
Nothing was too much trouble at Friars Mead and the staff were so friendly and givingGary B(Son of Resident/Service User)

Being small everyone knows the residents by name and they all join to eat together at lunch timeChristine R(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff turnover is very low, and the use of agency staff isn't requiredAndrea G(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Nothing was too much trouble at Friars Mead and the staff were so friendly and givingGary B(Son of Resident/Service User)

Being small everyone knows the residents by name and they all join to eat together at lunch timeChristine R(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff turnover is very low, and the use of agency staff isn't requiredAndrea G(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Abbeyfield Friars Mead Care Home is a warm, homely community in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, offering residential and respite care for older people. They support people to live with dignity, choice, and as much independence as possible, with 24-hour care tailored to individual needs, routines, and preferences.
Friars Mead is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and is part of Abbeyfield England. The home is currently completing a refurbishment programme...
Care Provided by Abbeyfield Friars Mead
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Eating Disorders
- Alcohol / Drug Misuse
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 27 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
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Accreditations
- Adopt A Grandparent
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Stairlift
- Wheelchair Access
- Ground Floor Accommodation only
- Gardens
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Additional charges may apply for services arranged by the resident or family, such as hairdressing, private chiropody/podiatry, newspapers, toiletries, and certain external appointments/transport. Any optional extras and associated costs are explained in advance. Where a top-up is proposed, it is accepted only if it is lawful and appropriate, agreed in writing, and clearly set out, including who will pay it, what it covers, and how any future fee increases will be managed. A full written breakdown is provided before admission so families can make an informed decision.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Abbeyfield Friars Mead for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Abbeyfield Friars Mead 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
- Abbeyfield Member Societies
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Ricardo Da Silva Freitas (Registered Care Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 1992
- Last Refurbishment: 2026
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (26)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (26)
Visiting
- Visitors are welcome daily, including evenings, with flexible visiting to support family life and individual routines. On arrival, visitors are asked to sign in, follow current infection prevention measures, and respect the privacy and dignity of all residents. If a resident is unwell, the team may suggest shorter visits or alternative arrangements to support recovery and protect others. Children are welcome when supervised by an adult, and visits can take place in communal areas or the resident's room, depending on preference and what is happening in the home at the time. Where a quieter environment is needed, the team will help identify a suitable space. If a planned visit needs to change due to care needs, emergencies, or an outbreak control measure, the team will explain the reason and support alternative options wherever possible.
Parking
- Parking for visitors is available on site, close to the home, subject to availability. Visitors are asked to park considerately and avoid blocking driveways, access routes, or delivery areas. Where on-site spaces are full, there is usually additional on-street parking nearby. Visitors are encouraged to allow a few extra minutes at busy times. If a visitor requires step-free access or needs to be dropped off close to the entrance, this can be accommodated to support safe arrival and departure.
Abbeyfield Friars Mead Reviews (46)
Abbeyfield Friars Mead has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.776) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Abbeyfield Friars Mead has 46 reviews.
I was pleased to find spacious accommodation, friendly and caring staff and a varied programme of activities for the residents.
Thank you very much for your kind words.
My mother went into Friars Mead for respite care six weeks ago and we are hoping that she will be moving in permanently. The management and staff are caring, attentive, and welcoming to residents and visitors. My mother is encouraged to be mobile and to join in the activities. As a family, we are impressed with everything we have experienced here.
Thank you very much for your kind words.
Accommodating and welcoming home, met by helpful friendly staff who make the house a home. I found the team approachable and caring to my aunt and ourselves. With a poor short term memory and a new environment settling down was slow, but with support, a good routine and a written programme, our aunt was calm and relaxed in her new home. Sadly, a fall meant an admission to hospital, but the transfer was managed well and efficiently. We are hopeful she will be able to return to the warm and friendly home Friars Mead is.
Thank you very much for your kind review.
My mother spent nine months at, Friars Mead, and during that relatively short period of time built up a lovely relationship with many of her carers who treated her with respect and dignity. Residents are given the opportunity for independence and space as well as caring support when needed. The environment was the style she liked and she loved the food! Friendly for visitors too many welcoming for all.
Since entering the home in January 2016 the 93 year old blind resident has settled in well due to the hard work of the staff, she is unable to join in with a lot of the activities but staff ensure that she doesn't feel left out.
Thank you very much for your support.
3 weeks respite care. Staff very helpful and attentive. Did their best to make you feel at home. Visitors were made to feel welcome.
Thank you very much for your very kind words
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 06 February 2026Requires improvement
- CaringGood
- EffectiveRequires improvement
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeRequires improvement
- Well-ledRequires improvement
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 (2) & Events (0)
- 19 Feb 2026
Celebrating 70 Years of Abbeyfield This year, Abbeyfield proudly celebrates a truly special milestone—70 years of supporting older people and building communities where everyone feels at home. What began as...
- 11 Feb 2026
At Friars Mead, our 3-for-2 respite offer gives you three weeks of respite care for the price of two—a practical way to plan short-term support without compromising on quality. Respite...
There are no upcoming events for Abbeyfield Friars Mead.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Abbeyfield Friars Mead.
Meet the Team (2)

Ricardo Da Silva Freitas is the Registered Manager at Abbeyfield Friars Mead House in Kings Langley. He leads the day-to-day running of the home, ensuring residents receive safe, person-centred support that protects dignity, choice and independence.
Ricardo’s focus is on consistent quality, strong governance and clear communication with families and professionals. He works closely with residents, relatives, GPs and community health teams to ensure care plans remain up to date, risks are managed, and support reflects what matters most to each person.
Ricardo is committed to developing a stable, skilled team through supervision, training, and adherence to professional standards, and to maintaining an open, welcoming culture where people feel listened to and supported. He welcomes enquiries from families who want honest guidance, a clear assessment process, and a home where care is delivered with warmth and respect.

Sharon Bell is the Care Manager at Abbeyfield Friars Mead House and will mark 35 years with the home this year. With deep experience in residential care, Sharon provides steady, compassionate leadership on the floor and behind the scenes, helping to ensure residents receive safe, consistent and person-centred support.
In her role, Sharon oversees day-to-day care delivery and works closely with the Registered Manager and the wider team to maintain high standards. She supports staff practice, helps embed clear routines and good record-keeping, and contributes to key areas of compliance, including infection prevention and control, emergency preparedness, and operational continuity. Sharon is also closely involved in coordinating with health professionals and ensuring care plans reflect current needs and risks.
Families value Sharon’s calm, practical approach and her focus on respectful care that protects dignity, choice and comfort. Her long-standing commitment to Friars Mead helps maintain a familiar, reassuring environment for residents and a supportive culture for staff.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Abbeyfield Friars Mead to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Abbeyfield Friars Mead has an Enhanced Service -more info.