





Dorrington House at Watton is a purpose-built home for older people, established in July 1999.
Accommodation is provided in single rooms with en-suite facilities and communal areas include a bright and airy lounge with large windows. There is a large flat screen television in this all the lounges for residents to enjoy and all entertainment takes place in this room, including the use of smart TV facilities. There are also two...
Care Provided by Dorrington House (Watton)
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Eating Disorders
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 52 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
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
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
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Threshold for Social Services support is £23,250.00 please e-mail for help and advice to secure support Our fee policy insures fairness and continuity when self funders go below the threshold and apply to NCC avoiding being moved.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Dorrington House (Watton) for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Dorrington House (Watton) 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
- Dorrington House
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Geri Ashforth(Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 1999
- Last Refurbishment: 2025
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (52)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (52)
Visiting
- No set visiting hours. Please be mindful during mealtimes, Gp & nurse visits, or when staff are dispensing medication they may be busy. Visitors welcome to spend time with their loved ones, helping, simply ask the staff for advice. You can always e-mail Steve or Lorraine Dorrington, the owners anytime to answer your questions or concerns.
Parking
- Ample Car Parking, close to the town centre, no steps footpaths to the shops for summer walks, weather permitting.
Dorrington House (Watton) Reviews (99)
Dorrington House (Watton) has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.709) out of 10, based on 38 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Dorrington House (Watton) has 99 reviews.
We didn't expect him to last long after the loss of mum, because he was devastated, and with his dementia, had relied on her for everything. I hated him having to go into a Care home, but how wrong I was.
Dad has flourished and I know that he is safe, well cared for and well fed- He loves the food cooked for him and the snacks and cups of tea.
He has never been very sociable there, but activities were brought up to his room and there is always a member of staff popping in to check on him, and to see how he is.
The care, support and empathy shown to dad, has seen him blossom with their care. All the staff have treated him with such dignity (dad is a very proud and stubborn man and does not accept help easily).
Recently dad has deteriorated healthwise and the staff have been unbelievable in their level of attention, support and constant phone calls and email updates to me. I can't thank them all enough
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
My father in law has dementia and has been on palliative care for a while after recurring chest infections of which we were informed at the outset and kept up to date with medications and progress. He has been a resident since November 2024 and despite being bedbound says he is happy and is treated well. We find the staff easy to talk to and feel that my father in law is in good hands
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
Home always short staffed at weekends, food mediocre at best, floor staff/carers are always friendly and try to be helpful, but most have English as a second language, always have to tidy Dad's room, laundry team are diligent and very helpful and friendly.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
Massive tele in the main lounge where everyone gathers but has smaller rooms if u want some peace a quiet.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
Staff are kind and caring . Activities are good too ,
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
I have always found the staff at Dorrington House to be very efficient and caring and deal with any problems promptly. I raised concerns that Mum didn't seem herself at our last visit. They made sure that she saw a doctor and gave me regular updates.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
The food is of good quality and there is always a choice at every meal.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
Dad's doing well now he can have mum visit a few times a day
The staff are friendly and helpful
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
Hospital.since he has been there he has been looked after extremely well .they even got him to have a bath which is no mean feet
The staff are friendly and always helpful.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
They have helped her adjust through the difficult process into a totally different environment from what she was used to at home.
I'm sure Mum is not always easy to deal with, but Geri, Lydia, Francesca, Mary and Hayley (who Mum really took to, before leaving) anf their team have been the main reason we'd like Mum to stay at Dorrington House.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
He is now on a soft diet as he is unable to eat normal food due to several choking fits. He eats & drinks all that he is given.
He has been in bed for a number of months as he was sliding out of the chairs. Now he has been given a proper chair by OT which will enable him to be included when there is entertainment going on, also be pushed out into the garden when the weather is good.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
My wife has dementia and can very difficult to look after but the staff and carers are so patient and kind towards her and I feel assured she is well looked after if I have any concerns I know there is someone that I can speak to I would definitely recommend.dorrington
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
bed bound due to spinal problems as well having Alzheimer's and dementia, he can be difficult and uncooperative at times. The staff at Dorrington have shown the utmost patience and regard to his condition and he repeatedly says they are wonderful. He has fallen out of bed a couple of times on to a safety matt, less than when he lived at home, with only minor skin abrasions, we were informed immediately and phoned with regular updates as to treatment and medication
I think the level of care is excellent as is the level of communication
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider) (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider) (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
Dorrington House (Watton) promptly follows up/refers on/up medical concerns relating to my relative and provides prompt feedback working hard to keep us, the family, in the loop. Staff and managers are very friendly and helpful.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider) (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
Eleanor knew every residents name and greeted them with affection, seeing to their needs whilst explaining to us all about the rooms, lounges areas and routines.
