Maine assisted living facilities and personal care communities

Discover Assisted Living Homes in Maine

Under Maine law, assisted living program is a term for the broad category encompassing two types of assisted living in Maine. According to state law, assisted living programs are legally defined as programs providing private residential rooms with the following services included: personal supervision, assistance with daily activities of daily living, dietary services, and care management services. The different types of assisted living under Maine law are as follows:

Type I: an assisted living program which provides medication administration either directly or indirectly
Type II: an assisted living program, which provides medication administration and nursing services directly or indirectly.

Currently, the state of Maine makes distinctions between assisted living and similar care types like residential care homes, personal care homes, or other home or community-based services while other states may use the terms interchangeably. While assisted living communities usually exist as large campus-like settings, personal care can provide a much more home-like setting for seniors.

There are currently 691 assisted living options operating in Maine.

Assisted Living Communities in Maine – Cost Comparison

City	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum	Monthly Median
Portland	$3,050	$7,415	$5,508
Bangor	$1,800	$5,550	$4,650
Lewiston	$3,000	$5,550	$4,560

The average cost of assisted senior living in Maine is $4,800 per month. Compared to the rest of the United States, Maine is ranked the ninth most-expensive state for long-term care with the average median fairly higher than the national median cost. Within the state, average costs between areas hover in the same price range as the state median.

For more information about assisted living costs in Maine, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.

Recreation & Attractions in Maine

Located in the North East of America and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Maine offers an array of unique and interesting activities to enjoy on the coast and inland. With deep sailing roots beginning in the colonial era, historic lighthouses and sailing museums dot the state. The historic Portland Head Light, built in 1791, and the corresponding lighthouse museum are open to the public for tours.

Lighthouses and sailing can also be found at Casco Bay. Casco Bay is a recreational area where one can fish, sail and tour the lighthouses. Maine’s beautiful rocky coats are displayed at Acadia National Park. In the park, visitors have access to camping, climbing and walking trails around the famous Cadillac Mountain. With a deep sailing history come quaint seaside towns, such as Old Port. Old Port is brimming with shopping, concerts, nightlife and the best lobster around.

For the art lovers and culture seekers, the Portland Museum of Art is open to the public displaying the largest and oldest collection of public art in the state. The Victorian Mansion, a National Landmark, also offers an art gallery, museum and a unique experience of lavish Victorian architecture and lifestyle.

Maine’s Climate, Geography, & Culture

Maine is part of New England, though there is a different feel than Massachusetts or New Hampshire. Maine is quirky and charming filled with forest and is the lease densely populated state east of the Mississippi River.

Nestled in the furthest North East Corner of the United States, Maine experiences four distinct seasons with drastically opposing winter and summer season. Neighbored by the Atlantic, Maine experiences heavy rain and heavy snowfall each year. During the winter, January is the coldest month bringing temperatures well into the low teens. This month also happens to be the snowiest for Maine, with snow accumulating to an average of 74 inches annually. During the summer, July is the hottest month bringing temperatures climbing into the low 80 degree Fahrenheit range. Average precipitation for Maine accumulates to 44 inches per year.

Maine’s Assisted Living Homes Regulations & Laws

Assisted living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. The complete legal regulations for assisted living programs as defined by Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services can be obtained via the Department of Health and Human Services website. Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services also oversees the public records concerning citations, violations, inspections and that of the like on individual senior care communities operating in Maine. The same can be said for licensed personal care homes and residential care homes among other terms used to describe group senior housing.

Unfortunately, like many other states, Maine does not have a request process for these records. However, the Freedom of Information Act can be used as path to obtaining records. To find out more on Freedom of Information Act resources and how you can use the resources to obtain records, please visit the National Freedom of Information Coalition site.

Crime & Safety in Maine

When looking for a new place to live, it is always important to consider the safety of the community you are in. Maine has seen their crime rate on the decline , and actually is one of the safest states in the United States. If you are not sure where to start your search, look at some the safest communities in Maine:

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Eliot	0.32	2.88
Fort Kent	1.25	2.24
Cumberland	0.13	3.90
Monmouth	0.00	6.64

(Source: safewise.com)

Payment Options for Maine Assisted Living Centers

MaineCare Elderly and Adults with Disabilities Waiver

For those looking for financial assistance for assisted senior care, Maine’s Medicaid, or MaineCare, offers the Elderly and Adults with Disabilities Waiver for elderly residents. The waiver is designed for participants who qualify for nursing care but would rather live in a personal home or in an assisted living community. Typical services provided by this waiver to the participants are transportation services, home care, adult day care and the like. The participants are also given the freedom to self-direct care, which is received in the participants home or community. To find out if you are eligible for this MaineCare program, please visit the Department of Health and Human Services.

Assisted Living Family Loans

Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.

Senior & Elderly Rights for Assisted Living Residences in Maine

When you become a resident of an assisted living community, you do not give up the rights afforded to you as a citizen or resident or the United States. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. The complete list of resident rights as guaranteed by the state of Maine can be viewed online.

Maine Assisted Living Homes: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

Maine does not have any laws mandating long-term care homes to retain health records. However the following regulations are suggested from a legal defense standpoint: Maine hospitals are required to provide appropriate health services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records shall be readily accessible upon request and should be kept for a period no less than 7 years from death or discharge date.