Dementia, and specifically Alzheimer's, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Falmouth’s senior population continues to grow (19.42% growth between 2014 and 2019), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Falmouth, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease increased by 11.54% between 2014 and 2019, showing that Alzheimer’s is a growing concern in the region. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is lower than the rest of the nation (5.13% in Falmouth vs. 6.46% in the U.S.).
To help families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive impairment find the support and care their loved ones need, we applied our unique methodology and spent dozens of hours researching senior living communities in Falmouth. In addition to an overview of the communities’ best features, this guide highlights the best memory care facilities in the city, and gives information about pricing, types of care provided, residents’ reviews, and more.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 83% of all caregivers are unpaid family members, relatives, or other friends, and nearly half of all care is for older adults with some form of dementia. Caregiving, especially when it involves Alzheimer’s or dementia, is extremely exhausting and time-consuming, leading many caregivers to feel isolated and overwhelmed.
As a loved one continues to progress through the stages of dementia and his or her cognitive abilities continue to decline, behavioral problems, safety, and general care often become more than one caregiver can handle. This is when it’s important to find extra help, and residential facilities that have specialized memory care programs are often the best solution.
In addition to providing a safe environment, memory care programs seek to delay or halt cognitive decline while providing the opportunity for a social, independent lifestyle.
To choose the best memory care facilities in Falmouth, our team of researchers started by using our unique methodology to develop a list of contenders. We further refined the list in the next phase of our process by completing hands-on research for each one of the companies that we developed. Finally, we compiled online reviews from residents and families and wrote summaries of each facility that made it through our selection process.
Overall, our team:
Atria Kennebunk is a vibrant neighborhood for seniors with memory impairment issues such as Alzheimer's and dementia. The homelike, structured environment of this community allows its specially trained staff to provide more attention and personalized care to each resident in a secure atmosphere. Using a whole-person approach to activities programming, Life Guidance Memory Care offers seniors many opportunities to remain physically and socially active as staff members focus on an individual's strengths and successes in their daily lives. Secure indoor and outdoor spaces allow residents to maintain a degree of independence within the community. Personal photos and mementos are displayed outside of each senior's room to assist with finding their way back to their apartment.
Visitors to Atria Kennebunk remark on its wonderful staff, cleanliness and the variety of tasty food choices served on a daily basis. One reviewer writes, "The residents looked happy, so I felt very comfortable there."
Located in Westbrook, ME, Avita of Stroudwater is a senior living community arranged to meet the specific safety and comfort needs of residents in need of memory care. The community is separated into smaller, intimate neighborhoods of private and shared rooms. The homelike community reduces agitation through easy-to-navigate layouts and familiar settings, including sunrooms, community dining rooms and meditation areas. Additionally, secured outdoor gardens feature safe walking paths and ample seating within the surrounding nature. The specially trained staff is on hand at all times, and in addition to providing daily care and assistance, each staff member offers compassionate friendship and personalized support. Finally, daily programming is designed to engage the body and mind through targeted brain health activities, personalized exercise courses and art-based therapeutic and education events.
Residents are their families consistently commend the community for its compassionate staff and their dedication to each resident. One family member says, "This place is amazing! They are all so nice and treat my grandmother as part of their family. When she has a rough day, they are sure to try and brighten it."
Avita of Brunswick provides an intimate community setting and full-time caregivers. The community's small neighborhood has a variety of spacious apartment styles that are built close together in order to minimize navigation confusion. Residents have access to an outdoor courtyard area with working gardens, walking paths and plenty of seating areas for relaxing in the sun. Personal assistance with dressing, medication management and other daily living tasks are provided by a team of 24-hour caregivers. A full-time social coordinator encourages residents to participate in various educational activities and exercise programs. Each day, three delicious meals are prepared and served from a local menu of fresh ingredients. Other services offered at Avita of Brunswick include housekeeping, laundry, transportation and a beauty salon.
Reviewers appreciate this community's supportive environment. One says, "Our family is grateful to have found a memory care community where our mother is treated with respect, compassion, and joy. It is an environment where she experiences daily activities that are right for her."
The professional staff at Avita of Wells takes each individual senior's needs, health concerns and personal desires into consideration to help guard their overall health and happiness. This community is made up of small, homelike neighborhoods to lessen seniors' confusion or agitation and to provide as much independence and comfort to residents who are dealing with memory loss issues. A secure courtyard area in each neighborhood gives residents opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and do a bit of gardening, stroll its walking paths, sit and socialize or meditate on the glories of nature. A variety of activities are in place to help residents enjoy life to its fullest, including exercise, wellness, cultural, educational and art programs. Brain games and touch-screen computers help support seniors with memory impairments. Three delicious meals are served daily and feature ingredients that are wholesome and fresh.
