Gardiner Health Care Facility sits in Houlton, Maine, and provides different kinds of care for older adults, including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, independent living, and short-term rehab. This facility doesn't run like a hospital, but it does offer round-the-clock supervision, regular nursing support, and help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and getting around-suiting people who can't live alone safely but don't need constant skilled nursing found in typical nursing homes. Staff include registered nurses, licensed nurses, and certified nurse assistants who cover things like medication management, therapy sessions, and support with meals. There are special programs for people dealing with Alzheimer's or other memory concerns, and there's rehab therapy that covers speech, physical, and occupational needs, which often helps folks recover after a hospital stay, surgery, or illness.
The building has 45 beds, usually holding about 42 residents, and feels more like a small community where both residents and families can join councils to help shape everyday life. Rooms can come fully furnished, sometimes with kitchenettes, and allow for private or shared living, along with amenities like cable, telephones, WiFi, emergency alert systems, and regular housekeeping and laundry. There's a communal dining room with all-day service and meals adjusted for health needs, like special diets for diabetes or allergies, plus snacks and options for low-sodium meals. Outside and inside, folks find places to walk, a garden, an arts room, a TV den, and a salon for barber and beauty needs, as well as regular group activities and social events like movie nights. Staff keep up with personalized care plans, checking health closely and making sure residents keep up with flu and pneumonia shots, where nearly everyone is vaccinated.
When it comes to safety and quality, Gardiner Health Care Facility scores very well in key areas like preventing pressure sores and serious falls, but some residents do face challenges with urinary tract infections, and there have been a few inspection issues-though none were listed as serious. There's a mistreatment deficiency related to resident safety and property that still needs attention. Most residents receive care that fits their medical or personal needs, which can include wound care, respiratory help, pain management, dental care, counseling, or hospice support when needed. The nursing staff maintains a high level of attention, and hospitalization rates for long-term residents remain low, with less than one trip to the hospital for every 1,000 days of resident care. The building itself is fully sprinklered for fire safety, and includes accessibility features for residents with physical needs.
Gardiner Health Care Facility runs as a for-profit facility and accepts both Medicare and Medicaid. It's not a Continuing Care Retirement Community but does offer respite care, so families can take breaks while their loved one continues getting needed support for a short time. There's no pet policy, but staff aim to make the place friendly and focused on social connection and comfort. Residents can use laundry, transportation, housekeeping services, and enjoy daily exercise programs. The staff help with move-in, offer counseling, and support health and wellness so residents can live as independently as possible for as long as possible. It's a facility known for its wide range of supports, for being welcoming to families, and for its effort to keep folks safe, connected, and involved, even with a few areas still needing some work.
