SUMMER COMMONS
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
Summer Commons in Sanford, Maine, has a trust grade of B+, which means it is above average and generally recommended for families considering care for their loved ones. It ranks #16 out of 77 nursing homes in Maine, placing it in the top half of facilities in the state, and #2 out of 9 in York County, indicating only one local option is better. The facility's trend is stable, with consistent issues reported over the past two years. Staffing is a concern, as the turnover rate is 67%, significantly higher than the state average of 49%, which may affect the continuity of care. On the positive side, there have been no fines reported, and the facility has excellent overall and staffing star ratings of 5/5. However, there are notable weaknesses; for example, the facility failed to properly assess residents after falls and had a medication error rate of 6.06%, which exceeds the acceptable threshold. Additionally, there were instances of unsecured medications and expired medications being available for use, raising concerns about safety and compliance. Overall, while Summer Commons has strengths in its ratings and lack of fines, potential residents should weigh these against the identified deficiencies.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Maine
- #16/77
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Holding Steady
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 67% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Maine facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 50 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Maine. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 20 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
21pts above Maine avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
19 points above Maine average of 48%
The Ugly 20 deficiencies on record
Aug 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(E)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to assess and monitor a resident after a fall and failed to follow th...
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Jan 2024
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0727
(Tag F0727)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to use the services of a Registered Nurse (RN) for at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week on 5 of 62 days (December 2023 and Janua...
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Nov 2022
9 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0655
(Tag F0655)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** 2. On 11/14/22 at 11:45 a.m., Resident #113 stated no one had met with him/her since admission to discuss care planning. Residen...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, record review and interviews, the facility failed to review and revise the care plan to reflect the current needs of 1 of 2 residents reviewed for respiratory. (#52)
Finding:
On...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, record review and interview, the facility failed to follow their own policy on oxygen (O2) storage and failed to obtain physician orders for oxygen therapy for 1 of 2 residents r...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure an as needed (prn) psychotropic medication order met the required 14-day time limit or provided the rationale to extend the time lim...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Unnecessary Medications
(Tag F0759)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to be free of medication error rate of 5% or more. There were a total of 2 medication errors out of 33 opportunities. The medicat...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that medications were stored properly by having unattended medication cards on top of the cart allowing residents and unauthorized p...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure the kitchen was maintained in a clean and sanitary manner and failed to ensure food was labeled and dated in the refr...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews and record reviews the facility failed to maintain an Infection Control Program designed to he...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Deficiency F0804
(Tag F0804)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observations, interviews and lunch meal test trays, the facility failed to serve hot foods for 1 of 2 lunch meals tested for appetizing temperatures.
Findings:
1. On 11/14/22 at 3:47 p.m., d...
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Dec 2019
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record reviews and interviews the facility failed to ensure as needed (PRN) psychotropic medications met the required 14-day limit for 1 of 6 residents reviewed for unnecessary medications (R...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0883
(Tag F0883)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on record reviews and interviews the facility failed to ensure that 3 of 5 residents reviewed for immunizations received pneumococcal vaccinations (Residents #20, #38 and #41).
Findings:
1. Duri...
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Dec 2018
7 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0646
(Tag F0646)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record reviews and interview, the facility failed to send a new Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) Level I Screen due to a status change, indicating a change in condition, whi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0661
(Tag F0661)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to develop a discharge summary that included a recapitulation of the resident's stay for 1 of 1 residents reviewed for a community discharge (...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0698
(Tag F0698)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review the facility failed to ensure that a resident requiring dialysis receive services consisten...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations and interview, the facility failed to serve food in a sanitary manner on 1 of 3 survey days.
Finding:
On 12/13/18 at 9:04 a.m., two Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) entered the...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
2. On 12/12/18 at 11:45 a.m., during an interview with Resident #47, the Surveyor determined that he/she smokes independently off the facility campus. On review of Resident #47's clinical record, the ...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0688
(Tag F0688)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on interviews and record review, the facility failed to provide services to maintain and/or improve residents' highest level of range of motion (ROM) and/or mobility for 2 of 2 residents reviewe...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on medical records review and interviews, the facility failed to ensure that a Minimum Data Set, version 3.0 (MDS) was acc...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Maine.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Maine facilities.
- • 20 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • 67% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
About This Facility
What is Summer Commons's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns SUMMER COMMONS an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Maine, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Summer Commons Staffed?
CMS rates SUMMER COMMONS's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 67%, which is 21 percentage points above the Maine average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs.
What Have Inspectors Found at Summer Commons?
State health inspectors documented 20 deficiencies at SUMMER COMMONS during 2018 to 2025. These included: 18 with potential for harm and 2 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Summer Commons?
SUMMER COMMONS is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 64 certified beds and approximately 59 residents (about 92% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in SANFORD, Maine.
How Does Summer Commons Compare to Other Maine Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Maine, SUMMER COMMONS's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.1, staff turnover (67%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Summer Commons?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate.
Is Summer Commons Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, SUMMER COMMONS has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Maine. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Summer Commons Stick Around?
Staff turnover at SUMMER COMMONS is high. At 67%, the facility is 21 percentage points above the Maine average of 46%. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Summer Commons Ever Fined?
SUMMER COMMONS has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Summer Commons on Any Federal Watch List?
SUMMER COMMONS is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.