






Located in the picturesque town of Hitchin near Stevenage and just a short stroll from the town’s lively centre, MHA Elmside provides residential and dementia care for 69 residents. The home is conveniently located with easy access to local cafés, shops, pubs and the bustling market. With excellent transport links, including nearby train stations and the A1 and M1 motorways, visiting families will find it convenient.
The meticulously maintained gardens...
Care Provided by Elmside
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Alcohol / Drug Misuse
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 69 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
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Stairlift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- 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 Elmside for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Elmside 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
- MHA
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Violeta Latviene (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2005
Room Information
- Single Rooms (65)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (2)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (65)
- Couples/Companion Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (2)
Elmside Reviews (75)
Elmside has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.689) out of 10, based on 15 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Elmside has 75 reviews.
Now she is a permanent resident, she is enjoying her new life because there are so many varied daily activities to attend; crossword club, quizzes, flower arranging, etc., as well as having her nails done weekly!
For us as a family, we are reassured she is being well looked after; we get updates of her regular weekly doctor's visit and any issues. Whenever we visit, we get a warm welcome from all the staff and can see firsthand how caring they are towards the residents.
Elmside is well run by the managers who not only set the lovely tone and atmosphere but are efficient in dealing with any queries and concerns.
Thank you so much for your review and kind feedback. It is always lovely to hear that we have made a difference, even in a small way. We are really pleased to hear that the staff were helpful and caring. This is what our service is all about - ensuring residents and families feel supported,...
Staff all helpful and approachable.
Thank you for your feedback. It is very much appreciated. If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact the Home Manager to provide further feedback, as this helps us learn and improve our service.
My mother settled quickly into the home and still feels settled two years on. The staff are friendly, welcoming and are upbeat when I visit, and I know mum says she is well looked after.
They have activities each week and she is taken to church every Sunday, where she has been a member for many many years. She enjoys it when there are enough staff to take her out for a walk.
Mum likes her room and is appreciative that it has be decorated with her own personal possessions to make it feel more like home.
Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely review which I will share with my team. We're so pleased that your mum is enjoying life at Elmside. She is a wonderful lady and such an active part of our Elmside community, it's an honour and privilege to care for her.
Very very good home. The carers are respectful, kind, gentle and patient with the residents. the activities ladies are marvellous always cheerful and innovative. The Chaplain is excellent.
Thank you for your feedback. We value all feedback and would welcome the opportunity to get further feedback on your concerns around food and drink. We have commenced meetings with our residents and their families to discuss food and look at ways we can make improvements to meet the wishes of...
My brother was admitted to Elmside Residential Home from hospital in Hamstead London. He fell in his bedroom and was taken to hospital where he died, having broken his leg, together with other complications. Sadly he only had a very short time at Elmside from admission to death but the family could clearly see Elmside was excellent.
I viewed six homes in the area for a wonderful lady with dementia who was my neighbour. The two ladies are truly exceptional managers, complemented by the office and grounds staff. The homes I saw with the exception of Elmside struggled to achieve a welcoming, kind atmosphere. They had less light, their gardens were not beautiful, they didn't always smell fresh and the staff felt as if they were struggling, dispirited or were watching the clock for the end of shift. Staff at Elmside are mostly young, clearly carefully chosen, caring. I would wish for Elmside's care if things change.
Thank you for your kind review and positive reflection on our service. I am very pleased that you are happy with your experience of Elmside. If there is anything that you would like to discuss or feel you can feedback to us then please do not hesitate to contact me or a member of my team.
Mum moved into Elmside at the beginning of September 2024. Right from the start we were made to feel incredibly welcome and the transition could not have been smoother. I visited a handful of other homes before deciding on Elmside and none of them had the same homely and settled feel about them. Mum has needed a fair amount of care since moving in, including visits to hospital, but no matter what she needs, nothing is too much trouble for the staff. They are always, without fail, very attentive, caring and super helpful. Every time I visit, the home has a family atmosphere about it and it is clear that all the residents are treated as though they are one big family. I love the fact that there are activities to be involved in every week day, morning and afternoon, plus church on Sunday and the fact that everyone is brought together for meal times three times a day. I couldn't be happier with our choice and I know mum will continue to be very happy there.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a such a lovely review about our care home, we are pleased that your Mum is settled and engaged in the activities in and out of the home. We are so grateful for your support and regular visits from you and your Mum's furry friend, which helped her settled and...
My relative has been very well looked after since becoming a resident in 2023 the staff are always welcoming to me and members of my family. The facilities are good and cleanliness excellent and my relative is treated with kindness and excellent care on a daily basis. I would be happy to recommend Elmside Care Home.
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with such a lovely review and confirming you are happy to recommend us. Your kind words mean so much for our staff team, I shall pass your comments to the team. Thank you once again for your wonderful review.
Mum has been a resident for 4 years and I am pleased to say that she is very happy here and has made many friends over this period of time, not just other with other residents but with the staff as well. From my point of view I am delighted that she has referred to Elmside as 'home' since shortly having moved there. The whole atmosphere is pleasant and there is almost always something going on to keep the residents entertained. While I always keep in contact with mum the staff also keep me informed of any issues whether it be directly related to mum or indirectly such as with the recent refurbishment taking place. There is a very strong work ethic at the home and I do not think I could have picked a better place.
Thank you for taking the time to complete a review. We are so pleased that your mother feels this way. We are so very fond of her, she is so kind and caring and looks out for others and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity especially at Christmas. Our staff team loved the goodies. Once again thank you for taking the time and leaving us a lovely review.
