
My sister's end of life care was treated with kindness and dignityJ R(Sister of Resident/Service User)



My sister's end of life care was treated with kindness and dignityJ R(Sister of Resident/Service User)



Larchwood Care Home, tucked away in a quiet, rural location just outside Braintree in Essex, provides personalised residential dementia care to older people.
Offering a welcoming setting, the purpose-built home boasts a variety of places to relax, dine and spend time with loved ones or fellow residents. Residents also benefit from a hairdressing salon, memory room and a sunny conservatory, while the attractive garden at Larchwood includes a delightful sensory...
Care Provided by Larchwood Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 64 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
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Stairlift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Larchwood Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Larchwood 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
- HC-One
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Stacey Scotland(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (64)
Larchwood Care Home Reviews (111)
Larchwood Care Home has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.768) out of 10, based on 30 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Larchwood Care Home has 111 reviews.
Larchwood looked after my grandad for the last 12 years and made him very happy here and always provided the best care for him. They were all very caring and helpful when he sadly passed away.
Larchwood Care Home have my dad a wonderful 12 years. Lovely caring staff.
Overall care at this home is very good. The staff treat my mother-in-law with respect and dignity. All the management are always able to speak about any problems or just to pass the time. Some of the internal rooms could do with redecorating but overall myself and my wife are very happy that she is in this care home.
Mum has been a resident for 8 months and she is very happy there. The staff are very caring, approachable and friendly and there is an open door policy and the manager takes time to listen. Any minor issues that have occurred have been attended to and rectified.
Larchwood is a very caring home. Staff are friendly and helpful. The standard of night carers vary. My husband gets very stressed over the treatment he sometimes gets during the night, bearing in mind his illness, it is difficult to take his word for this. Overall, very pleased with his care and the clean standard of the home.
Thank you for your feedback. We complete random checks which allow us to monitor the quality of care throughout the night, which includes observations of care practices. We currently use agency staff from nominated suppliers and ensure we check the quality of care they provide alongside our own...
The staff all treat the residents with dignity and care. They treat my mum as though she was their relative. Buzzers are answered promptly. I can visit and phone at any time with no problem.
The staff work extremely hard to make sure mum has everything she needs. There are lots for her to do and whatever you ask for is actioned immediately. If I miss her the staff always take the phone to her so I can speak to her. I am really happy with the care/support mum is receiving.
We have had our regular review today, treated with courtesy as usual.
I cannot praise Larchwood and all their staff enough.
Most of the staff are caring and kind but there are several who are lazy, inexperienced and in the wrong job. Mum is still on the same tube of toothpaste that she had when she went into the home in June 2016 as it appears that her teeth rarely get cleaned. Shower gel disappears - it gets left in the bathroom and other residents use it. There does not seem to be much entertainment at the moment and mum is often left in her bedroom without even the TV on. She is stubborn so probably her own worse enemy but some of the carers are able to persuade her. Bedroom not very clean.
Thank you for your review, we appreciate all feedback received as this helps us improve our service if required. Larchwood offers a full induction programme to all new staff who are supported by a mentor to embrace and embed our core principles of providing the kindest care.
All residents have...
Very caring. Will call if there are any problems or incidents that relate to my mother. Good value for money, activities lack at present due to relevant staff leaving. Care is taken in personal appearance with hair, nails etc. A doctor is always called if needed.
Thank you for your review, we appreciate all feedback received as it helps us improve our service where required. Larchwood has a schedule of planned activities which are displayed within the home. A newsletter will be sent out to all relatives to inform them of the planned activities within the...
Kind and caring.
My mother is treated with dignity and respect.
I feel the staff are genuinely fond of mum.
Has been nice so far. All the staff are very nice and quiet and caring and my mom is quite settled which has made the experience more bearable.
There have been some issues with Larchwood, in particular, keeping the care home managers - 3 in 5 years! But, the quality of care was always good and reliable. The home has recently been totally redecorated to a very high standard, which made visiting a lot more enjoyable. All the staff seemed dedicated to their job and on the whole, most were very approachable.
We appreciate your positive comments which will be passed on to the team.
With regards to your comments about the Home Manager, I have now been at Larchwood for the last 3...
As I live a long way away and due to circumstances I am not able to visit now, but I use to up until last year I always found it very friendly and enjoyed visiting my brother-in-law. Now I only phone and he always seems very happy and the staff are always very polite and friendly to me.
Although my husband was in this home for a short while, I found it excellent. On researching homes, I visited Larchwood Care Centre on spec and was welcomed and shown around immediately. A very good sign. It was clean and the facilities appeared to be excellent as proved to be the case on my husbands stay.
My father moved in on the 6th September 2016. I have seen a marked improvement in my father he seems happier and talkative. The staff are excellent helping him to settle in, since he has been there a lot of improvements have neem taking place but the staff have handled it well and still seem to care about how the residents are coping with the upheaval. I am so glad I picked this care home.
Have been a resident for four months with multiple medical problems. Was extremely ill and now I'm in good health and humour due to the wonderful care and attention I have received here. The staff are very supportive, helpful, considerate and capable in all aspects of care, even my diet problems have been supported and dealt with. I cannot speak highly enough about this care home and would recommend them to the highest degree.
My mother has been a resident at Larchwood since December 2015 and it would be fair to say she has taken a while to settle. However recently she said to me that the more she thought about it, the luckier she felt to have found Larchwood as a home. She still has up days and down days but hardly surprising as she approaches 90, with confusion, poor sight and arthritis. The staff have all gone out of their way to be welcoming, kind and caring. They are always cheerful and often have a laugh with her. I can't thank them enough for helping mum feel settled.
Since the first day my father walked through the doors of Larchwood he has been treated with dignity and respect. It is one of the hardest decisions to make to put someone you love into a care home. This has been respected by all staff, be it the management, care staff, kitchen staff, laundry staff, maintenance and entertainment. They have all made the move for him being an independent man, to somebody following several strokes and needs that bit of extra support, painless. I have not seen my father so happy. Thank you to all involved.
This relates to the intitial few days of my fathers move to the above. Excellent reception and welcoming by all the staff - very caring, allowed to settle in without any fuss. His room is well appointed with all he needs. However concerns were raised that after three days of being at the home, my father had not had a shower or bath. We had to prompt the staff that he needs a shower or bath at least alternate days. This has been addressed and are making good progress with the new action plan. Overall I am very pleased with this start.
We always welcome feedback especially when a resident first comes to live at Larchwood. We strive to ensure that our residents are made to feel welcome and at home during the initial period while we support them with their transition into a care environment. The issue was addressed as soon as it...
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 28 February 2025Good
- 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 (19) & Events (0)
- 04 Sep 2025
Residents and colleagues at HC-One’s Larchwood Care Home in Braintree, Essex, have been busy nurturing their green spaces in a bid to win this year’s HC-One Gardens in Bloom competition....
- 22 Jun 2025
Residents and childminders from across Essex including HC-One’s Larchwood Care Home in Braintree, Essex, came together to celebrate the first anniversary of the FaNs Network’s Grandfriends scheme with a delightful...
- 20 Jun 2025
Larchwood Care Home, run by HC-One and located in Braintree, Essex, welcomed visitors, guests, and members of the local community to take part in this year’s Care Home Open Week...
There are no upcoming events for Larchwood Care Home.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Larchwood Care Home.
Meet the Team (1)