Reviewers report that this community's atmosphere is an upbeat and positive one, with residents being treated respectfully, lovingly and with dignity. One resident's loved one states, "The loving care for each resident is always there, even in the most difficult circumstances."
Bay Square at Yarmouth offers five senior memory care plans so that its residents can age in place with all the personalized attention and resources that they need for purposeful, dignified lives. The seniors' accommodations are equipped with specialized lighting to reduce the effects of late-day confusion. Journey stations, engagement boxes, and treasure chests are placed throughout the community to encourage seniors to reminisce about the past they remember. Aromatherapy sessions seek to help residents experience improved mental processes, while on-site memory care-only beauty salons make seniors look and feel their best in an environment that suits their specific needs. Around-the-clock care and monitoring are provided within this secured indoor and outdoor community.
This company impresses family members. One says, "Special kudos to the nursing staff. They are excellent and attuned to each resident in a very personal way. I appreciate the care they provide my mother, who has been a Baysquare resident in their Memory Care since March."
Located about 15 miles south of Falmouth, Cape Memory Care is a MaineCare-approved, 72-bed community exclusively designed for seniors living with dementia-associated conditions. The video-monitored community opened in 2010 and provides a secure yet comfortably furnished, homelike living environment. Every staff member, including dining and housekeeping personnel, undertakes an accredited, nationally recognized person-centered dementia care training program. Residents benefit from familiar surroundings, private bathrooms, personalized care plans and 24-hour staff availability. On-site recreational and therapeutic activity and events programs tailored to cognitive abilities also provide residents with regular opportunities for reminiscing, physical exercise, social interaction and mental stimulation. Double-occupancy rooms are available for seniors who feel anxious when alone at night. Safe outside spaces for social gatherings include a second-floor deck and spacious courtyard complete with a gazebo, manicured gardens and walking paths.
One reviewer noted, "The staff and management have been responsive and helpful with his transitioning into this home he has a nice private room, cable TV and internet. There are enough activities for him to enjoy." Another person said, Cape Memory Care "is absolutely beautiful and located in such a pretty part of Maine. The staff are warm, caring and very compassionate."
Enclave of Scarborough is located 7 miles outside of Portland, close to medical facilities, such as Precision Health. The community's range of amenities includes a spa, a library and a fitness center. The community's memory care program provides a safe and secure environment with 24/7 tailored care for residents with Alzheimer's and dementia. The staff is trained in dementia care and provides assistance with tasks of daily living, medication management and laundry. Residents can take part in a wide range of activities, including religious activities, music lessons and exercise programs, which are designed to slow memory loss and promote physical and mental well-being. The culinary team provides homemade meals with local, fresh ingredients that residents can enjoy together in the elegant dining room.
Family members appreciate the array of activities, with one reviewer saying, "It's a nice community and I would highly recommend it. It's a kind of place that I wouldn't mind retiring to later on. They have lots of activities, they would have parties, a movie theater, they have a gym where they do chair yoga or Tai Chi."
Fallbrook Woods provides long-term memory care and short-term respite care in a community nestled on 17 acres in the North Deering neighborhood. Staff in the community focus on individual's rituals, routines, interests and capabilities, and family members are encouraged to participate in the enrichment programs and attend support groups on-site. Numerous dining settings are available, including two communal dining areas and a private dining room for family visits and small, special events such as birthday parties. Locally produced ingredients are an integral part of the menus and traditional and non-traditional dining events such as wine and cheese nights, cookouts, and themed parties. The community has an aging-in-place philosophy and has partnerships with local hospices and an on-site hair salon, rehabilitation, podiatry, dietician, X-ray and lab services.
Visitors note that residents are happy in their environment and are always treated with respect and kindness. "From the bright lobby to the comfortable rooms, every detail is thoughtfully considered. The staff is amazing, and the calendar of events keeps the residents busy without tiring them too much," says the daughter of one resident.
Gorham House is a secure retirement community that offers a wide range of health care services for seniors in the greater Portland area. The community has various types of apartment floor plans to choose from that are specially designed for individuals with Alzheimer's, dementia or other memory impairments. Its licensed care staff is dedicated to helping seniors complete familiar daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, making beds and even baking cookies. In addition to 24-hour nurses, a medical director and physician's assistant are on-site five days a week to address potential health issues. Seniors remain physically and mentally active at Gorman House by participating in weekly exercises, shopping trips and other fun activities. Daily meals, housekeeping, laundry and transportation services are also available.
Family members are impressed at how caring and helpful the staff is at Gorman Place. One relative wrote, "My mom is very happy at Gorham House. The staff is very caring and nice. The administration is very helpful when you have issues and tend to it quickly."
