






Firstlings has been established since 1986 and has an excellent reputation within the area. Firstlings is located in Maldon and is very near to lots of local amenities. The home welcomes elderly people and elderly people with dementia.
Firstlings is beautifully presented throughout and offers residents a clean environment in which to stay. Carers pride themselves on maintaining high standards at Firstlings and always push themselves to do even better.
Has a...
Care Provided by Firstlings
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 32 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
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Firstlings for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Firstlings 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
- Sohal Healthcare Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Tina Bentley (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2018
Room Information
- Single Rooms (32)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (26)
Firstlings Reviews (76)
Firstlings has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.672) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Firstlings has 76 reviews.
Cannot fault the care that my mum has.
I feel very safe in my home and most of the staff are very good too. I am top of the world.
Safe and secure. Much better than hospital. Treated very well.
Dad used Firstlings for respite care. It is a place where he feels comfortable and just like being at home. The staff are like a second family, all very friendly and caring. He really enjoys coming here to see the residents. He has become friendly with and enjoys joining in with all the activities. He particularly enjoys the range of foods available on the menu.
Firstlings is always clean, tidy and well presented. All staff are friendly and welcoming. There is usually something going on and the residents always appear happy and settled. My mum says the food is very good and I am always offered refreshments when I visit. It is a weight off my mind that Mum lives there, she is safe and well looked after.
I have found the staff at Firstlings very helpful and accommodating. On Monday 14th January 2019, Firstlings had a family meeting in the afternoon. In the morning, when I was visiting Mum, I informed a senior member of staff that I was unable to attend the said meeting. The member of staff was most helpful and offered to do a one to one meeting with me, then and there. This I found very accommodating and I had ample time to express myself. Many thanks, the staff do a wonderful job.
The staff are kind and caring and visitors are made to feel welcome.
The home is spotlessly clean and comfortable.
Many activities are arranged and participation is encouraged.
The Christmas party was fun with staff in fancy dress and music provided by visiting singers which made for a lovely atmosphere.
I have no hesitation in recommending Firstlings.
When my mum returned from the hospital so she could end her life in the care home, her face lit up when the night staff came to see her and I felt she was always treated with dignity and respect.
Being able to speak to my mum on Skype and seeing her in the photographs on their facebook page is more important than you can imagine. I live in Western Australia but I felt I knew what mum was doing on a day to day basis.
Thank you. I know mum was very happy in their care.
My mother was a resident for only one year at Firstlings. I have great regard for all the excellent care and warmth shown to mum. Nothing was too much trouble for all the staff. When mum required extra help for health problems a doctor was called straight away. Mum enjoyed all the activities and interaction with all the staff. Great care home. Well done!
Residents are well cared for. Staff are very helpful and happy.
Staff interact very well with the residents and the home is clean, warm and welcoming.
This is an excellent residential home. The staff are very attentive and take care in every detail.
Caring staff to residents and family. Understanding of my mother's needs and making her feel that she is valued. Nothing is too much trouble.
They are very caring staff, they look after everybody well. Nothing is too much trouble.
Her room is spotlessly clean and she really enjoys her food. Great care is taken over any health problems, the doctor is called a soon as any health problems, the doctor is called as soon as any difficulty is suspected. Also, the family is kept informed and made welcome whenever visiting.
The facilities at the home are developing e.g the cinema and newly decorated conservatory and lots of good events are arranged for residents, family and friends.
A true home from home where all the staff are caring and considerate. The resident's needs are anticipated and well considered, including health matters and appropriate well-timed medical attention. You could not ask for more.
The care staff are always polite and treat my father with dignity and respect even if my father becomes agitated. The staff take all reasonable measures to reassure my father or contact me if necessary. My only suggestion would be an area where family can get a cup of tea without the need to ask a staff member, I know this facility is available in other homes,
Very pleasant environment with very caring staff.
For all the years mum has been resident at Firstlings, she has always been happy and content. The care she receives here at Firstlings is always first class. The kindness, compassion, and excellent care she has always received is wonderful. They truly care about her mum - we have nothing but praise for all the staff at Firstlings.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 02 October 2019Outstanding
- CaringOutstanding
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveOutstanding
- SafeGood
- Well-ledOutstanding
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 Firstlings.
There are no upcoming events for Firstlings.
Awards / Recognitions (10)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Firstlings
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Firstlings
- 28 Feb 2019Recipient: Firstlings
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Firstlings.
Meet the Team (2)

My name is Tina, I have worked at Firstlings since 1999, progressing from the role of Junior Carer to Registered Manager in 2009. I'm extremely passionate and caring and have adapted to the many changes that have been introduced within the care sector. My ethos is to be the voice for my residents whilst accommodating their individual needs.
We have been awarded several accolades over the years and continue to receive some great testimonials from the families of our residents, not least of which was to be accredited with an "Outstanding" rating by the CQC, which is indeed a testament to the sheer dedication of every valued member of my team.
Of worthy mention, is the fact that I also worked alongside the parliamentary review for care homes, to give some real insight into our world and the many challenges that we continue to face, both operationally and commercially, in our assertive effort to deliver the very best level of care within our community.

I have worked at Firstlings since I was 20 years old. I joined as a Care Assistant, then moved on to Senior, where I worked night shifts for 15 years before taking up the role of Deputy Manager in 2009.
Firstlings is more than your place of work, it is also like being at home.
I enjoy all aspects of my job and find my role very rewarding, one aspect being the end of life care. To support our residents and their families whilst ensuring everything is in place such as Farleigh Hospice, anticipatory medication and to ensure their passing is pain-free and dignified. I feel the last part of the care you can finally give is a great honour.
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