
'Caring' and 'homely' are the best words to describe this wonderful place.W B(Son of Resident/Service User)

After just the first few days I am impressed by the way the friendly caring staff have helpedKeith D(Husband of Resident/Service User)

I'm truly amazed at how well she has settled in and now sees it as her home. It makes visiting a joyD M(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

'Caring' and 'homely' are the best words to describe this wonderful place.W B(Son of Resident/Service User)

After just the first few days I am impressed by the way the friendly caring staff have helpedKeith D(Husband of Resident/Service User)

I'm truly amazed at how well she has settled in and now sees it as her home. It makes visiting a joyD M(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Stirlings offers compassionate, individualised residential, early-stage dementia and respite care for up to 40 residents. It has a strong connection with the local community, and has been serving the local and wider Oxfordshire residents for over 50 years. Set in peaceful and beautifully tended grounds, the home is located in a quiet residential location, near to the historic centre of Wantage.
Activities and wellbeing
The dedicated Activities Coordinator is there to...
Care Provided by Stirlings
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 40 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
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
These services are: Personal care, accommodation,
utilities, use of communal areas, meals, drinks and
snacks, laundry (excluding dry cleaning),
housekeeping, maintenance and activities run by the
home.
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, opticians, hairdressing,
medications, toiletries, clothing, newspapers/magazines.
During your stay, you may need to purchase additional goods
and services. If they are able to provide such goods and
services, they will tell you how much these goods and services
will cost and they expect that you will pay for these goods and
services at the time you request them.
They can accompany loved ones to private appointments,
however the fee attached to this is £21 per hour. Where private taxi
services are used for transportation to appointments the cost should
be paid for by yourself.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Stirlings for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Stirlings 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
- The Orders of St John Care Trust
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Catherine Barthe (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
Room Information
- Single Rooms (40)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (40)
Stirlings Reviews (104)
Stirlings has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.683) out of 10, based on 27 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Stirlings has 104 reviews.
My Nanna has been very well taken care of at Stirlings and it’s always clear she’s comfortable and content. The staff are attentive and lovely, and the Skype sessions they’ve offered during Covid-19 have offered peace of mind for the family while we’ve been very worried and unable to see her. While I haven’t made use of one of the short visit sessions yet, I plan to do so in the near future as am desperate to see Nanna - in the knowledge that Stirlings is doing everything in their power to ensure the residents remain safe. It’s also been really reassuring to know the manager and her team are being vigilant about social distancing and mask-wearing.
I greatly respect the, for the way they do a very difficult job. Nothing is too much for them.
Recently, I took my mother for a medical appointment and when we returned to Stirlings, he carers helped my mother into the wheelchair and took her back to her room and helped her settle back in. Whilst we were out, her carers had tidied her room and mended her radio. How wonderful is that!
The staff are very caring. The rooms for the residents are small also lack of activities.
Stirlings is an excellent facility, my mum loves being there and enjoys the company of the residents.
The care for my wife is excellent. Thank you.
From the moment we arrived all of the staff were very welcoming, helpful and very professional. They looked after mum very well and nothing was too much trouble. Mum settled in very quick and was happy while she was there. They all work very hard and it was the right move for mum.
A very clean and very relaxing feel to the place I haven't felt relaxed or my mum so relaxed for a very long time.
The care workers were very tired and always willing to listen to the resident and their family. The food was good but at times too much for the elderly. Living away from my sister I found talking to the care leader very helpful.
The staff at Stirlings show the most dedicated and patient care for the residents. I cannot thank them enough for their care and support for my mother over the past year.
The home is very peaceful and its gardens pleasant. My family and I are so pleased that Mum is being so well cared for.
Caring home with excellent staff and good practices for residents health and safety. Most staff seem to have a happy "outlook" and this reflects in their work.
I think it is a wonderful place. Couldn't wish to be looked after better as I don't have to lift a finger if we don't want to. No one is nasty to anyone in here. I can't fault the staff, they're patient and very kind. The beds are comfy and the rooms are always clean.
This was a free tea and cake event. Firstly, the lady in charge was perfect for the task with eyes everywhere and reassurance where necessary, and also a natural ability to keep the lounge in a tidy and welcoming state for residents and visitors. This was my second visit - previously I had sat between two residents; they seemed wary at times. On this visit, I was greeted with their smiles. Well done all the staff there.
Thank you so very much for all you do for me, breakfast, dinner, tea and the people who wash and dress me.
My mother, before her death, was in a number of homes and I can say none were as good as this. I feel my friend's family have chosen very wisely and their mother will be cared for in a home that should be the exemplar to all others.
Very happy atmosphere, great teamwork, everyone very supportive and helpful.
The care at Stirling has been extremely good. Many staff have been helpful but particular mention should go to the activities organiser who is doing an excellent job.
My mother lived in this care home from January 2017 to June 2018. She was very happy there and was very well cared for. She particularly enjoyed the social events, i.e. garden parties, Christmas celebrations, outings to the ice rink in Oxford, Bournemouth, a local hostelry for a meal and a river trip. There were often entertainers visiting the home which all the residents enjoyed. The extra special occasion for my mum was when it was her hundredth birthday, when she had a special party and she had a surprise visit from personnel from RAF Benson, as she had met my Dad whilst they both served in the RAF.
For nearly the last 2 years my mother has been cared for at Stirlings. I have found the staff to be very helpful and supportive. My mother has a lovely room overlooking the front gardens and would recommend this care home to anyone who needed similar care or treatment.
Our mother also enjoyed the catering, praise indeed!
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 18 July 2019Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveOutstanding
- 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 Stirlings.
There are no upcoming events for Stirlings.
Awards / Recognitions (9)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
- 28 Feb 2023Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Stirlings.
Meet the Team (3)

Catherine rejoined the Trust in 2024 as Home Manager at Stirlings.

As Activities Coordinator, Angela is passionate about providing residents at Stirlings with the best possible experiences to enhance their wellbeing. She sees working in care as her calling in life and approaches each day as a new chance to help people.
Angela has almost a decade of experience in coordinating activities in a care environment and has many qualifications supporting her deep knowledge of caring for those with dementia. She takes great satisfaction from helping people to continue with the hobbies and interests they have had their whole lives but equally loves being able to provide them with brand new experiences too.
Whether jumping out of a plane to raise money, completing the Tough Mudder for charity, taking a former ice skater back onto the ice after 50 years, writing poetry with residents or working with Oxford University on a study into therapeutic robots, there is rarely a dull moment in Angela’s line of work. Her great work for the Trust was recognised when Angela was named OSJCT’s Oxfordshire Activity Coordinator of the year in 2016.
Angela finds time to meditate every day and enjoys attending boxing exercise classes and expanding her spiritual interests.

Starting a career in care back in 2016, Odeth embarked on a journey that led her through various roles within different care centres. Initially serving as a caring leader at Avonbourne Care Centre upon joining the trust in 2019, she transitioned to the role of Head of Care (HoC) at Bemerton Lodge in 2021 and later moved to Longlands in 2022 and is now based at Stirlings. Before venturing into the care sector, her professional experience included working as a logistician for the British Army.
Odeth's current role in care is a source of satisfaction, finding it robust and engaging, offering ample opportunities to interact with a diverse multidisciplinary team. Engaging with residents and their families brings them joy, fostering strong connections within their team.
Beyond the professional sphere, Odeth's personal life is centred around family; married with two children, they cherish moments spent together. While she used to play netball, her current passion involves avidly following the sport on television.
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