Located remotely on the coast of Maine, Holbrook at Piper Shores offers assisted living, independent living and memory care options. The PersonFirst approach taken by the community for memory care residents ensures each resident's needs, personalities and desires are taken into account when developing programming and activities. Residents have a range of activities to keep them busy, including the morning current affairs and news trivia quiz, Zumba classes and guitar music. There is also the option of attending the regular bus outings around the local sights. Community members enjoy three meals a day in the communal dining room, which is the perfect opportunity to catch up with the neighbors while taking in the spectacular ocean views. Community amenities that include a woodwork shop, indoor pool and hot tub and putting green provide the residents with plenty to do.
Residents commented on the remote location and the amenities on offer, with one resident saying, "Piper Shores is a beautiful, top-notch place. It's right on the ocean, in the middle of nowhere. But it's about half an hour from Portland and in a rural setting. They have a pool, a garden area, and they have a fitness center."
Life at Huntington Common provides its residents with comfort and assistance in a vibrant neighborhood in York County, minutes away from York Hospital in Wells. A dedicated and secure memory care neighborhood, Reminiscence, is available for residents with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The trained staff provides 24/7 assistance with medication management and activities of daily living. Caregivers maintain electronic health records using the Sunrise CareConnect system to design individualized care plans for the residents. Residents have access to a fitness room, library, billiard room, salon and club room. Families can access the family engagement app for regular updates of their loved ones. The Sunrise Live With Purpose program offers enriching activities for the seniors to stimulate their body, mind and spirit. Residents can savor three delicious meals daily, and a private dining room is available for special occasions.
Families appreciate the ambiance of the community. One writes, "My mom has been at Huntington Common and it is wonderful. They're very competent, family-oriented, and really care about their residents. They have activities for them, like people coming in to play music. They have an exercise room, a library, outings, and painting classes."
Founded in 1989, Ledgeview Assisted Living is a family-owned and operated, homelike retirement community situated on over 3 acres of tranquil woodland. Its trained staff members help seniors living with early-stage Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairments maintain their dignity and independence by providing personalized assistance with the activities of daily living and encouraging participation in life-enriching outings and on-site activities. All private suites come furnished, but residents are welcome to bring their own furniture and furnishing to support memory recall and ease relocation stress. The grounds feature manicured gardens, walkways and scenic spots for outdoor activities and social gatherings. In-suite cable TV jacks, reserved parking spaces, guest dining facilities and personal transportation services are available.
Families choose this small community for its laid-back atmosphere and easy-to-contact, involved owners. "It's very homey. If you want to eat early or late, they will make things for you when you want them. It's very caring and nurturing. Communication is excellent. They have private furnished rooms and that made our move so easy," shares one community member's daughter.
OceanView at Falmouth is a retirement living community located on an 80-acre wooded property overlooking the Casco Bay and the Presumpscot River Estuary. An experienced team of professional caregivers and nurses caters to individuals' varying needs. Private apartments and personalized treatment plans are available to seniors seeking assisted living. Within the Legacy Memory Care community, architecture and color have been employed to help residents create strong associations with different amenities, including the library and media room. Through Habilitation Therapy Programming, the staff strives to emphasize residents' abilities and improve their quality of life. This community provides an array of cognitively and physically enriching activities, such as fitness classes, day trips to Portland, and card games to keep seniors entertained and active. Chef-prepared meals can be enjoyed at any of the three dining establishments.
People are raving about OceanView's diverse range of engaging activities and events. One reviewer wrote, "Group exercise, wine and cheese tastings, and game nights are just a few examples of fun activities for residents." Residents from different parts of the campus can participate and form new friendships. People also love the community's comfortable housing options and idyllic surroundings.
Located on the coast of Maine with ocean views, Sam L. Cohen Households at The Cedars offers memory care and skilled nursing options. The small number of residents means that there is an intimate, family-like feeling to the residence. There is an emphasis placed on social connections, with residents encouraged to interact with each other. The kitchen is fully stocked and open at all times, while a den and living room provide games, computers and books for the resident's enjoyment. The community is set on beautifully landscaped grounds with sensory features incorporated into the environment for those who enjoy the outdoors. A holistic approach is taken with individual care plans developed based on the health, life experiences and desires of each resident.
Family members and residents enjoy the lovely views and private dining area for family and friends to gather as well top-notch care from skilled staff.
Scarborough Terrace is a senior living community, featuring the Rose Garden, which is the community's specialized memory care neighborhood, purposefully limited in size to ensure comfortable familiarity and close relationships between residents and staff. The neighborhood is secured against wandering while offering residents assisted navigation. Secured outdoor areas provide walking paths, gardens and comfortable patio seating. Daily schedules are structured to create memorable routines, utilizing life skill stations to promote daily engagement and personalized programming focused on individual interests. Activities include hobby clubs, enriching memory aerobics and fitness programming, as well as therapeutic and sensory-engaging activities that range from pet therapy to a relaxing session in the whirlpool tub.
