All states › Maine › Dexter › Dexter Health Care
64 Park Street Dexter, ME 04930 · Penobscot County
CMS certification number 205115 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Dexter Health Care a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Dexter Health Care as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Maine average of 3.1.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 4.19 hours per resident per day at Dexter Health Care, below the Maine median of 4.31 (US median: 3.72). About 0.60 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.56 hours, 15% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 64.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Maine median 45.2%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Dexter Health Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Dexter Health Care is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Maine's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on September 10, 2025 and found 5 deficiencies, plus 4 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 39 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 39 citations at Dexter Health Care across 7 inspection dates, 13 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on August 26, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (7) and pharmacy service (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody" (tag F0600, level G, August 26, 2025). 5 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
May 27, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
December 30, 2025 · 2 citations · includes complaint inspection
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
September 10, 2025 · 6 citations · includes complaint inspection
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DArrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
August 26, 2025 · 7 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DProtect each resident from separation (from other residents, his/her room, or confinement to his/her room).
DEnsure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
October 31, 2024 · 12 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
DHonor 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.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DEnsure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
DHave a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
DProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DSafeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
November 8, 2023 · 10 citations
EProvide timely, quality laboratory services/tests to meet the needs of residents.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
DProvide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
DProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
DEnsure 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.
DProvide timely, approved x-ray services, or have an agreement with an approved provider to obtain them.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
BAllow residents to easily view the nursing home's survey results and communicate with advocate agencies.
October 17, 2023 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Questions to ask on a tour of Dexter Health Care
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on August 26, 2025 under the rule on freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 26, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Weekend staffing is 15% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Nursing staff turnover was 64.1% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
1 penalty in the last three years, including $10,033 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2024 | Fine | $10,033 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| August 2026 | 2/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Dexter Health Care
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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11.3 mi
Mayo Regional Hospital Dover FoxcroftEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 24m for patients treated and sent home
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16.9 mi
Sebasticook Valley Hospital PittsfieldEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 3h 7m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Compare Dexter Health Care with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other First Atlantic Healthcare nursing homes in Maine
- Seaside Healthcare · Portland · 5 stars
- Katahdin Health Care · Millinocket · 5 stars
- Hawthorne House · Freeport · 4 stars
- Hibbard Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center · Dover Foxcroft · 4 stars
- Stillwater Health Care · Bangor · 4 stars
- Caribou Rehab and Nursing Center · Caribou · 3 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 11 First Atlantic Healthcare nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.