We had no hesitation in placing Dad in Hickathrift's capable handsAnthony M(Son of Resident/Service User)
I cannot speak too highly of all the members of staff at Hickathrift.Jane B(Respite Resident/Service User)
We had no hesitation in placing Dad in Hickathrift's capable handsAnthony M(Son of Resident/Service User)
I cannot speak too highly of all the members of staff at Hickathrift.Jane B(Respite Resident/Service User)
Hickathrift House is a purpose-built Care Home set in the village of Marshland St James - situated between Wisbech and Kings Lynn. It is approximately 30 minutes from Sandringham, 40 minutes from Hunstanton and the home specialises in providing Residential Care, Dementia Care and Pre-bookable respite stays for older individuals.
Communities at Hickathrift House are smaller with a family feel so residents' feel safe and comfortable. Care is focused on independence,...
Care Provided by Barchester Hickathrift House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 54 Service Users
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
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
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Smoking not permitted
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Barchester Hickathrift House £1,350.00 This Weekly Fee rate is an indication only of a typical standard fee rate for a resident living in a standard, comfortable room. A final Weekly Fee rate will be confirmed once we have carried out a pre-admission needs assessment.
Contact Barchester Hickathrift House 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
- Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Paula Melerski (General Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 50+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2019
Room Information
- Single Rooms (54)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (13)
Visiting
- Please feel free to visit Hickathrift House anytime - the door is always open! Visitors are more than welcome to come along to the life enrichment programme of activities and join their loved ones as they participate too! Please do talk to the Activities Coordinators if wishing to join in on excursions on the home's Mini Bus and they will be happy to discuss this further.
Parking
- When pulling into the home driveway - please follow the drive round to the right to find the standard parking spaces. Disabled parking is also available - please follow the drive round to the left into the Courtyard where visitors can park closer to the home entrance.
Barchester Hickathrift House Reviews (120)
Barchester Hickathrift House has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.889) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Barchester Hickathrift House has 120 reviews.
I am the daughter of a resident & Mum was made very welcome when she joined the home. All the staff are very caring & always friendly & jolly with the residents, & us too. We now know all the carers & feel very comfortable visiting.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and your kind words , which I will cascade to the whole team . It is our pleasure caring for your mum at Hickathrift
Welcoming helpful staff nothing too much trouble
Food freshly prepare and good variety.
Care for my husband (wheelchair bound) was exceptionally good, treated with respect at all times
Accommodation excellent
All staff very supportive at a difficult family time.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review and kind words , which I will cascade to the whole team . It was a pleasure caring for your husband and supporting you during your stay at Hickathrift
It is now our first port of call when respite is needed & both I and my dad are very happy & assured of his care at all times.
It is lovely for him when staff remember him from previous visits & have a little rapport.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us feedback and your kind words which I will cascade to the whole team . It is our pleasure caring for your dad a Hickathrift and look forward to his next visit
Mum was only at Hickathrift House for a few weeks but from start to finish we were impressed by the warmth and professionalism of the care provided. She was made very welcome, treated with dignity and I always trusted that she was in safe hands.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review and for your lovely comments which I will cascade to the whole team. Feedback is always much appreciated , it was our pleasure caring for your mum at Hickathrift House.
My 90 year old mother Veronica has had a tough couple of months and now requires 24 hour care after living independently for many years. She has spent a short period of respite in Hickathrift and has now taken the decision herself to stay permanently. The care staff and management have all been excellent in understanding her needs and the difficulties that she and we as a family, have been going through. We have all been impressed with the facilities, activities and quality of care administered by the staff; with professionalism and good humour. It is early days for her in Hickathrift but mum is a sociable person and now has the opportunity to continue to make the most of life. Thank you Paula and your team for your kindnesses to date.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this review. Also thank you for your kind words , which I will cascade to the whole team. It is our pleasure caring for your mum at Hickathrift House
You have worked a miracle with Marjorie. She now goes out on outings, which was unheard of before she moved into Hickathrift - she socialises, eating her meals in the dining room with other people, a contrast to when she was at home, when she expected her son to cook a full Sunday roast every day, and if she didn't get it would throw her food at us or onto the floor. She is sleeping well - she has a regular shower now, which was unheard of before - she dosn't swear anymore - well not much. The change is all down to your love and patience and understanding.
