What room types does Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living offer?

Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living offers Studio, 1 Bedroom and Detached Cottages / Bungalows. Learn more.

How does A Place for Mom score Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living?

A Place for Mom has scored Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living 8.5 out of 10 using our proprietary review score. We assign review scores to give a more reliable view into senior living communities and home care agencies. Our review scores prioritize reviews that are recent — the past 24 months — because we know families need current information when choosing senior care. Those with many recent, positive reviews receive a high review score, while providers with few recent reviews — regardless of how positive — receive a lower review score. Communities with no recent reviews will not have a review score, even if older reviews are positive. The maximum A Place for Mom review score a community can receive is 10 points.

What is the phone number for Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living?

Call (207) 772-1080 to reach a resident at Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living.

Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living | Assisted Living | Portland, ME 04103

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Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living 86 Holiday Dr, Portland, ME 04103	The Grande at South Portland 25 Country Club Rd, Portland, ME 04106	Sable Lodge Retirement Community1 74 Running Hill Rd, South Portland, ME 04106	Scarborough Terrace 600 Commerce Dr, Scarborough, ME 04074
8.5 out of 10 Review Score78 reviews	9 out of 10 Review Score42 reviews	8.9 out of 10 Review Score13 reviews	8.9 out of 10 Review Score36 reviews
Studio Starting at $X,XXX/mo	Studio Starting at $X,XXX/mo	Studio Starting at $X,XXX/mo	Studio Starting at $X,XXX/mo
1 Bedroom Starting at $X,XXX/mo	1 Bedroom Starting at $X,XXX/mo	1 Bedroom Starting at $X,XXX/mo	1 Bedroom Starting at $X,XXX/mo
2 Bedrooms Not available	2 Bedrooms Starting at $X,XXX/mo	2 Bedrooms Starting at $X,XXX/mo	2 Bedrooms Not available
Active promotion No	Active promotion No	Active promotion No	Active promotion No
Pet friendly Yes	Pet friendly Yes	Pet friendly Yes	Pet friendly Yes
Care types offered 1 Assisted Living	Care types offered 3 Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living	Care types offered 2 Memory Care, Independent Living	Care types offered 2 Assisted Living, Memory Care
Schedule Tour	Schedule Tour	Schedule Tour	Schedule Tour
Share With Family	Share With Family	Share With Family	Share With Family

View map	View map	View map	View map
Download brochure	Download brochure	Download brochure	Download brochure
Call Now	Call Now	Call Now	Call Now

5.0 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

5.0

Staff

5.0

I liked what I seen and experienced at Birchwoods. A warm and friendly place and had an excellent tour of the facility. I will favorably consider when its time.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Cleanliness

4.0

Friendliness

5.0

Care Services

4.0

Activities

5.0

Staff

3.0

Meals & Dining

3.0

the right fit for our mom - friendly folks and good care

Yes! I love the nurses and staff. They are amazing and very easy to work with. I visit on a weekly basis and they're always giving updates on mom. Sometimes I get photos from the activity coordinator, [name removed], who does an amazing job. They've been through a couple chefs and sometimes what's on the menu is not what's served, or veg etc is missing entirely. Mom hasn't complained but I've noticed. Upper admin was difficult to deal with at first (saying I needed to hire an additional aide to help with my mom's transition) which just felt like them not giving her a chance to settle in. Overall, feeling lucky that she's there. She's happy and cared for. She's in the apartment suite and it works for her. It's a great size, not too big, not too small

5.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Care Services

5.0

Staff

5.0

Meals & Dining

3.0

Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

Well, my mother said that the food was not that good. It was very salty, which is not ideal for elderly people.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

5.0

Staff

5.0

Good location. Comfortable surroundings. Good looking rooms. The only serious problem is they do not provide vegetarian meals. As my wife and I are longtime vegetarians it would make it difficult for us to survive.

4.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

4.0

Care Services

4.0

Activities

5.0

Staff

5.0

Meals & Dining

4.0

A nice place overall

The facility does not accept MaineCare. I will need to find another place before my brother runs out of money. The hospital placed him in an assisted living facility too far away for me to help efficiently.

4.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Birchwoods at Canco

The staff members at Birchwoods at Canco have been absolutely wonderful and very easy to work with. It has overall been a positive experience for my loved one and this is a place that I would recommend to others looking for care.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness

4.0

Friendliness

4.0

Value for Cost

4.0

My sister and I are in the early stages of research assisted living communities located near Portland, Maine. We recently tour Birchwoods at Canco as a possible assisted living community for our mother to transition to from her current independent living facility. My siblings and I live out of state and Mom is reluctant to leave Maine. We met with the Community Resource Director who spent the better part an hour and a half giving us the tour and answering our questions. We were very impressed with the community over all. While Mom is not ready to commit to the move, we feel that The Birchwoods would meet her needs.

