization. These reports suggest inconsistent care quality and supervision, and reviewers specifically call out poor staffing levels as a source of neglect in some cases.

    Facility management and ownership produce mixed signals in the reviews. Several statements praise a pleasant, helpful proprietor and note improvements under new ownership, while at least one review alleges the facility was sold without notifying families. This suggests a period of transition that may account for both recent positive changes and some disruptive incidents. Other operational concerns mentioned include a disorganized or overly small dining area in some reports, dark hallways, and the need for minor repairs or upgrades — issues that contrast with many reviewers who describe the facility as very clean and well cared for. In short, there appears to be variability in experience that could be tied to staffing levels, management changes, or unit-to-unit differences within the facility.

    Taken together, the review set paints a picture of a small, home-like retirement community that offers many of the qualities families seek: friendly staff (in many cases), engaging activities, a pleasant physical environment, and home-style dining. However, a nontrivial subset of reviews raises red flags about inconsistent staffing, communication failures with families, serious neglect events for some residents, and occasional unprofessional conduct among employees. The most common positive threads are the warm atmosphere, active programming, and caring staff reported by many; the most serious negatives are isolated but serious allegations of neglect and poor communication. Prospective residents and families should weigh the strong positive impressions against these concerning reports, and when evaluating Country Villa in person, should specifically ask about recent staffing levels, emergency communication protocols (how families are notified), socialization policies, and what changes the current ownership has implemented to address past issues.

    Location

    Map showing location of Country Villa Retirement Home

    About Country Villa Retirement Home

    Country Villa Retirement Home sits quietly at 509 Kenduskeag Ave in Bangor, Maine, right in the East Hampden neighborhood, and accepts independent, active seniors as well as those who need more care as time goes on, so there's all kinds of help like assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, and home care, and they've got a two-story building with 28 ground-floor private suites, each with a full bathroom and Wi-Fi and cable, so it's pretty convenient for folks who want to keep some independence but like having help nearby, and the rooms come in different studio layouts so everyone can find something that fits what they need and want. This place is run by Volunteers of America Northern New England, and the staff keep a friendly, helpful attitude, working around the clock to help with simple things like grooming and bathing, or more involved stuff like medication support, wound care, and occupational therapy when folks need it, plus if someone needs to see a nurse or podiatrist, they can do that too right on site, so there's a lot of medical support available without leaving the building. Meals are made and served daily, laundry and housekeeping get taken care of, and if someone has a pet, there's a pet-friendly policy here, so people can bring their animal companions with them, and that's something a lot of folks seem to like. Safety and accessibility are worked into the building with handrails, a sprinkler system, handicap features, and well-lit parking that's always available, so residents and guests don't have to worry about getting around or finding a spot.

    There's a strong focus on keeping people social, active, and connected, and there's always something going on with activities planned every day, so folks can join arts and crafts, listen to live music, take part in health and wellness programs, or use the game rooms and fitness center, and then there are outings to places offsite, too, along with regular transportation for medical appointments and shopping trips, so people aren't just sitting inside all the time, and it helps them stay connected to the larger community if they want. If someone needs a haircut or wants some pampering, there's a beauty salon right there, and for faith needs, devotional services happen onsite, making things more comfortable for different beliefs. In addition to having private and outdoor common areas where people can relax or meet friends, there's a dining room where meals are served, with a focus on nutritious and tasty food that residents seem to appreciate. The whole place is known for being peaceful and has been recognized for providing good care, and it holds an 8.5 out of 10 on reviews and is the fifth highest rated senior community in Bangor-with verified ratings to prove what people are saying, so families know how others feel about living there. Because Country Villa belongs to a broader network, they can help folks and their families figure out the best living and support options as circumstances change, and local experts are available if people have questions about aging in place or other services. With social, physical, and mental wellness programs, helpful staff, and several types of care all under one roof, Country Villa Retirement Home keeps things practical, comfortable, and steady for seniors wanting to stay active and safe as they age.

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