Windward Gardens sits over on 105 Mechanic Street in Camden, Maine, and brings together several types of senior living all under one roof, so residents can get skilled nursing, assisted living, rehabilitation, or hospice care, depending on what the doctor thinks is best, and folks like that it's a smoke-free place where they try to help seniors stay as independent as they can while still making sure help is always close by if needed, and when you walk in you'll find things like private or semi-private rooms, private bathrooms, country kitchens, and dining rooms that can be set aside for family get-togethers, plus gardens and a courtyard out back where people can sit for a spell on nice days, and it's all in a quiet suburban neighborhood with parking and transportation services if anyone needs to go out for an appointment or shopping.
You'll find they offer a whole lot in terms of care, like medication management, wound care, pain management, heparin therapy, colostomy care, and even IV therapy, and there's a regular team of doctors and nurses-including registered nurses and attending physicians-coming in for things like diagnostic X-rays or even podiatry, so day-to-day medical needs are really handled right there, and if someone needs to recover from a surgery like a joint replacement or if there's been an injury, you can get orthopedic rehab, physical, speech, or occupational therapy as part of the package, and because Merry Gardens Assisted Living is part of the facility, residents who need a little extra with daily tasks can get that support without giving up their own space or privacy, and it also has home health and hospice care options.
You'll see they kept in mind both safety and convenience, with alarm systems to help folks with cognitive challenges, lots of comfortable gathering spots-like lounges, an activity room, computer with internet access, and even a country kitchen café where the menu's always available, plus laundry and housekeeping make things easier for those who want more free time, and mail, newspaper, and pharmaceutical delivery makes sure everything comes right to you, without hassle.
Nutritional support is part of daily life, with choices including kosher and vegetarian meals, and there's an on-site beauty salon and barber, fitness room, devotional services, and scheduled transportation for outings or visits, so you get most of what you might want or need without having to leave the place, and people do say it's nice to have those gardens and courtyards for a stroll. The apartments themselves tend to be one-bedroom and come with individual climate controls, and some are even fully private, but there are options for semi-private if that's what someone's after, and there's always focus on dignity and compassion for each resident, and the staff works with residents, their families, and outside case managers to put together care plans that fit the individual, so you're not getting some cookie-cutter kind of care.
Windward Gardens takes Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances, and since it's part of Genesis Healthcare, there's a framework for consistent standards, but people say the real value comes from the everyday support, plain communication, and strong sense of community, and while it's no luxury resort, it's a steady and practical place for seniors who need skilled nursing, assisted living, short or long-term rehab, or whole-person medical care in a safe, friendly setting, where the goal is always to help folks stay as independent as they're able, for as long as possible.