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team, who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
The assessment was handled immediately and efficiently. My father was then welcomed into a spotlessly clean, beautifully decorated room with an en-suite. The excellence of the management team's professionalism and efficiency shines through.
Beyond the logistics, every practitioner I've encountered during my visits has been welcoming, highly informative, and genuinely focused on the residents' wellbeing. Even my usually picky father has been very complimentary about all the meals! Thanks to this supportive environment, he is now on the way to making progress in his recovery.
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team, who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
Visited my grandmother for her birthday and the activities lead was so great helping us organise an afternoon tea in the home with minimal cost. From my couple of days visit, every member of staff who I came across was friendly, kind and caring. The activities lead is an absolute stand out for us, a genuinely lovely human being and a fantastic activities coordinator. My Granny seems very happy here which was a big concern for us as she really didn't want to leave her home until she realised it was too much for her to manage.
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team, who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
My mum does have dementia but she can still have a conversation with others, so I would like her to be with residents that can chat back to her?
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team, who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
My Mum was sent to Hickerthrift to recover from a fall when she broke her hip. I found Hickerthrift to be an absolutely amazing place, very modern, clean and fresh, and the staff are amazing, they are helpful, and very good at their jobs, the residents are their top priority. . My mum settled in well and I have never seen her looking so well kept and happy for many years. Sadly she is not able to return home and care for herself so she is able to stay at Hickerthrift and I am absolutely over the moon that she is!! It's a fabulous place!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review and your kind words about our care setting and care provision which I will cascade to the whole team. It is our pleasure caring for your mum at Hickathrift House.
We have been met with smiles and immense kindness at Hickathrift. Every person is always willing to help and take care of all needs. The smiles and cup of coffee are abundant and greatly appreciated. We are very happy to have such high quality of care.
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team, who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
The various events and activities provided were so varied that everybody would feel included, including the relatives. Dad had a busier social life than I did!
We will always remember the birthday party they threw for him and the whole family, they are fond memories to us all.
We miss visiting and seeing the staff as, at first, they were strangers, but we left them as friends, and were touched when so many attended dads funeral.
We can't recommend Hickathrift House enough, and we will be forever grateful to them for giving us another year with our dad/grandad/great grandad/great great grandad, brother and uncle.
Hickathrift has a special place in our hearts, and always will
Hi , thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review and your kind works about Hickathrift and our staff which I will cascade to the whole team. It was our pleasure caring for your dad and getting to know you as a family. Kettle is always on if your passing , join us for a cuppa anytime
Mum was welcomed into her new home environment and settled quickly. On visiting her the following day she was full of praise for the staff and commented on the lovely food served. She has now been there a week and is pleased that she will be able to attend chapel this week, all organised by activities coordinator. A big THANK YOU
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review and your kind words which i will cascade to the team - It is our pleasure caring for your mum here at Hickathrift House.
A big thank you to everyone at work who has made her Christmas Day so special from cooking her roast dinner to all the entertainment being provided.
Thank you for your review and very kind words. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
Mum has just entered her second spell of respite at Hickathrift. Every single staff member - manager, admin, care staff, cooks, maintenance has been welcoming and friendly and as a result, we have been very happy to leave Mum in their care. The indoor space is bright and feels very clean, in a homely way; a testament to the great personal care residents receive and I should imagine, the effective laundry systems employed by the team. Well done to you all and thank you.
Thank you for your review and very kind words. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and your kind words which I will cascade to the whole team. It was our pleasure caring for your mother at Hickathrift House.
My mother had rehabilitation care. She was treated with kindness and the friendly staff were always obliging. The activities were well thought through and stimulating. The home was being refurbished to a high standard. There was a very pleasant garden area which we enjoyed sitting in. The room was spacious and light and airy. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Meals seemed well thought out and with good choices. Tea and coffee making facilities were there for all to enjoy. There was always a warm welcome from reception staff.
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
The staff were all friendly and accommodating, despite it being an incredibly hot day!
What a lovely place to visit.
