Windward Gardens: Comprehensive Review

Windward Gardens is a senior living and healthcare facility at 105 Mechanic Street, Camden, ME 04843, operated by Genesis HealthCare. It offers multiple levels of care in a suburban setting with views of the Camden Hills.

• Types of Services Offered
  • Skilled Nursing Care
  • Assisted Living
  • Memory Care
  • Transitional Care
• Amenities
  • Accommodations
  • Common Areas
  • Services
• Daily Activities
• Testimonials from Residents and Families
  • Positive Testimonials
  • Critical Testimonials
• Pricing Information
• Comparison with Similar Facilities in Camden Area
  • Quality Ratings
  • Deficiencies and Incidents
  • Value Comparison
• Conclusion

Types of services offered

Skilled nursing care

Windward Gardens operates as a skilled nursing facility with 24-hour care. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides provide approximately 3.4 hours of care per resident daily. Services include post-hospital rehabilitation, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and respite care.

• Post-hospital rehabilitation
• Short-term rehabilitation
• Long-term care
• Respite care services

Assisted living

The facility has 30 assisted living units for seniors who need help with daily activities. Services include medication management, 24-hour supervision, assistance with bathing and dressing, and coordination with healthcare providers.

• Medication management
• 24-hour supervision
• Assistance with bathing, dressing, and transfers
• Coordination with healthcare providers

Memory care

The facility offers specialized care for residents with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. The memory care area includes security systems for residents with cognitive deficits, structured activities tailored to memory-challenged residents, and staff trained in dementia care.

• Security systems for residents with cognitive deficits
• Structured activities for memory-challenged residents
• Specialized training for staff

Transitional care

A 12-bed transitional care unit helps patients recover after hospital stays, surgeries, or acute illnesses and prepare to return home.

Amenities

Windward Gardens offers various amenities for residents:

Accommodations

• Semi-private and limited private room options
• Telephone service in rooms
• Cable television
• Furnished rooms available

Common areas

• Common and lounge areas for visiting with friends and family
• Country kitchen
• Dining room with café and an always-available menu
• Private dining rooms for family gatherings
• Garden and outdoor spaces with walking paths
• Computer with internet access
• Wireless internet throughout the facility

Services

• Beauty salon and barber services
• Housekeeping
• On-site laundry facilities

• Mail and newspaper service
• Pharmacy delivery
• Transportation arrangement
• Emergency alert system

Daily activities

Windward Gardens offers structured daily activities including scheduled programs, community-sponsored events, movie nights, arts and crafts, exercise opportunities on walking paths, social events, and group outings via shuttle bus. Some reviewers noted that activity options are more limited than at comparable facilities.

• Scheduled daily activities program
• Community-sponsored activities
• Movie nights
• Arts and crafts
• Exercise opportunities via walking paths
• Social events
• Group outings using the facility's shuttle bus

Some reviewers have noted that activity options are more limited than at comparable facilities.

Testimonials from residents and families

Reviews of Windward Gardens are mixed. The facility received 3.8 out of 5 stars on Caring.com (5 reviews), 2.3 out of 5 on the Genesis HealthCare website, and 8.7 out of 10 on Family Assets.

• 3.8 out of 5 based on 5 reviews on Caring.com
• 2.3 out of 5 based on customer satisfaction ratings on the Genesis HealthCare website
• 8.7 resident review score from Family Assets

Positive testimonials

"My grandmother had multiple falls before moving to Windward Gardens. At first she wasn't happy about it, but within about a week she loved it. The staff was warm and welcoming, and she made new friends. The shuttle bus let her continue shopping and going to church. The last Christmas I spent at Windward Gardens was the best I've ever had."

"My mother came here to recover after a stroke. I'm in Georgia, but she says the staff treats her like she's their only patient. That puts me at ease from far away. She says the food is good, and on her birthday today, the staff made it very special and even brought her a gift from Dunkin Donuts."

Critical testimonials

"I was a resident and my stay started well but declined in long-term care. My call bell went unanswered for hours. I was left in a wet bed all night after becoming incontinent because I couldn't get up by myself. At night I felt completely alone. When I raised these concerns with the social worker, I was promised they'd be addressed, but no one followed up with me or my family."

Some reviews mention concerns about limited private room options, with most rooms being shared.

Pricing information

Windward Gardens charges monthly rent based on level of care and room type. Costs range from $3,989 to $9,898 per month, with an average of $6,944. This is higher than the Camden area average of $6,221. A semi-private room costs about $4,950 per month, above the Knox County average ($3,983) and Maine state average ($4,685). One source reports a lower average of $4,661. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans for skilled nursing care.

• Overall costs range from $3,989 to $9,898 per month
• The average price is $6,944, which is higher than the average cost of nursing homes in the Camden area ($6,221)
• A semi-private room costs approximately $4,950 per month, which is higher than both the Knox County average ($3,983) and the Maine state average ($4,685)
• One source reports a lower average price of $4,661

The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans for skilled nursing care.

Comparison with similar facilities in Camden area

Windward Gardens' ratings and costs compared to other options in the area:

Quality ratings

Windward Gardens received mixed ratings from regulatory bodies:

• Overall Medicare rating: 1 out of 5 stars (bottom 20% of facilities)
• Quality rating: 3 out of 5 stars
• Staff rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Deficiencies and incidents

Reported deficiencies and incidents include:

• 1 health complaint deficiency
• 4 health standard deficiencies
• 5 total deficiencies
• 1 complaint
• 1 incident

Value comparison

While Windward Gardens costs more than regional averages, some factors may justify the price. The facility received the AHCA Bronze Quality Award. The suburban setting with views of the Camden Hills offers an attractive environment. It provides a continuum of care from assisted living to skilled nursing in one location. The closest alternatives are Harbor Hill Center in Belfast (16 miles away), Oak Grove Center in Waterville (36.4 miles away), and Cedar Ridge Center in Skowhegan (50.2 miles away).

• The facility has received the AHCA Bronze Quality Award
• The suburban setting with views of Camden Hills provides an attractive environment
• The facility offers a continuum of care from assisted living to skilled nursing in one location

The closest alternatives are:

• Harbor Hill Center in Belfast (16 miles away)
• Oak Grove Center in Waterville (36.4 miles away)
• Cedar Ridge Center in Skowhegan (50.2 miles away)

Conclusion

Windward Gardens offers skilled nursing, rehabilitation, assisted living, and memory care in Camden, Maine. The facility has common areas, dining options, and personal care services in a suburban setting with views of the Camden Hills.

Reviews are mixed. Some residents and families praise the staff and care quality. Others report concerns about staffing levels and response times. Costs are higher than regional averages, which may affect affordability for some families.

Before choosing Windward Gardens, schedule a tour, talk with current residents and staff, and assess whether the facility's strengths match your loved one's needs. The Camden location may appeal to families who want their relative nearby while ensuring access to necessary care.