Nursing Home in Maine
Quality Reality Check
Navigating nursing home care in Maine can feel overwhelming, especially when considering quality. Maine has 78 nursing facilities with a total of 5,828 beds. Looking at the star ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the average rating for Maine nursing homes is 3.0 out of 5. Digging a bit deeper, about 44% of Maine's nursing homes are rated poorly, receiving either 1 or 2 stars (13 facilities with 1-star and 21 with 2-stars). The average Registered Nurse (RN) hours per resident per day in Maine is 1.03. When evaluating facilities, be sure to scrutinize inspection reports for any fines, citations, or serious deficiencies. Also, pay close attention to staffing levels and any flags indicating a facility has serious quality issues or delayed inspections.
Will Medicaid Cover It?
The cost of nursing home care in Maine is substantial, averaging around $13,315 per month for a semi-private room and $14,302 for a private room. Fortunately, MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program) can help. To be eligible for nursing home Medicaid in 2026, a single applicant generally needs to be age 65 or older, a U.S. citizen, a Maine resident, and require a nursing home level of care. Financial limits for a single applicant are typically an income under $2,982 per month and countable assets under $10,000. For married couples where one spouse is applying, the applicant spouse still has an asset limit of $10,000, but the non-applicant spouse can retain up to $162,660 in assets. If your income exceeds the limit, Maine has a "spend-down" program where excess income can be used for medical expenses, with a medically needy income limit of $315 per month for an individual. You can also "spend down" excess assets on non-countable items like home modifications or prepaid funeral expenses. Be aware of Maine's five-year "look-back" period for asset transfers, which can incur penalties. The application process involves a medical assessment to confirm a nursing home level of care, followed by submitting an application to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) either online, by mail, or in person. Be prepared to provide extensive financial documentation. Once approved, most of the resident's income, minus a personal needs allowance of $40 per month and Medicare premiums, will go towards their care costs.
Finding the Right Facility
To find the right nursing home in Maine, Medicare's Care Compare tool is an excellent starting point. It provides overall star ratings based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures for each facility. Pay close attention to the "health inspections" tab, where you can find recent inspection dates and details on any citations related to resident care or the facility environment. Look for facilities flagged as "Special Focus Facilities" or "Special Focus Facility Candidates," as these have a history of serious quality issues. Unfortunately, Maine has been significantly impacted by nursing home closures and labor shortages. Since 2020, 15 nursing homes have closed, reducing the number of available beds by 600. Hancock County currently has no nursing homes, and northern Somerset and parts of Washington County also face severe availability issues. Many facilities are limiting admissions due to understaffing. When reviewing inspection reports, look for recurring issues, serious violations (especially those causing "immediate jeopardy"), and the overall number of deficiencies. High reliance on temporary agency staff can also be a red flag.
Last updated: March 2026. Sources: CMS Nursing Home Compare, BLS, Genworth 2024.