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team, who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
From the minute we walked into Hickathrift to have a look around for potential respite/permanent care for Mum, I knew we had found the right place. The management and team are all without a doubt exceptional. Every little detail of the service user are taken into consideration for the maximisation of their care, independence and dignity. Staff are always smiling, happy, welcoming and caring which impacts the residents in such a positive way. We're so happy that mum is happy and settled, it's simply the best! Thank you Team Hickathrift!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review and for your very kind words about our home which I will cascade to the whole team. Feedback is much appreciated and it is our pleasure to care for your mum here at Hickathrift.
We visit frequently and on each occasion, the staff display such a kind and caring nature. The staff and management are superb. The facilities/activities are excellent and the catering is to a high standard. Well done to everyone.
Thank you for your review. We value all feedback as this helps us to improve our service where required. Thank you also for your positive comments regarding our home and team who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. I will pass on your feedback to the team.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 21 May 2019Good
- Caring Good
- Effective Good
- Responsive Good
- Safe Good
- Well-led Good
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 (63) & Events (3)
- 22 Jun 2026
Residents at Hickathrift House Care Home in Marshland St James, Wisbech enjoyed a spectacular party where the men were treated as Kings in celebration of Father’s Day on June 21st....
- 29 May 2026
Staff at Hickathrift House Care Home in Marshland St. James, Wisbech are being joined by PC Nigel – Fraud & Cyber Security Advisor on Wednesday 17th June at 10.30am. The...
- 15 May 2026
After a lifetime of working in care before finishing her career at Hickathrift House in Marshland St James, Wisbech, much-loved Senior Care Assistant, Marilyn Oliver has decided to retire. Staff...
- 29 Jul 2026Organiser: Barchester Hickathrift House
- 30 Jul 2026Organiser: Barchester Hickathrift House
- 21 Aug 2026Organiser: Barchester Hickathrift House
Awards / Recognitions (30)
- 09 Jun 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- 09 Jun 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- 15 Apr 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
Meet the Team (13)
Hello, my name is Paula and I am proud to be General Manager at Hickathrift House. I joined Barchester in 2015 and my background is actually in Nursing.
As an experienced home manager, I fully understand how difficult the transition into new surroundings can be. My highly qualified team and I are committed to fully supporting you and your family throughout this journey and always.
I am passionate about our residents being safe, making them happy and enabling them to lead fully enriched lives whilst constantly receiving the highest quality of care.
One thing that I feel is really important is offering residents a lot of personal choices and as Hickathrift House is their home they have the right to choose what goes on here!
I am hands-on in my role, I like to spend as much time as possible with the people that we care for and I also really enjoy getting to know our residents' families and providing them with support when they need it.
Our team here at Hickathrift House are dedicated to guaranteeing that all of our residents are treated with dignity, respect and attention - thus in turn enabling them to celebrate life in their new Barchester home which I feel exceptionally privileged to be a part of.
I look forward to welcoming you to Hickathrift House very soon!
Hello, my name is Sarah, and I am Deputy Manager at Hickathrift House.
I started my role at Hickathrift as a night carer in 2011, and have worked my way up through the roles since this time, such as senior carer, Night Manager and now Deputy Manager at the end of November 2022.
I am very passionate about my job and love to know that every day I come into work, I try my best to positively impact the residents' well-being. Knowing that even the smallest of things, such as a quick hello or a smile, can improve their day greatly, as well as mine. I am enjoying getting to know the families and friends which working 11 years on nights you can miss.
I am extremely dedicated to ensuring the best for all of our residents in all aspects of their care, and with the excellent support from all of the staff here at Hickathrift, it doesn’t feel like a job at all.
Hello, my name is Tracey Hills and I have been part of the Administration team here at Hickathrift House for 12 years. I enjoy helping people and advising them where I can.
I have been part of the team at Hickathrift House for 26 years covering different job roles including Deputy Manager. I would like to think that I am a friendly and approachable person and look forward to meeting you when you visit our home very soon!
Hello, my name is Kanita Oakey-Kierman and I have been part of the Administration Team here at Hickathrift House for the past 12 years.
