At The Cedars, we are often asked what makes our community feel so different. Our history and mission lay the foundation, but the heart of our organization is the people who dedicate their careers to the health and happiness of our residents. We’re proud to share news that highlights the high caliber of our team. Our dining partner, Unidine, is part of the CCL Hospitality Group—a massive organization with a presence in 44 states and over 850 communities nationwide. Within this vast network of thousands of healthcare and culinary professionals, one name has risen to the top this year: our very own Jenny Maynard. Jenny was recently named a National Runner-Up for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) of the Year Award. To be recognized as one of the top two leaders across nearly a thousand communities is a staggering achievement and a testament to the excellence she brings to...
Susan Wehry, MD, a distinguished geriatric psychiatrist, passionate advocate, and Medical Advisor to The Cedars Learning Community joins us each month to share her insights. Drawing upon lessons from her multifaceted career and over 40 years of experience in long-term care and geriatrics, Dr. Wehry will share her unique perspective on some frequently asked questions about aging and brain health. For much of my career, I’ve been an ardent advocate of nonpharmacological approaches to cognitive and emotional health and well-being. Well, that hasn’t changed, but I am ready to concede that many, many people want a pill—an observation supported by market research: Americans spend an estimated $3.56 billion annually on supplements for brain or cognitive health, according to 2024 data and spending is projected to reach roughly $6.8 billion by 2030. The numbers finally broke me. Americans are spending billions on cognitive supplements, and clearly, many people truly want a pill....
Susan Wehry, MD, a distinguished geriatric psychiatrist, passionate advocate, and Medical Advisor to The Cedars Learning Community joins us each month to share her insights. Drawing upon lessons from her multifaceted career and over 40 years of experience in long-term care and geriatrics, Dr. Wehry will share her unique perspective on some frequently asked questions about aging and brain health. February is the shortest month of the year. It hosts Black History Month, Groundhog Day, President’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. It’s still winter but the days grow longer. Morning comes more quickly and night falls less fast. The sky is lighter. Fittingly, February is also American Heart Month, in which we are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle habits—a diet richer in whole foods, regular exercise, putting aside tobacco —all which can prevent up to 80% of cardiovascular events. But when I was a child, February was the month when my...
A diagnosis of early-to-moderate memory loss often feels like a door closing. Families frequently describe a shrinking world—friends stop calling, social outings become stressful, and the focus shifts entirely to what is being lost. At The Cedars, we believe the conversation should be about what remains. Our Mindful Connections program is designed to open those doors back up, proving that a diagnosis doesn’t have to mean the end of a vibrant social life. A National Standard for Our Portland Community Our commitment to this mission was recently reinforced when The Cedars was awarded a $125,000 Community-Dementia Care Research Promotion (CDRI) grant from the Alzheimer’s Association. As one of only 41 organizations in the United States selected for this honor, the grant serves as a powerful “seal of approval” for our work. For our local families, this national recognition represents a promise: that we will continue to expand our “memory-capable”...
Susan Wehry, MD, a distinguished geriatric psychiatrist, passionate advocate, and Medical Advisor to The Cedars Learning Community joins us each month to share her insights in a new column: #BeingWithAging. Drawing upon lessons from her multifaceted career and over 40 years of experience in long-term care and geriatrics, Dr. Wehry will share her unique perspective on some frequently asked questions about aging and brain health. Let’s face it: healthy brain function requires a little bit of the luck of the draw (your genes and zip code). Mostly though, it requires consistent, conscious habits that bolster the pillars of brain health: physical activity, mental stimulation, sleep and nutrition, and social connection. The simplest yet most powerful habit is physical exercise. What’s good for the heart (and for that matter for your mood, bones, muscles and gut!) is excellent for the head. Aerobic activity increases blood flow to the brain, delivering essential oxygen and...
