Elvira Luzolo
Feb 2026
Nothing
1 / 5Quick Facts
- Total units
- 40
- Medicare rating
- 5 of 5
- Ownership
- Non profit, Corporation
- Certified beds
- 40
- Inspections
- View history (32 citations)
- Fee structure
- Entrance-fee lifecare model with buy-in
- Continuum of care
- Priority access to skilled nursing at same fee
- Transportation access
- No public transportation reaches the campus
- Medical proximity
- Near several Portland-area hospitals and trauma centers
CMS Care Compare
What Families Think
Piper Shores is a nonprofit, entrance-fee lifecare community on the Maine coast, offering independent living with priority access to on-site assisted living and skilled nursing through its Holbrook program. Reviews are limited and mixed: several residents praise the caring staff and engaging social life, while one detailed prospective-resident review raised concerns about staff turnover, transparency, and the tour experience.
The Good
- Staff described as caring and competent
- Oceanside campus with engaging social activities
- On-site skilled nursing and rehab via Holbrook
- Independent living residents get priority nursing access
- CARF-accredited care model
- Transportation provided to Portland medical appointments
The Bad
- One detailed review cited high staff turnover and difficulty retaining employees
- One report of limited transparency on financial sustainability and planning
- One report of an unsafe incident involving a shuttle bus driver
- One reviewer described a negative experience with a specific staff member
AI-generated from reviews and community data.
Piper Shores is a senior living community in Scarborough, Maine offering Assisted Living, Independent Living and Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care. Amenities include Guest Meals, Restaurant style Dining Room and Outdoor Patio. Families rate it 4.1 out of 5 across 11 reviews.
About Piper Shores
Piper Shores is a lifecare retirement community in Scarborough, Maine, offering independent living and assisted living with skilled nursing care. The community is situated on the scenic coast of Southern Maine, just minutes from Portland, and serves active older adults seeking comfortable surroundings, services, and amenities that support an engaged lifestyle.
The community provides independent living residences along with Holbrook, its on-campus assisted living and skilled nursing care component. Holbrook operates a resident-centered care model and delivers health care services including short-term rehabilitation. Independent living residents receive priority access to Holbrook services for the same monthly fee as their apartment rent. The community is located near several highly rated Portland-area hospitals, trauma centers, outpatient surgical facilities, and medical offices, with transportation provided to appointments.
Piper Shores emphasizes community life and resident engagement through activities such as yoga, sunset walks, and community dinners by the firepit. Residents have access to transportation to nearby Portland for cultural attractions including the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Museum of Art, Portland Stage, and professional sports teams. The area also offers acclaimed restaurants and dining venues, with Portland named Bon Appetit's City of the Year in 2018.
The community has earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and received a 2025 Bronze Commitment to Quality award from the AHCA/NCAL. As Maine's only non-profit lifecare retirement community, Piper Shores has maintained a commitment to providing affordable retirement living options for a broad range of seniors.
Types of Care at Piper Shores
Assisted LivingIndependent LivingSkilled Nursing / Long Term Care
Amenities
Room Amenities
- Cable or Satellite TV
- Emergency Call System
- Private Bathroom
- Private Rooms
- Wheelchair Accessible
Meals & Dining
- Dietary Accommodations (Gluten-Free, Low / No Sodium, No Sugar, Vegan)
- Guest Meals
- Restaurant style Dining Room
Community Amenities
- 24-Hour Staff
- Chapel / Religious Services
- Gathering / Activity Spaces
- Housekeeping
- Laundry Service
- Medication Management
- On-Site Nurse (RN)
- Outdoor Patio
- Salon / Barber
- Security
- Transportation Services
Activities
- Birthday / Holiday Parties
- Day Trips and Outings
- Religious Services
- Social Activities (Happy Hour, Wine Tasting, Dances, Karaoke)
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Help Me ChooseReviews of Piper Shores
4.1overall · 11 ratings combined
4.1★ on Google (11)
Brenda Demirjian
Oct 2024
The Staff at Piper Shores are caring, competent and always willing to help. I feel privileged to have joined one of the women's afternoon social gatherings and thoroughly enjoyed their stimulating conversation, humor and wisdom. A beautiful oceanside campus, kind staff and engaging activities.