Residents and their families praise the community's staff and its dedication to resident care. One family member says, "Scarborough Terrace has been a great place for my wife. The staff are very concerned and provide exceptional care for all folks. They are focused on keeping residents happy, well-nourished and busy with activities."
Schooner Estates is a senior living community offering a wide range of personalized living options. Within, three secured neighborhoods have been specifically designed for seniors with memory diseases, featuring circadian lighting systems to ensure a proper, natural light cycle that reduces agitation. Additionally, the front door of each residence is uniquely identifiable through custom colors and designs. Hearing loop systems throughout the community direct the sounds of specific rooms directly through residents' hearing aids. Trained memory care specialists are on hand at all times to provide routine assistance and supervision as well as creating personal and invested relationships with each community member, allowing the staff to know personal routines, needs and preferences. Secured outdoor areas include pleasing gardens and ample space for outdoor activities, with indoor activity and multipurpose rooms hosting activities that include regular hobby groups, educational presentations and themed social celebrations.
Residents and their families commend the staff's attention to each resident. One family member says, "The staff members are very caring, very devoted, and very attentive to the patients. If they have questions or if my mom has some difficulties, they give me a call, and they let me know if there's something needed."
St. André Health Care is a senior living community featuring a full spectrum of care options, from short-term respite to long-term skilled nursing. Residents in need of memory care options live in a secured neighborhood within the community, overseen by specially trained nurses and experienced staff members. Individualized care plans ensure that residents receive the specific daily care and routine assistance they require, including nutritional support and specialized health management. Daily schedules revolve around therapeutic activities and sensory stimulation, such as pet therapy, engaging outings to the community and various hobby and skill classes. There is also ample time for restful and one-on-one moments such as hand massages, spiritual visits and specialized support groups. Finally, secured outdoor areas are numerous, providing patios and a Memory Garden for outdoor activities, leisure and time with families.
Residents and their families regularly offer high praise to the staff for its dedication to each resident. One family member says, "The staff are compassionate and understanding. They provide her with excellent care and the tools to help her become more independent!"
The Lamp Memory Care Center, located in a quiet farming community, provides exclusive memory care services. All rooms in the community are designed for resident comfort and safety. The community has recently adopted weekly virtual reality sessions to help residents with dementia and other memory-loss difficulties. This virtual reality program has lessened the need for medication among residents and aided non-verbal residents with communication. The Lamp also provides various amenities to residents, including housekeeping and laundry services, local transportation and dietary modifications. Daily activities are available as well, such as religious services, games and dances.
Residents and families love the welcoming environment. One said, "My mother has been taken care of extremely well in the years she has been a resident at the DLTC Lamp facility. The food is always homemade and delicious. Every worker there has made my elderly Dad part of their family as well. I highly recommend this DLTC facility."
Situated in a vibrant residential neighborhood, The Mooring at The Downs is a bespoke, 12-bed retirement residence where seniors living with progressive memory loss conditions receive person-centric specialized care in a purpose-designed home environment. The staff works with seniors and their families to minimize transitional anxiety and encourage the customization of private living quarters with plants, home furniture and treasured belongings. Residents benefit from memory care programming designed to leverage cognitive abilities, preserve personal dignity and promote individuality. A recreational therapist tailors daily events and field trip schedules to the residents' personal identities and histories. All meals are prepared in an open family kitchen for residents to enjoy with housemates. The dining room features wall-to-wall windows that look out to a scenic backyard with a patio, raised flower beds and a barbecue grill.
Seniors appreciate the personal attention received and friendships formed in the close-knit community. Many also love the resident pets and organized local outings. One visitor says, "What a wonderful caring place! If I should ever need this kind of care, I would hope that I would be blessed with such interest and kindness."
Woodlands Memory Care of Lewiston is a specialized memory care community designed to be an inviting and comfortable home for residents with memory loss. The community features two identical neighborhoods to ensure an intimate, homelike setting with familiar surroundings and recognizable faces. Private and shared rooms are fully furnished and ready for favorite belongings. Security and video monitoring are in place and the community layout is designed to offer noticeable navigation cues. Specialized staff members are on hand 24/7, creating personal relationships with each resident to ensure continued health monitoring, assistance with daily tasks and care for their specific preferences. These individual needs are used to create structured daily programming, including hobby and skill workshops, active fitness groups and ample exposure to therapeutic art and music.
Residents and their families applaud the caring compassion of the staff. One family member says, "I always find my sister to be well cared for and treated with respect. The staff is experienced in helping those with dementia and I've witnessed incidents where they compassionately and appropriately assisted a resident in need."