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- Don Thomson House Residential Care Home







At Don Thomson House, so many of the dedicated team have been with the home for many years, providing that wonderful continuity of care. And with just 28 bedrooms, the home has such a warm, family feel.
The teams provide residential and dementia care, as well as a respite care breaks, which can be pre-booked. These are perfect for those caring for loved ones at home. You can book a short...
Care Provided by Don Thomson House Residential Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 28 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Our weekly fees are individual to each of our residents and are subject to a pre-admission assessment, which is required to understand the level of care and support needed. Our 2026 weekly care fees for residential care start from £1424 but may be in the region of 30% more*. This depends on your care needs and the type of bedroom that is right for you, from our standard rooms through to our premium bedroom options.
*If you require more specialist care such as 1-2-1 support, your weekly fee could be higher.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Don Thomson House Residential Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Don Thomson House Residential Care Home to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Sanctuary Care Ltd
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Colette Greenhalgh (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
Room Information
- Single Rooms (28)
Don Thomson House Residential Care Home Reviews (44)
Don Thomson House Residential Care Home has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.634) out of 10, based on 11 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Don Thomson House Residential Care Home has 44 reviews.
I don't think that there is another care home that can better Don Thomson. All the staff go above and beyond. It's a very welcoming place and I'm kept informed about any changes in my mum's care. My mum who is nearly 99 is really happy there
Thank you for your kind comments. We're delighted to hear that your mum is happy with us and that you feel welcomed and well informed about her care. Your praise for our team truly means a great deal, and we're grateful for the trust you place in Don Thomson.
Mum is happy here , there is a lot of laughter and a lot of fun.
Since mum joined her happiness level increased in line with her waistband ... The food is home cooked, nutritious and plentiful
Thank you for such heartfelt feedback. We're so pleased to hear your mum is happy and well supported, and we're truly grateful for your kind words about our team.
I cannot fault anything about Don Thomson House. My mother is settled and very happy and in her words, "can't grumble about anything". The care and attention to the residents is second to none and the staff are always very accommodating, going that extra mile to ensure the needs of the residents are catered for. Everywhere is very clean and I have no issue with allowing my 9 month old grandson to crawl around when visiting my mother. I would have no hesitation in recommending this care home.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We're delighted to hear your mum is happy and that you feel well informed and supported. Your kind words about our team and recommendation mean so much to us.
I would and do have no problem in recommending this as a lovely caring home and cannot be more grateful that my mum is so well looked after
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We're truly grateful for your kind words and are so pleased to know your mum continues to feel cared for and valued. Your trust and recommendation mean a great deal to us.
The staff are amazing - so patient, helpful and nothing is too much trouble.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We're delighted to hear that you've found the team to be patient, helpful and always willing to go the extra mile. Creating a warm and supportive environment is at the heart of what we do, and feedback like this truly means a lot to us.
We first visited Don Thomson House after a family recommendation and due to its location. We were immediately struck by how warm and friendly the atmosphere was and how accommodating the staff were. It has a light and airy dining room which overlooks the lovely garden. Since our mother moved in and is settling down, we have continued to be impressed by the high quality of the care. The staff are kind, perceptive, supportive, flexible and efficient. They also have a great sense of humour which anyone with a family member suffering from dementia will appreciate. We highly recommend this home.
We're so pleased to hear that your mother is settling in well and that our team's warmth, humour, and attentive care have made a positive difference. It's always our goal to create a supportive and welcoming environment, and your feedback means a great deal to us.
My husband has been in this care home for 20 months. I have found the manager and all care staff very dedicated people in all aspects of the job. They apply the same respect towards the residents as well as relatives, there are regular residents meetings and residents are given a weekly schedule for activities, there is a monthly newsletter for all residents and relatives. My experience of the home is excellent along with the management and staff. I often tell people about the home if they should need it in the future for their relative. The manager holds regular meetings for the relatives. The manager and all staff are always very helpful if needed.
Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your positive experience. We're so pleased to hear that you feel supported by our team and that your husband is well cared for. Your recommendation means a great deal to us.
I have the upmost respect for all the staff at the home on how they respect the residents and relatives when visiting the home is always clean and tidy and the staff couldn't be more helpful , friendly and professional
Thank you for your kind words. We're so pleased to hear you feel welcomed and respected during your visits. Your appreciation means a lot to our team and motivates us to keep providing the best care possible.
I was a complete mess moving mum into care. My heart is full of love for you all with everything you all do. The manager said we treat our residents as family and it sure comes through every day. My mum is very happy which makes me happy. thank you to you all.
Mum has been in Don Thomson now for nearly 8 months the staff are kind and caring! The food is similar to home cooking. We as a family, are so glad we put mum's care in their hands.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your mum has been well cared for at Don Thomson and that our staff's kindness and compassion have made a positive impact. It's also great to know that you and your family appreciate the home-cooked meals we provide.Your...
I enjoyed my stay with the staff were caring. The garden was a great asset to residents who actually lived at the home. In my three weeks respite stay, I made friends and had many conversations with ladies who had to give up their homes and they seemed to be content and could see they were very well looked after. I would recommend your home.
Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation for Don Thomson House. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your respite stay and felt so well cared for by our staff. It's wonderful to know that you were able to make new friends during your time with us and we hope to welcome you back in the future, whether for a coffee or another stay.
When my mother needed to go into care, the management at Don Thomson House were extremely helpful in their interview with mum. The room fits her needs, she is no distance from her bathroom and she has a view over the garden. The staff have been excellent ensuring that mum eats properly and encouraging her to use the dining room for meals. The staff are kind, friendly and always prepared to answer questions and arrange for external services (e.g. chiropodist) when needed. They also ensure that Covid vaccinations are up to date. I have already referred a friend whose mother needs respite care.
Thank you for your review of Don Thomson House and we are thrilled that you were so pleased that you recommended the home to a friend.
My cousin became a resident in January 2017. I was impressed with all the facilities, the room was spotless and comfortable as were the lounge, dining room and breakfast room. the staff were professional and so kind and caring. Nothing was too much trouble, they were always cheerful with all the residents and visitors. The kindness and compassion they showed to my cousin at the end were outstanding.
Excellent staff and management. Always very helpful and caring. The whole team including catering/cleaning and carers are all caring and considerate always.
Our dad was well looked after at Don Thomson House throughout the very challenging conditions that Covid imposed during his 18-month stay. The staff were very caring and helpful, although often appeared to be overstretched. Despite how busy they were, they went out of their way to make Dad's birthdays special, particularly when we were not allowed in due to Covid. They also helped us manage the logistics of Dad's hospital appointments. Despite occasional challenges with admin and communication, we were overall very grateful for all the staff did for Dad and also their support to us during difficult times - and we were very happy with how Dad was cared for.
The staff are very caring and kind in their approach to residents.
We, as a family, were very grateful for the amazing quality of care Don Thomson House gave our father in his last year of life. We could not be happier with the dedication and care that was given to Dad. We would like to thank all the staff for their care and kindness. Thank you.
My Mum entered Don Thompson for a respite stay initially but she was so comfortable there that it became permanent. Throughout her stay, every member of staff that I met was professional, friendly and approachable. When mum became very poorly, the communication from the staff was excellent and they kept me up to date with everything that was happening. My mother sadly passed away recently but again the staff were kind and caring in their dealings with me. I am so grateful that my mum was able to pass away feeling comfortable and at peace, thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to review our home and for such kind words. Best wishes, Fae
Mum has been a resident at Don Thomson for five years. Up until one year ago, she was chairbound and since then bedbound, unable to change her position without the care and attention of the carers. As a retired tissue viability specialist nurse, I am very aware of the importance of maintaining good skin integrity in the frail, immobile elderly. She does have very high-risk pressure relieving equipment in place which helps but doesn't do the whole job, this requires the vigilance and care of the staff. Her pain control and dietary needs are well managed too. Mum was 100 last week and despite her interaction with the staff and us is variable, they ensured her birthday was celebrated in a way that such a milestone deserved. Sadly she slept through it. But 2 days later, when she was awake, the staff contacted us, giving us the opportunity to celebrate with her. All this is testament to the high level of care given physically and psychologically to Mum and us.
Thank you for such a thorough review and kind words for our staff. We really appreciate your feedback, especially given your insight and are glad to hear your mum is being cared for to the highest standard. Best wishes, Fae
We as a family would like to express our grateful thanks to all the staff who made our mother's 100th birthday such a memorable and happy day. All the staff are always extremely helpful and approachable in these difficult times, much appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to review our home and for your kind words about our team. It's lovely to hear about your mother's birthday. Best wishes, Fae
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 16 March 2018Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledGood
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Don Thomson House Residential Care Home.
There are no upcoming events for Don Thomson House Residential Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (9)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Don Thomson House Residential Care Home.
Meet the Team (5)

Colette has worked at Don Thomson House for over 15 years and is proud to have progressed to home manager.
The residents mean everything to me,” she explains.
When I walk through the door I am coming to look after 28 nans and granddads – I love making them smile and I leave work knowing I’ve made a difference.
And that is very much how the rest of the staff are here. The team always go that extra mile for our residents, to deliver truly person-centred care – for them, nothing is too much trouble.”

I have worked at Don Thomson for over two decades! I have full job satisfaction and when I get home I know that I have made a difference in the residents' lives.

I applied for this position as I get a high degree of job satisfaction as it suits my interests. The staff are friendly and helpful and always do their best for residents.

I love my job and the team are brilliant. The residents are well cared for and I am proud to work here.

I enjoy cooking and baking for our residents very much - this really is a very rewarding job.
Frequently Asked Questions about Don Thomson House Residential Care Home
What types of Care is Don Thomson House Residential Care Home registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Don Thomson House Residential Care Home have?
There are 28 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Don Thomson House Residential Care Home?
Own Furniture if required, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Don Thomson House Residential Care Home to the centre of Harwich?
1.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Don Thomson House Residential Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Don Thomson House Residential Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.