Robert Albert
Mar 2024
Your bus driver almost got t-boned pulling out infront of me today. Doesn’t deserve his license
Deborah Sampson
Nov 2022
We went to tour and get information about this facility recently. First off, it is not near much and there is no public transportation to it. (They admitted that this is a reason they are having difficulty attracting and retaining employees. And their employee turnover rate is very high.) Nor is the facility signage helpful to find the entrance, parking, and main office for a first time visit. When we did arrive, we were passed off to a resident to give us a tour instead of having an employee take us around. This is the ONLY facility that we have toured that has done this. Further, they pressured us to sign up for a ZOOM to get more information about financing etc. Seems like they aren't interested in using employee time to interact with potential residents. The woman who gave us a tour was more interested in promoting herself and her importance at the facility than in learning much about us. She also told us that this is the only not for profit facility like it- which is not at all true. There is another in Portland and when we pointed this out to us she hemmed and hawed about being able to get a refund of the buy in fee and family being able to get an inheritance when a resident dies. We asked about sustainability practices- and the tour guide gave us a run down of recycling of trash. But asking about the expansive lawn that was clearly treated with chemicals and she replied "No one would tolerate dandelions or wildflowers here!" Residents are not allowed to put a clothes rack on their (postage stamp size) patio. "You have to understand that you are in a community here and can't just do what you like", she said. She also spoke to several residents on the tour but didn't introduce us nor did the residents say hello with one exception. Oh my...... And the view of the ocean promised from every apartment was a very tiny glimpse of blue through the trees in her place... not what anyone would call an ocean view. When we finally were with an employee and could ask about financial sustainability and short/long range planning for residents who might be unable to afford monthly fees given the current inflation and stock market situation, we received very little concrete or useful information nor were we given any financial report data. Leadership members are business people and physicians - not inclusive of social workers and masters prepared nurses as there are in places focused on quality community care in aging. All in all, this doesn't seem to be a very welcoming, mindful, warm, and inclusive place. It would be fine for many folks, as it clearly is, but not a place for those of us who are looking for community and to be welcomed into a place that demonstrates valuing of prospective residents.
Ryan Gambardella
Mar 2021
My grandmother had problems with Taylor Googins
Government Inspection History
3 inspection visits in the last three years, 32 citations on file. Inspections are conducted by state agencies on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Dec 12, 2025Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard12 citations
Establish emergency prep training and testing.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jan 15, 2026
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 19, 2026
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 19, 2026
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 19, 2026
Properly select, install, inspect, or maintain portable fire extinguishes.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Dec 15, 2025
Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Dec 19, 2025
Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 15, 2026
Ensure receptacles at patient bed locations and where general anesthesia is administered, are tested after initial installation, replacement or servicing.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 15, 2026
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 19, 2026
Install a two-hour-resistant firewall separation.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 15, 2026
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Jan 15, 2026
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Severity B of L: potential for minimal harm, patternCorrected Jan 19, 2026
Sep 11, 2024Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard11 citations
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
Severity E of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, patternCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Ensure nurse aides have the skills they need to care for residents, and give nurse aides education in dementia care and abuse prevention.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 18, 2024
Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 18, 2024
Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 18, 2024
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Encode each resident’s assessment data and transmit these data to the State within 7 days of assessment.
Severity B of L: potential for minimal harm, patternCorrected Oct 26, 2024
Jul 12, 2023Fire Safety StandardHealth Standard9 citations
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Severity F of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Severity D of L: no actual harm, potential for more than minimal harm, isolatedCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Notify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
Severity C of L: potential for minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
Severity C of L: potential for minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Give residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
Severity C of L: potential for minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Aug 26, 2023
Create arrangements with other facilities to receive patients.
Severity C of L: potential for minimal harm, widespreadCorrected Jul 21, 2023
Source: CMS Care Compare, public federal data covering certified nursing facilities, refreshed monthly. Citations range from A (least serious) to L (most serious) on the federal scope and severity scale. Most citations are corrected quickly; review the details and ask the community about anything that concerns you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of care does Piper Shores offer?
Piper Shores offers Assisted Living, Independent Living and Skilled Nursing / Long Term Care.
Where is Piper Shores located?
Piper Shores is located at 15 Piper Road in Scarborough, Maine.
What do families say about Piper Shores?
Piper Shores is a nonprofit, entrance-fee lifecare community on the Maine coast, offering independent living with priority access to on-site assisted living and skilled nursing through its Holbrook program. Reviews are limited and mixed: several residents praise the caring staff and engaging social life, while one detailed prospective-resident review raised concerns about staff turnover, transparency, and the tour experience.
How did Piper Shores do on recent health and safety inspections?
Piper Shores had 3 government inspection visits in the last three years, with 32 citations on file according to CMS Care Compare data. The full history, including what each citation was for and whether it was corrected, is in the inspection section on this page.
How can families visit Piper Shores?
Submit the Request Information form on this page to connect with Piper Shores and arrange a tour. Sharing your timeline and care needs up front helps the community prepare for your visit.
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