






Maiden Castle House is a welcoming, purpose-built residential and dementia care home in the heart of Dorset's county town. The home's experienced and well-trained team provides compassion care for those who can longer live independently, whether that is someone who is physically frail or those suffering from dementia.
Maiden Castle House has 66 bedrooms split into two wings to ensure a home atmosphere. All rooms feature state-of-the-art ensuite facilities. There are...
Care Provided by Maiden Castle House
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 66 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
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Smoking not permitted
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Maiden Castle House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Maiden Castle 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
- Care South
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Ashley Smith(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (66)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (66)
Maiden Castle House Reviews (73)
Maiden Castle House has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.774) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Maiden Castle House has 73 reviews.
Beverages are there on tap if required.
There are daily activities for anyone who wants to join in.
I am more than happy with everything at the home and the running of it. I can go home knowing htat Dad is being cared for 24/7.
Overall care is of satisfactory standards, sometimes the lack of staff is a problem at Sunday tea time. The choice could be improved but overall it's good.
Thank you for your review, your feedback is very important to us. In respect of the comments you have raised regarding Sunday tea time and food choice, I will review these with the Home Manager on my next visit to the Home.
The home has seen many improvements since the arrival of the new manager at the end of last year. I am still of the view that there are times when staffing is inadequate but that this could probably be solved by a timetable review. I still feel that cleanliness in the kitchen area is poor. There is a lack of tabards for residents at mealtimes and the paper towels dispenser is often empty for long periods. There is a shortage of cups/mugs in the kitchen despite me putting at least half a dozen in the cupboard over the last few weeks - they just disappear. The waste bin in the kitchen area is often full/overflowing. Perhaps a carer could be made responsible for this area? The provision of incontinence pads problem is still a bit hit and miss but staff have tried to resolve this issue. Most of these things have been raised at resident/relatives meetings and are probably still on the manager's to-do list.
Thank you for your review. Your feedback is very important to us, the points you have raised will be discussed with the Home Manager and actions reviewed on my next visit to the Home.
My mother is happy there and she is well looked after, the staff are cheerful and helpful. It is a new building and well maintained. It does not smell like some care homes.
Today my mum is happy and settled in a beautiful, bright, happy and caring home, we are so grateful to all the staff for the care they give Mum.
We have been really impressed with the standard of care and attention shown to my father since he moved into Maiden Castle House in November. Dad loves the range of activities, the food is excellent and he is delighted there are Church services for him to attend. The staff are caring and courteous and are always friendly to visitors. Excellent work.
The staff have a wonderful person-centred attitude. They treat everyone as individuals, with kindness, respect and the required dignity that we all desire! The communication and feedback they give are relevant, up to date and given without prompting. The staff do everything to make my wife comfortable, attend to all of her needs and encourage or take any opportunity to make sure that her dietary needs are given. In all I feel contented when I go home, knowing that she is being cared for with kindness and embraced for all that she is.
Maiden Castle House is a wonderful care home, the staff are amazing - dedicated and thoughtful and making all the residents feel important and special. It's a great place to spend the last years of your life, knowing that you will be cared for and loved.
The welcome from all the staff, the care being shown and given to my aunt and the food choice and quality are all excellent.
I am more than happy with everything at the home and the running of it.
Mum has resided in Maiden Castle House for eighteen months. I can not fault it. The staff are all so kind and caring, and are genuinely fond of the residents. There are so many activities arranged. The decor is superb. Food is of a high standard, varied and plentiful. The cleanliness is excellent. We are thrilled that Mum is in such a happy care home and we highly recommend it.
Our family member has resided here since 2014 and her dementia and physical capabilities have got considerably worse but her care and many carers are excellent and there's nothing that is too much trouble. The carers genuinely seem to care even when some residents are very challenging. Keep up the good work.
I would recommend this home, it's the best in Dorset.
Many thanks for all your hard work.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 23 October 2025Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- 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 (21) & Events (0)
- 02 Jun 2026
Dorset care home residents delighted in a memorable musical afternoon created especially for them by the BSO, Care South and JPMorganChase. Hosted at JPMorganChase’s Bournemouth campus, the midweek event included...
- 27 May 2026
Communities across the south of England gathered at Care South’s care homes to share experiences and raise awareness during Dementia Action Week. Karen Hodges, Group Dementia Lead for Care South,...
- 02 Mar 2026
The team at residential and care at home provider, Care South, are celebrating after being rated as a top care home provider for the sixth consecutive year. Care South, a...
There are no upcoming events for Maiden Castle House.
Awards / Recognitions (8)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Care South
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Care South
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Care South
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Maiden Castle House.
Meet the Team (1)

“Prior to joining Care South, I was a painter and decorator but have now been in the care industry for ten years. I started at Maiden Castle House as a Care Assistant and gradually gained regular promotions to now being appointed as the Home Manager.
There is nothing better than seeing happy residents, and the memories and friendships you make with them. Every day I look forward to the challenges the day may bring, I have worked here for a third of my life so I am particularly passionate about the home continuing to be as successful as possible.
I am a proud dad to my twins, Archie and Myla. I love my free weekends adventuring with them and my partner, Leah. I enjoy running, most sports and spending time with my extended family. I am a positive person who is always looking forward to the future and all the exciting journeys you can embark on.”
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