My father when arriving was welcomed by all the staff and residents alike and made to feel at home straight away.
Francesca explained everything in detail and it was clear nothing was too much trouble.
My father has changed from being to the point of giving up to having a new lease of life.
He is encouraged to join in the vast array of activities and was taken out to the Christmas fair on the first weekend he arrived which he loved.
Francesca has regularly emailed me on how my Father has settled in, which has been reassuring and a great comfort.
I feel assured he is being well looked after and in experienced and caring hands.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider) (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
My mother was transferred to Dorrington House following a few months stay in hospital after suffering heart failure and a stroke. She took a few weeks to settle down as she wanted to go home although owing to her condition this was not possible. All the staff have been wonderful, they are patient and caring and she is happy with them. It is really encouraging to see her joining in and she has made some friends with the other residents, which has been difficult for her as she is hard of hearing and needs her hearing aid. I especially would like to mention Hayley who organises the activities. She has been wonderful and is great with all the residents, making sure that everyone is included. The care home staff deal with a lot of challenging residents and I have always seen everyone treated with respect and on the whole it has a lovely atmosphere.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
We have now visited on a couple of occasions, and found the staff to be helpful and friendly, as well as informative regarding Mum. Everywhere seems very clean and tidy, as well as bright and cheerful for the residents.
On our first visit, we received a warm welcome from Francesca and Hayley, and both seemed very kind, towards us and Mum, who seems to have settled in pretty well.
It's great that they have managed to integrate Mum in the group events, as she has been quite isolated in recent years. Her partner of over 30 years unfortunately passed away soon after her admission to hospital, so it's fabulous that she has adapted to life away from her home.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you. (Name: Steven Dorrington Email: steve@dorringtonhouse.com Position: Service Provider)
My Nan has been a resident at Dorrington House for the last year and I believe it was the best thing we did for her. The staff are great, always time for a chat when I visit and are brilliant with Nan. She can be quite stubborn at times (and at 91 will speak her mind!) but they deal with her patiently and with a smile. I'm kept informed at all times of anything medical, and whilst I've been unable to visit recently due to having an operation, they have enabled us to speak over video call. The events and daily activities they have on offer are very good (and the team encourage her to join in). Other things such as she has access to a hairdresser and chiropodist are good to have and I am happy that she is well cared for.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
My mother has been a resident of Dorrington House for nearly two years. She had reached the point where she was no longer able to look after herself safely and needed the 24 hour care that a care home can give. Dorrington House made her time their very comfortable and enabled her to be able take part in activities she would not have been able to do living on her own. She had people she could talk to all the while and had a team around her who could ensure she had all the care she needed. It has always been obvious speaking to the staff that they cared for mum and spent the time to get to know her and to understand what help she needed. It also greatly helped me to know that she was being cared for and kept safe. If there were any medical issues the team were always on top of them, ensuring that mum got all the medial attention she needed.
Overall I am very pleased with the care that mum got at Dorrington House. The home is very well run and has a team of caring staff.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
I had never been in a care home before when my mum was placed at Dorrington Watton with the help of social services. We quickly realised what a special place this is. It's been about 3-4 months now and twice last week Mum told us how much she loves living there. She never feels lonely and there's always something going on and plenty of people around her. I didn't realise how special all staff in care homes are, we visit mum nearly every day and all the staff interact with the residents like they are their own families. I could never do what they do, but I'm extremely grateful that they can and are.
Thank you very much for your review. We take these very seriously and you can email us anytime. Thank you.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 20 October 2022Requires 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 (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Dorrington House (Watton).
There are no upcoming events for Dorrington House (Watton).
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Dorrington House (Watton).
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Dorrington House (Watton).
Meet the Team (1)

Service Provider established 1979
Frequently Asked Questions about Dorrington House (Watton)
What types of Care is Dorrington House (Watton) registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Eating Disorders are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Dorrington House (Watton) have?
There are 52 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Dorrington House (Watton)?
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, Bar/Café, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Dorrington House (Watton) to the centre of Thetford?
11.4 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 Dorrington House (Watton) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Dorrington House (Watton) has an Enhanced Service -more info.