I can only praise and thank the staff at Elmside for their care and patience in looking after Mum. Even on her dark days she is treated with care and respect by all including the cleaning staff. I'm always greeted with happy smiling faces. Mum is a "loner" but is always encouraged to join in whatever activity is taking place.
Thank you for your kind words about our care home, I know this means so much for the staff team and we appreciate your continuing support and taking Mum out, which I know she loves. Once again thank you for your review.
Mum initially came to Elmside for respite care but she has since become a permanent resident. She has settled in really well and we can't fault the help and support she gets. The family are very satisfied with every aspect of her care.
Thank you so much for taking the time and provide us with a wonderful review, as I know this will mean so much to the staff team. We are very pleased that your mum has settled in well in her new home and it's so lovely to see the way she interacts with other residents. Thank you once again, for your wonderful review and for choosing our care home for your mum.
My husband had a severe chest infection and an ambulance was called for him. After spending 24 hours in A & E the staff at Elmside cared for him in isolation in his room as he had RSV. Excellent care and kindness.
Thank you for taking the time to submit a review for our care home. We love seeing you come to visit your husband and spend quality time with him. We hope that you and the family enjoyed the Christmas production too. Once again thank you so very much for your kind words about our staff team.
Mum moved here 9 months ago, and has settled in well. I find the carers to be very kind, caring and compassionate. The staff are responsive to concerns. Activities are imaginative and engaging, and meals seem good. At 96, mum is even making new friends amongst the residents. There is a strong ethos which seems to motivate the staff and inform their attitude. I really feel mum is in such good hands. Thank you.
Thank you so much for those kind and complimentary comments about our services at Elmside. I will certainly share your kind words with the team as I know that they will mean so much to them. We really do love having your mother stay with us. I am glad that we have been able to support your mother and her transition and settling in at her new home. Thank you once again for your wonderful review.
I do not live in Hitchin so when I visit family I pop in to see my mum. I am so happy that she was moved and is now more settled in her room and also seems to be a little calmer and feeling a bit more at home at Elmside. My sister has now a bit more time as she was and still is her primary care giver. Thank you for giving her some time and space.
Elmside is a magical place with a really lovely team.
Thank you so much for the kind and complimentary comments about our staff team. I will certainly share your kind words with the team as I know that they will mean so much to them. We do love having your mother stay with us and we know it's will take time for her to fully engage with us, however, at...
I feel my mother has received excellent care. Staff are kind and thoughtful and encourage residents to get involved in a wide range of activities. Home feels very friendly.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments about our staff team and our care home. I will certainly share your kind words with the team as I know that they will mean so much to them. We do love having your mother stay with us, she is so kind and always so grateful when staff help her. Thank you once again for taking the time to leave us a lovely review.
The care mum receives at Elmside is wonderful. The staff are very caring and welcoming and the Home Manager does an outstanding job motivating and leading her staff to deliver a high quality care service. Mum feels safe. She is encouraged to participate in activities and the staff take time to connect with her one on one.
Thank you so much for those kind and complimentary comments about our care home. I will certainly share your kind words with the team as I know that they will mean so much to the team. I am glad that we have been able to support your mother and her transition and settling in at her new home. Once...
Communication with me from management and senior care staff is excellent, which I am particularly grateful for. We are very pleased as a family we chose Elmside for dad, the management and all staff work extremely hard to ensure it is a home with care and respect for the residents as its core values.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to provide us with such a lovely review. It is such a privilege to be able to care for your father and to see your mother continue to visit and provide support for your father, for which we are very grateful. Once again thank you so much for such a wonderful review about our care home and the staff team.
Dad's care at Elmside has been exceptional. He was treated, at all times, with respect and all the team seemed very committed and caring. Dad was always involved with his planning and decisions. His room was beautiful with lovely views and it seemed a happy place. The manager and her team made sure that Dad was as independent as possible and supported him to go out independently. Communication worked well between us, Dad and the team there. Dad loved his colour-printed family newsletter. He chose not to join in the many activities there but he enjoyed reflexology. Dad died recently after a short illness and we will always be grateful to the manager and Elmside for making Dad's last year as good as it could possibly be. If you are considering care for someone in your family, you need look any further.
My mum is always treated with respect and kindness. The home is always clean, food is always good, management are very approachable and have gone the extra mile to accommodate Mum. Thank you all. Would definitely recommend Elmside.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 07 January 2026Good
- 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 (9) & Events (0)
- 25 Nov 2025
3 weeks of care for the price of 2 Whether you're planning a break or exploring longer-term options, our short stays give older loved ones the chance to relax, socialise...
- 11 Apr 2025
Every Thursday from 2 - 4pm Join us Love books? Enjoy a good puzzle? Come along to our book and puzzle club, a community event where you can share, swap,...
- 11 Apr 2025
Ongoing daily event, 10am - 3pm On the go? Pick up some coffee and snacks on us. At Elmside, we appreciate your dedication and hard work. Just drop in! No...
There are no upcoming events for Elmside.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Elmside.
Meet the Team (1)

Violeta is Elmside's compassionate and dedicated Home Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions about Elmside
What types of Care is Elmside registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Alcohol / Drug Misuse are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Elmside have?
There are 65 Single Rooms and 2 Couples/Companion Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Elmside?
Own Furniture if required, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Stairlift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Elmside to the centre of Hitchin?
0.3 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 Elmside to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Elmside has an Enhanced Service -more info.