Nursing Homes in Maine
Maine is home to 76 nursing homes tracked by Clear Care Connect, part of 95 senior care providers statewide, making it a smaller senior care market where availability varies sharply by county. Families comparing nursing homes in Maine weigh the same three questions: how safe is the building, how well is it staffed, and what will it really cost each month. Coverage is deepest around Bangor, Scarborough, Augusta, while smaller towns among the state's 56 communities often have one or two options within a reasonable drive. Clear Care Connect answers those questions with official federal inspection data, CMS star ratings and real cost estimates instead of sponsored listings.
What nursing homes in Maine provide
Nursing Homes in Maine provide round-the-clock licensed nursing, medication management, rehabilitation therapy and help with every activity of daily living. We track 76 nursing homes statewide, alongside 19 other providers — nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health — that families often compare before deciding.
Every Medicare-certified nursing home in Maine is surveyed by state inspectors on behalf of CMS roughly once a year, and those survey results feed the star ratings shown on each profile. That makes nursing homes the most transparent care type in Maine: you can see deficiencies, staffing hours per resident per day and penalty history before you ever tour.
Typical pricing for nursing homes in Maine runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Expect the higher end of that range in Bangor and other high-cost metros, and the lower end in rural counties.
How to choose a nursing home in Maine
With 76 nursing homes in Maine, families need a repeatable way to narrow the list. These six steps work in any county.
1. Check the government inspection reports first
Every Clear Care Connect profile shows the real CMS inspection record — deficiencies cited, their scope and severity, and how fast they were corrected. Read that before any brochure.
2. Compare star ratings across a shortlist, not in isolation
A three-star facility reads differently next to the Maine average of 2.99. Line up four or five nursing homes side by side instead of judging one alone.
3. Visit at least three facilities, including one unannounced
Tour options in Bangor plus one nearby community, then drop in once outside tour hours to see normal staffing and resident engagement.
4. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios and turnover
Ask for nursing hours per resident per day and annual turnover in writing. High turnover is the strongest predictor of inconsistent care in Maine facilities.
5. Understand exactly what the monthly price includes
Get the base rate, care-level surcharges, medication fees and past annual increases. Two Maine communities quoting the same headline number can differ by thousands once care tiers apply.
6. Read the most recent inspection findings, not just the score
One old citation matters far less than a repeated pattern. Clear Care Connect publishes the full history so you can compare Maine providers on that record in one place.
Top cities for nursing homes in Maine
Senior care in Maine clusters around its largest population centers. These 8 cities hold the highest concentration of nursing homes statewide, and each links to a local directory with ratings and costs.
- Bangor — 9 facilities, 6 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.2 CMS stars.
- Scarborough — 5 facilities, 2 of them nursing homes, averaging 4.0 CMS stars.
- Augusta — 5 facilities, 4 of them nursing homes, averaging 4.5 CMS stars.
- Lewiston — 5 facilities, 4 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.3 CMS stars.
- Waterville — 4 facilities, 3 of them nursing homes, averaging 1.3 CMS stars.
- Portland — 4 facilities, 3 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.7 CMS stars.
- Brunswick — 3 facilities, 2 of them nursing homes, averaging 4.0 CMS stars.
- Auburn — 3 facilities, 1 of them nursing home, averaging 1.5 CMS stars.
Understanding CMS ratings for nursing homes in Maine
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services scores certified facilities from one to five stars using three inputs: on-site health inspections, payroll-reported staffing levels, and clinical quality measures. Five stars means much above average within that state's peer group; one star means much below.
In Maine, 77 of the 95 providers we track carry a published CMS rating, and 30 — roughly 39% — hold four or five stars. The statewide average is 2.99 stars. That average is close to the national midpoint, so quality varies widely from one provider to the next and comparing individual facilities matters more than comparing states.
Weight the health inspection component most heavily: it is the only piece built from unannounced on-site visits by state surveyors. Staffing is the next best signal, and quality measures are partly self-reported. Clear Care Connect shows all three sub-scores, the inspection date and any penalties on every Maine profile.
Nursing Homes costs in Maine
Nursing Homes in Maine typically runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Pricing tracks local housing and wage costs closely, so expect Bangor to price above the Maine median while rural counties come in below it.
For comparison, Maine families budget $7,900–$11,200 a month for a nursing home, $4,500–$7,500 for assisted living, $6,000–$9,000 for memory care, and little to nothing for Medicare-covered home health or hospice. Clear Care Connect publishes an estimated monthly range on each facility page so you can sanity-check any quote.
Frequently asked questions
How many nursing homes are in Maine?
Clear Care Connect tracks 76 nursing homes in Maine, out of 95 senior care facilities statewide spanning nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health.
What is the average cost of nursing homes in Maine?
Nursing Homes in Maine typically costs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent.
How do I find the best nursing home in Maine?
Use Clear Care Connect to compare Maine providers on official government star ratings, inspection findings, staffing data and estimated monthly cost, then tour your top three in person. 30 rated Maine facilities currently hold four or five stars.
Does Medicare cover nursing homes in Maine?
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay in Maine, not long-term custodial care. Longer stays are paid privately, through long-term care insurance, or by Maine Medicaid once assets are spent down.
Ready to find the right nursing home in Maine?
Clear Care Connect shows real government inspection data, CMS star ratings and cost information for all 76 nursing homes in Maine. Compare them side by side, see what inspectors found, and choose the right care for your loved one without a sales call.
Other care types in Maine
Browse every Maine senior care facility profile · Maine Medicaid eligibility estimator · Maine senior care costs