Maine is nicknamed “The Pine Tree State” after the white pine forests which cover its landscape. Maine has over 17 million acres of forest and more than 3,470 miles of coastline on the mainland – 5,000 miles total if you include all of its islands. With more coastline than California, it’s no surprise that Maine is famous for seafood. Over 90% of the country’s lobster is harvested in Maine, and much of the state’s culture is influenced by the fishing industry. Locals love to celebrate Maine’s seafaring and fishing heritage, especially at events like the annual Maine Lobster Festival. Maine’s awe-inspiring natural beauty and the rustic charm of cities like Portland and Augusta make Maine an excellent retirement destination.
Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 15 retirement communities in Maine that offer independent living. The median monthly cost of independent living in Maine is about $2,900.
My wife and I have resided at Birch Bay for five years. For two years we lived in an apartment and have since owned a cottage here. As these places go, Birch Bay is small, with approximately 100 residents...
The staff was friendly, engaging and easy to work with. The food was great, and the enrichment programs like trip to the beach, or games were well done and frequent
The staff was friendly, engaging and easy to work with. The food was great, and the enrichment programs like trip to the beach, or games were well done and frequent
The staff and residents are friendly and welcoming. Staff use our names all the time. they smile and are helpful. I am exspanding my food choices as the food is wonderful and they serve foods I have not...
The managers take an active interest in the residents. Even the housekeeping staff take note of the residents and report to me if there are any concerns they have about my cousin who has dementia.
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.
The staff is very accessible for communication needs. I feel very confident in being able to reach them at any time of day or night to ask for anything Mom needs. I live a half hour away but do not hesitate...
It is a very caring facility where I feel the staff from the cleaners to activities treat everyone with such kindness and feels like genuine relationships. I would not hesitate to recommend. Has a...
The staff was friendly, engaging and easy to work with. The food was great, and the enrichment programs like trip to the beach, or games were well done and frequent
The staff was friendly, engaging and easy to work with. The food was great, and the enrichment programs like trip to the beach, or games were well done and frequent
Every thing has been good the staff is nice and polite all the time. The new chef is much better. My only issue happened when mom had some teeth removed the hoops I had to go through to get the proper dosage...
The staff and residents are friendly and welcoming. Staff use our names all the time. they smile and are helpful. I am exspanding my food choices as the food is wonderful and they serve foods I have not...
Maine doesn’t have specific regulations or licensing requirements for independent living communities. However, the state’s tenant rights guidelines apply to any rental agreement a senior may enter into with an independent living facility.
While there are several stand-alone independent living facilities in Maine, some share a campus with assisted living communities, which are subject to state licensing and regulatory requirements. To understand assisted living regulations in Maine, review our Overview of Assisted Living in Maine.
Let our care assessment guide you
Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
Stand-alone independent living communities don’t share a campus with other senior living facilities and are subject to Maine’s rental laws. These communities may also be required to adhere to certain local regulations, depending on the county or municipality where they are located.
The Maine Office of the Attorney General outlines renter’s rights which include the following:[01]
In Maine, fair housing laws protect renters against discriminatory practices. Landlords may not refuse to show or rent a unit, or impose different terms of conditions on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status, or receipt of public assistance. Renters with disabilities are also entitled to reasonable accommodations necessary to give that person full enjoyment of the premises.[02]
Independent living communities in Maine typically require tenants to meet minimum age requirements. A facility’s website should list the minimum age for the community, typically 55+ or 62+, along with additional admission requirements.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services
109 Capitol Street, 11 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Phone: 207-287-3707
Phone: 877-353-3771
Office of the Maine Attorney General. (2023, April 18). Chapter 14: Consumer rights when you rent an apartment.
Maine Legislature. (2024, February 9). Title 5: Administrative procedures and services. Part 12: Human rights. Chapter 337: Human rights act. Subchapter 4: Fair housing.
Overview of Independent Living in ME
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
Please enter a valid email address.