2.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

4.0

Value for Cost

3.0

Care Services

3.0

Activities

1.0

Staff

1.0

Meals & Dining

3.0

Promises not kept - Do NOT recommend

The caregivers at Birchwoods at Canco were mostly very sweet and kind to my mother. When she was accepted into the community, they were very reassuring that they could handle her and her early stage dimentia, as there was a memory care indication on their website. They advertised that this included activities that would benefit their memory care community. Sometime soon after they admitted her, that was taken off the website, and all of a sudden they could not handle her (low level) Dimentia...and it became a problem. The management staff did extensive testing and evaluations prior to her admittance. They assured us that she was a good fit for the community and thought she would be an excellent addition with her fun and spunky personality. The very night that she moved in, we received two rude and panicky phone calls at around 1 AM and 3:30 AM from one of the ladies on duty telling us that Mom was scared and agitated and wanted to leave - apparently, she walked into the hallway and was looking for my father. We absolutely freaked out and I was in a panic. They clearly had absolutely NO training on how to handle something like this, and the responsibility was thrown at us to deal with it. The caregiver was annoyed and said now that she would have to put someone outside my mom's room to make sure that she didn't leave for the rest of the night. The caregiver had no skills to try to calm mom down in this situation or reassure her. My mother had never lived in an assisted living facility before he was confused and frightened. The staff had absolutely no clue that's how to deal with that which blew us away. From that very first night, we had already lost confidence and anxiety was high. Frankly, we felt very duped and disappointed... They were not honest from the get-go. Birchwoods was changing management companies when my mother was accepted to become a resident. They NEVER told us this. They had apparently let their director go and had not hired a new one. Communication was almost nonexistent, except for periodic phone calls from lower level caregivers. Things were very discombobulated, disorganized, and there was almost zero communication from any manager (other than the few times that we hounded them and demanded a callback.) It was almost as if they were trying to hide how bad things really were within their organization. We only wanted to have to move my mom once. It was a difficult transition but mom really started to like it there and she made good friends. Upon admitting mom to the community, Birchwoods said that they believed in lifelong care so that once a resident was accepted, she would not have to move out...once they were there at Birchwoods, they could stay indefinitely. This was NOT TRUE. In the end, the new management company apparently decided that they were going to start asking people to leave who they deemed required too much attention/care, which they did. This left families scrambling. We caught wind of this from other residents' families and, after only a few months, we decided to find a new place for mom to live. (In fact, a few directors from these other communities openly told us that they were getting frantic phone calls from families currently at the Birchwoods, trying to find a new place for their loved one because they were asked to leave on very short notice.) Overall, it was a horrible and unsettling experience at Birchwoods that only added to our anxiety, stress, and guilt of having to move her in the first place. I would not recommend this facility to anyone.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

4.0

Staff

5.0

Birchwood met all my mothers needs! A warm, welcoming, and Spacious environment. Friendly staff and many amenities! The outside wooded area is lovely. For her to be able to bring her two precious small pups is a Godsent. We are thrilled to have found Birchwood!

5.0 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

5.0

Staff

5.0

Excellent tour. Informative and all my questions

5.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Review for Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

I am still getting acquainted with the folks there but so far the staff has been very helpful and the other residents have been very welcoming. I am very thankful to a place for mom, would not have known where to start without your assistance

5.0 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

4.0

Staff

5.0

I was shown around Birchwood by [name removed]. He was very helpful and informative. The facility looks very nice clean and seems to be a very friendly environment. The rooms were pretty typical for an assisted living. The setting is very nice, all surrounded by trees andin the woods which surprised me as I drove through some fairly industrial areas to get there. You feel like you’re away from the city which I liked. Because it’s in Portland, you are close to hospitals and doctors, etc.. Even though it was a bit further away than I would’ve liked from where I live I think this would be an excellent place for my mom and if I end up moving her to Maine, this will be a place. I will have her consider for sure. The cost is very comparable to what she’s paying at a facility in Florida and the services are pretty comprehensive. I was given an opportunity, ask questions and at the end of the tour I got a delicious bag of homemade cookies! I was definitely impressed!

3.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Would not recommend

Since he has been here there has been a lot of staff turnover and he's had money stolen from his room.

4.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Pros and cons, but overall pleased

He's a great activities coordinator. They do a lot of daily and monthly activities. Go out for field trips to go out for a luncheon once a month eve band is really good size and it's wheelchair accessible. The building I think itself is lovely. The dining room is really pretty. Unfortunately the food is not well liked by alot of the residence. It's provided by Sysco and I just think it's done for large groups and not a lot of local fresh vegetables or fruit. They have a number of staff who have English as a second language and for my mom who's a little hard of hearing that makes it very difficult for her. There is definitely a language barrier.