I have worked at Hickathrift for over 27 years. During this time, I have been a Care Assistant and Senior Care Assistant - once I had my children, I changed to the Administration role which I really do enjoy.
I am here to ensure that our residents and their families are fully supported and it is a real pleasure to meet and greet all of the visitors and guests to our lovely home.
Having been at Hickathrift House for such a long time, I feel very attached to it and all of the home's community friends that have been made over the years too!
Hello, my name is Kat and I am the Activities Lead at Hickathrift House.
Since 2017, I have been working in the field of well-being and I am passionate and enthusiastic about enriching all of our residents' quality of life.
As the Activities Lead at Hickathrift House, my focus is learning about each of our resident's likes and dislikes and supporting them to remain receptive and active in addition to supporting them to engage with our local community friends.
I organise activities to stimulate the mind, body and soul in an enjoyable, comfortable way. My aim is to diversify and increase activities ensuring that there is something for everyone - from Wine and Cheese events, excursions on our home Mini Bus as well as individual bespoke person-centred activities.
Charley has been a much-valued member of the Hickathrift family since joining the home in 2024.
She loves to make our residents smile and takes so much enjoyment in helping them to share and enjoy new experiences.
Away from home, Charley loves to spend time with her friends and family and play Sudoku.
Hello, my name is Gerry and I joined the team here at Hickathrift House in 2012.
I started as the Gardener and have always assisted with maintaining the home - becoming the Head of Maintenance here in 2022.
I am responsible for all aspects of our home maintenance and Health and Safety at Hickathrift House whilst ensuring our residents' home is just how they want them.
Kelly has been a part of the Hickathrift community since 2023 and is proud to be our homes' Head of Unit on Memory Lane.
She speaks warmly about how much she loves to make a difference to those living with dementia and their loved ones, how much she adores her role and how the home is like a family.
When Kelly is away from home, she loves to explore the great outdoors, going travelling, making precious memories with her family and watching horror films.
Hello, my name is Kerry Ann and I am I the Head of our Residential Community here at Hickathrift House.
I joined Hickathrift House in 2018 as a Senior Care Assistant and then became the Head of the community in 2020.
During my career, I have gained my NVQ 2 and 3 in Health and Social care for adults and firmly believe the care I give to our residents should be the same as if they were my own family.
I like to make myself approachable to all our staff, residents, and their families. There really is no place I would rather be and I love working alongside the team here at Hickathrift House.
Julie is a long-standing and much-valued member of the team, having been a part of the Hickathrift family since 2014.
She is incredibly passionate about making a positive difference in our residents' lives and often volunteers to join trips out.
Away from home, Julie loves to knit; this is a hobby and a passion she has transferred into the home, often joining in with the knitting activities taking place.
Lindsey joined the Hickathrift family in Spring 2026 as a Care Assistant. She considers it a privilege to work with seniors and believes that care is her true calling.
For Lindsey, making a difference means engaging in meaningful conversations and providing support to those who need it most. When she isn't at work, she cherishes spending precious time with her family.
Hello, my name is Barrie, I moved into Hickathrift House in 2021 and have a great relationship with the staff and residents here. I became the resident advocate for Hickathrift House in March 2022.
I like to help residents express their views and be a friendly ear when they need it. Should there be any areas of our life here that anyone would like to discuss or suggest, such as nutrition, activities or cleanliness, please contact me and I shall bring it to your attention at the next Residents' Meeting?
Hello, my name is Ann and I am the home Hairdresser here at Hickathrift House.
I am a fully qualified local hairdresser with years of experience in salon and mobile hairdressing.
I fully understand the varied needs of individual residents and know the importance of how the trip to the salon can make someone feel. Whether it is a Trim, Perm or Blow-Dry, I am in the home salon every Thursday and look very much forward to meeting you!
Frequently Asked Questions about Barchester Hickathrift House
What types of Care is Barchester Hickathrift House registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Barchester Hickathrift House have?
There are 54 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Barchester Hickathrift House?
Own Furniture if required, Smoking not permitted, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, 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 Barchester Hickathrift House to the centre of Wisbech?
4.0 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 Barchester Hickathrift House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Barchester Hickathrift House has an Enhanced Service - more info.