Home Manager at Larchwood
What does ‘kindness’ mean to you?“Kind care means putting the person at the centre of everything we do. It involves treating people with compassion, dignity, and respect, while ensuring they feel heard, valued, and supported in their daily lives.”
As a dedicated healthcare professional, Stacey has gained a wealth of experience in providing care and support to elderly people, to enrich their lives. She is a knowledgeable and dedicated leader who is passionate about delivering the highest standards in care and quality of life for residents.
Having worked in the care sector for many years, Stacey closely shares HC-One’s vision in aiming to provide the kindest care for each and every resident. She extends this caring approach to her colleagues and works closely with them to deliver care and support to residents in a way that they gain the most benefit, in a warm and welcoming home.
When asked what she enjoys most about her role, Stacey remarked:
“I enjoy working as a Home Manager because I build meaningful relationships with residents, families, and staff while ensuring everyone receives the support they need.”
Stacey’s proudest achievement is working her way up through various roles in the care sector. Through dedication and experience, she completed her Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care and progressed to the role of Home Manager, which she is very proud of.
Outside of work, Stacey enjoys spending quality time with her family and taking walks in the countryside, where she can enjoy nature and unwind.
If you would like to find out more about Larchwood, Stacey would be delighted to have an informal discussion with you to answer any questions and provide further information.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Larchwood Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Larchwood Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.