
'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.
I have a very good experience when at The Stirlings during my weekend stay.
Very well kept establishment with incredibly helpful staff.
Since our arrival, we have been made very welcome by all staff and management. The facilities are very adequate, the staff have and need, lots of patience. We had an excellent day out recently to Cotswold Wildlife Park when the weather was very good. The trip was well organised and enjoyed by all.
Her care has been exemplary. She has been treated with love, dignity and unfailing cheerfulness by everyone who has cared for her. She could not have had better care and subsequently, she is still alive and doing as well as possible for a 99-year-old.
I cannot praise that staff highly enough. I am humbled by them.
Stirlings provides a safe, secure and stimulating environment for its residents. The staff and care leaders provide a level of support to both residents and their families that often goes above and beyond expectations.
Really good care home, really friendly towards you and other people. Nice and clean, some of the rooms are small but clean. Very happy with it and always a joy to visit.
The staff are very caring and provide excellent care. Our mum was very well looked after and we visited every day and always felt welcome to come anytime we wished. It feels like home but with 24-hour care.
I feel that my father gets the best possible care at Stirlings, the staff are always smiling and helpful. They treat everyone with dignity and respect.
The home is always clean and tidy and communication between them and the family is excellent.
The food that is served is always nutritious, looks appetising and there is always a good variety.
My father settled into Stirlings in Summer 2014 and chose an upstairs room, with a view across the gardens to the trees. He took some time to adjust to his new surroundings, having lost his wife some months before, but the care staff took endless trouble to make the transition a smooth one. Since he has lived here (despite having a stroke in 2014) the attention to his care needs has been excellent and the arrival of the new manager recently has made a huge difference to both his morale and that of the staff.
Everybody is always welcoming and helpful on every visit. I have complete confidence in the staff and know my mother is well cared for.
Today a "summer" strawberry tea was sumptuous and the staff worked really hard. Shame the weather didn't oblige.
The care home is very well run, some small negligence in housekeeping (dusting, sweeping) The staff are well trained and very willing to make life very comfortable and they give dignity to the residents. Also, there is good support for the wider family which was very reassuring.
All staff took the time to get to know Dad and understand his daily likes and dislikes. He was always happy and treated with the utmost dignity for those reasons I would recommend Stirlings to anyone considering care for a loved one.
Since the manager's appointment a year ago, things at Stirlings have become really efficient and palpably happy. She is readily available, carers seem committed and cheerful and there are plenty of staff around (I visit my mother almost every day). Residents tell me how much they appreciate Stirlings and one sees many examples of devoted care towards all kinds of conditions - to the confused, the compos mentis, physically helpless, frustrated - you name it and they respond kindly and effectively. I was particularly impressed by their brilliantly organised Christmas: the manager actually came to work on Christmas Day, even though she had a child at home. We are very impressed by her exemplary Amenities Committee: it welcomes ideas from all and keeps us well informed. Her attention to the upkeep and improvement of the premises is detailed, supported by her own find-raising and inspirational. Meals and activities are plentiful and very well managed. I can find no fault. As a Serving Sister in the Order of St John, I couldn't be happier with the OSJCT here at Stirlings.
Clean, lovely staff and residents. Great food, garden and room.
My mother has only recently moved in to stay at the home. She has been welcomed by staff and other residents extremely well. It's great to see her smiling every time we visit and the activities are very good. Even a trip out ice skating, excellent.
My Mother in Law spent a week in Stirlings to decide if she would like to move there after a second stroke left her needing round the clock care, (Well-meaning friends told her that she would go downhill if she went into a care home) despite this she agreed to go for a week to experience being there and to make up her own mind, by Tuesday she loved it, by Friday she didn't want to come home, she wanted for nothing and was looked after with much care by the staff as were we. What was so reassuring was that in the background we saw how well and lovingly looked after were the residents with more advanced states of illness that had robbed them of their independence and so was assured that she too would be looked after with the same care. While there her quality of life improved 10 fold by the activities every morning and afternoon. Sadly she has now passed away but was so looking forward to moving in knowing this would be the start of another great and wonderful journey in her life.
My Mother-in-Law was very well looked after, she has said there was a good selection of food. She said that she slept the best has in a long time due to feeling safe and secure. She even pressed the bell, something she is reluctant to do at home. The entertainment was extremely good, she most enjoyed the music and quiz. She did not worry about her medication at all, as it was brought to her when she needed it. First class stay, can't wait to go back.
Cannot fault in care of residents have visited various friends over many years. Over all care state of actual home has improved greatly in aspects has improved over past 3-4 years. (Have brother-in-law in another place) Both homes are to me run in an excellent way. I certainly would recommend Stirlings to anyone "in need" and if my husband or myself find ourselves in position of care, I hope there would be vacancies available more so in Wantage due to visiting/traveling. Well done.
I like all the staff who were very good, I had a nice room and enjoyed the activities on offer. There was always a choice of food and it was appetising.
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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