4.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Friendly staff and nice community.

She loved it there. She was there for 6 days, got involved in activities (flower decoration), made friends, got the flu, fell and broke her femur and is now in skilled nursing at [community removed] after long, complicated recovery. We all wished she could have returned to Birchwood. It was a warm and friendly community. She felt at home almost immediately. She became active and involved right away.

4.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Review for Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

They were very helpful. I would recommend the Birchwoods at Canco.

5.0 out of 5 stars

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

5.0

Care Services

5.0

Activities

5.0

Staff

5.0

Meals & Dining

5.0

Compassionate and safe

Birchwoods is very clean and cheerful. The programming ladies are genuine and do their very best to meet the needs of every resident. The location and atmosphere cannot be beat. Multiple directors have been there long term and truly care about what they are doing Chef takes the time at the beginning of meals to engage with each resident, getting to know their individual needs and preferences. The business office manager will take the time to support in anyway she can. The community resource director truly cares about helping your loved one find the right place for them. There are some fantastic genuine staff and their core team is compassionate and gentle. It is an AL2 so it is not the appropriate placement for anyone who wanders but perfect for those who want to maintain their independence as long as possible. The directors-[name removed], [name removed], [name removed] and [name removed] are the kindest people and you can trust them to address anything. Highly recommend Birchwoods for assisted living!

4.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Cleanliness

4.0

Friendliness

5.0

Value for Cost

4.0

Care Services

4.0

Staff

4.0

Meals & Dining

2.0

Transitioning

Short staffed in housekeeping, the food is horrible- nothing is fresh, everything is canned or frozen. A choice might be bologna sandwich and canned oranges. Everyone is very nice, but they can't seem to keep up. There's a new director coming and we've been told that a new chef is coming and that nutritional guidelines will be followed. I don't like to bash them. Everyone is nice, and we are hoping things will get better.

1.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Cleanliness

2.0

Friendliness

1.0

Value for Cost

1.0

Care Services

1.0

Activities

4.0

Staff

3.0

Meals & Dining

1.0

Needs improvements

Overall experience started off good and has deteriorated. Birchwoods management did not have awareness of what the staff was doing OR what they were not doing. Care of vulnerable people suffered and many families moved their loved ones out. Harm came to some residents at the hands of bad workers and uncaring management. One resident who is in a wheelchair was stuck in her room for hours needing help, ringing for help and no one came. They say the management is now on top of it but honestly they have just let go any employee who knows the truth about what it's been like. It used to be friendly but now it is not. Very few staff care to speak to the residents and make them feel seen and cared for except the social workers who do bingo and activities. Also friendly and caring are the two front desk women and one nurse and a couple of med tech women - two of whom have quit due to all of this. The new med tech men are terrible. Food is awful. The noon time meal can be ok but the evening is awful - one night they actually served a nasty looking baked potato and potato chips. Nothing else. Very odd. For activities, they try - they are kind to the residents and try to make them happy. Value for the money - bad, my parents pay [fee removed] a month and the only thing they get is meds given and some average noontime meals. They buy groceries all the time to have decent food. They all deserve better.

2.0 out of 5 stars

Verified Review

Cleanliness

5.0

Friendliness

3.0

Value for Cost

3.0

Care Services

2.0

Staff

3.0

Meals & Dining

4.0

Don't be filled by the smell of baked cookies

The communication between the facility and the residents medical team and family lacks. It seems to me the facility would rather talk to the family and go around the resident. The nurse on site doesn't appear to want to learn from visiting nurses how to care for particular medical issues and they do not follow the medication protocols very well.

Tips for evaluating your community options

Safety is a primary concern when seniors and their families look for Assisted Living. To ensure that a community meets your needs and expectations, we recommend that seniors and family members:

Tour the location: Touring allows you to speak to current residents and staff, and helps you confirm the accuracy of the community description and photos. Use our touring checklist to help guide your visit.

Confirm the availability of required services: Before you commit, make sure that the community offers all the services your senior needs, and that those services can be provided within your budget.

Know the Maine regulations for Assisted Living: Each state has its own laws and inspections processes to ensure seniors reside in a safe environment. Depending on your state, you may even be able to look up inspection reports for the community(ies) you’re considering. Learn more about Maine regulations for Assisted Living.

Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

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Reviews

the right fit for our mom - friendly folks and good care

Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

A nice place overall

Birchwoods at Canco

Promises not kept - Do NOT recommend

Review for Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

Would not recommend

Pros and cons, but overall pleased

Friendly staff and nice community.

Review for Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

Compassionate and safe

Transitioning

Needs improvements

Don't be filled by the smell of baked cookies

Neighborhoods

Tips for evaluating your community options

Frequently Asked Questions about Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living

What room types does Birchwoods at Canco Senior Living offer?

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