For many of us, our home is more than just a place to live; it’s a living scrapbook of a lifetime of memories. The creak in the floorboard, the height marks on the kitchen doorframe, the garden we’ve tended for decades—these are the things that make a house a home. So, it’s entirely natural for the thought of moving to a senior living community to feel overwhelming. The idea of leaving a place that holds so much history can be emotionally daunting. But what if the journey from house to home could be a celebration of your life, not an ending? What if it were the first step toward a new kind of freedom and joy? At The Atrium, we understand this journey is a major life transition, and our compassionate team is here to support you every step of the way. Here are a few practical tips...
The Cedars is proud to announce that we have received the Designation of Excellence in Person-Centered Long-Term Care from the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU. The Cedars is among the first in the country to receive this distinguished designation. This honor is a powerful reflection of the compassion, commitment, and excellence our staff brings to their work every single day. It recognizes not only the quality of care we provide, but the heart and humanity behind it. Learn More...
We’re thrilled to share The Cedars 2025 Philanthropy Report – a celebration of the incredible impact our donors made possible. 🌟 Discover how your generosity transformed the lives of Maine’s older adults from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. This year’s report highlights powerful stories of progress in clinical excellence, workforce development, and person-centered programs – all thanks to your support. This report is our heartfelt tribute to the families, individuals, corporations, and foundations who stood with us. Your compassion is shaping a brighter, more dignified future for aging in Maine. 👉 View the 2025 Philanthropy Report Need help accessing the report or prefer a printed copy? Contact Tracy Ericson, Associate Director of Development, at tericson@thecedarsportland.org or 207.221.7007. Thank you for being part of this journey!...
The Cedars Learning Community is proud to welcome Dr. Susan Wehry as our new Medical Advisor. A board-certified Gero psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience, Dr. Wehry is a nationally recognized leader in aging and dementia care. She currently directs AgingME, Maine’s Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, and serves as Associate Clinical Professor at the University of New England. Dr. Wehry will guide research, workforce development, clinical standards, and resident programming at The Cedars. Her expertise will be especially impactful in our Mindful Connections program, translating evidence-based dementia engagement strategies into meaningful experiences. We are honored to have Dr. Wehry to help advance our mission and shape the future of geriatric care....
At the Association of Jewish Aging Services Conference in May 2025, The Cedars proudly received the AJAS Innovation Igniter Award for its groundbreaking course, Story as Medicine: Uniting Generations through Narrative Medicine. This innovative program, developed in collaboration with the University of Southern Maine Honors Program, pairs healthcare students with older adult mentors, known as “elder teachers,” to explore and share stories of health and wellness. Robin Moore’s quote, “Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller waiting to be released,” captures the essence of this transformative four-credit course. Over six years, it has enriched the lives of around 60 students and 60 residents, fostering meaningful connections and enhancing students’ narrative skills for patient-centered care. Participants engage in dynamic workshops, crafting personal essays and illness narratives, and learning to listen actively to their elder teachers. This immersive experience cultivates compassion, empathy, and crit The Cedars’ innovative approach not only...
Susan Wehry, MD, a distinguished geriatric psychiatrist, passionate advocate, and Medical Advisor to The Cedars Learning Community joins us each month to share her insights. Drawing upon lessons from her multifaceted career and over 40 years of experience in long-term care and geriatrics, Dr. Wehry will share her unique perspective on some frequently asked questions about aging and brain health. For much of my career, I’ve been an ardent advocate of nonpharmacological approaches to cognitive and emotional health and well-being. Well, that hasn’t changed, but I am ready to concede that many, many people want a pill—an observation supported by market research: Americans spend an estimated $3.56 billion annually on supplements for brain or cognitive health, according to 2024 data and spending is projected to reach roughly $6.8 billion by 2030. The numbers finally broke me. Americans are spending billions on cognitive supplements, and clearly, many people truly want a pill....
Susan Wehry, MD, a distinguished geriatric psychiatrist, passionate advocate, and Medical Advisor to The Cedars Learning Community joins us each month to share her insights. Drawing upon lessons from her multifaceted career and over 40 years of experience in long-term care and geriatrics, Dr. Wehry will share her unique perspective on some frequently asked questions about aging and brain health. February is the shortest month of the year. It hosts Black History Month, Groundhog Day, President’s Day, and Valentine’s Day. It’s still winter but the days grow longer. Morning comes more quickly and night falls less fast. The sky is lighter. Fittingly, February is also American Heart Month, in which we are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyle habits—a diet richer in whole foods, regular exercise, putting aside tobacco —all which can prevent up to 80% of cardiovascular events. But when I was a child, February was the month when my...
Susan Wehry, MD, a distinguished geriatric psychiatrist, passionate advocate, and Medical Advisor to The Cedars Learning Community joins us each month to share her insights in a new column: #BeingWithAging. Drawing upon lessons from her multifaceted career and over 40 years of experience in long-term care and geriatrics, Dr. Wehry will share her unique perspective on some frequently asked questions about aging and brain health. Let’s face it: healthy brain function requires a little bit of the luck of the draw (your genes and zip code). Mostly though, it requires consistent, conscious habits that bolster the pillars of brain health: physical activity, mental stimulation, sleep and nutrition, and social connection. The simplest yet most powerful habit is physical exercise. What’s good for the heart (and for that matter for your mood, bones, muscles and gut!) is excellent for the head. Aerobic activity increases blood flow to the brain, delivering essential oxygen and...
The Cedars is proud to announce that we have received the Designation of Excellence in Person-Centered Long-Term Care from the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU. The Cedars is among the first in the country to receive this distinguished designation. This honor is a powerful reflection of the compassion, commitment, and excellence our staff brings to their work every single day. It recognizes not only the quality of care we provide, but the heart and humanity behind it. Learn More...
We’re thrilled to share The Cedars 2025 Philanthropy Report – a celebration of the incredible impact our donors made possible. 🌟 Discover how your generosity transformed the lives of Maine’s older adults from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. This year’s report highlights powerful stories of progress in clinical excellence, workforce development, and person-centered programs – all thanks to your support. This report is our heartfelt tribute to the families, individuals, corporations, and foundations who stood with us. Your compassion is shaping a brighter, more dignified future for aging in Maine. 👉 View the 2025 Philanthropy Report Need help accessing the report or prefer a printed copy? Contact Tracy Ericson, Associate Director of Development, at tericson@thecedarsportland.org or 207.221.7007. Thank you for being part of this journey!...
The Cedars Learning Community is proud to welcome Dr. Susan Wehry as our new Medical Advisor. A board-certified Gero psychiatrist with over 40 years of experience, Dr. Wehry is a nationally recognized leader in aging and dementia care. She currently directs AgingME, Maine’s Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, and serves as Associate Clinical Professor at the University of New England. Dr. Wehry will guide research, workforce development, clinical standards, and resident programming at The Cedars. Her expertise will be especially impactful in our Mindful Connections program, translating evidence-based dementia engagement strategies into meaningful experiences. We are honored to have Dr. Wehry to help advance our mission and shape the future of geriatric care....
At the Association of Jewish Aging Services Conference in May 2025, The Cedars proudly received the AJAS Innovation Igniter Award for its groundbreaking course, Story as Medicine: Uniting Generations through Narrative Medicine. This innovative program, developed in collaboration with the University of Southern Maine Honors Program, pairs healthcare students with older adult mentors, known as “elder teachers,” to explore and share stories of health and wellness. Robin Moore’s quote, “Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller waiting to be released,” captures the essence of this transformative four-credit course. Over six years, it has enriched the lives of around 60 students and 60 residents, fostering meaningful connections and enhancing students’ narrative skills for patient-centered care. Participants engage in dynamic workshops, crafting personal essays and illness narratives, and learning to listen actively to their elder teachers. This immersive experience cultivates compassion, empathy, and crit The Cedars’ innovative approach not only...