






Ferndene Care Home near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire provides residential, nursing, and dementia care to up to 49 people, alongside specialist palliative and end-of-life care through a dedicated Butterfly Suite. Rated Good by the Care Quality Commission (January 2023), Ferndene has an exceptional reputation in the local community for the quality of its care, the warmth of its environment, and the depth of its activities and community engagement.
Ferndene is now part of...
Care Provided by Ferndene Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Younger Adults
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 49 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
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- 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
All fees are based on individual care needs and would be calculated before admission.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Ferndene Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Ferndene Care Home 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)
Support you may be entitled to
- If you chose a care home based in England, you may be eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), which helps cover the cost of nursing. This is worth £267.68 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- RDCP Care
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Shileen Muusha and Melanie Killelay (Clinical Manager & General Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2005
- Last Refurbishment: 2017
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (49)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (1)
Visiting
- They do not have any specific visiting times, they are open 24/7, 7 days a week for visiting, but they do have protected meal times and ask visitors to avoid meal times where possible, as it can sometimes discourage residents from eating.
Parking
- Free parking available with disability bays.
Ferndene Care Home Reviews (34)
Ferndene Care Home has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.473) out of 10, based on 11 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Ferndene Care Home has 34 reviews.
Mum was only in for just over 8 week before sadly passing away. Although she felt too unwell to join in with most activities she liked to be invited to them. She always spoke well of all the staff. Her appetite was very poor but she said what she managed to eat was very nice and she liked the choices. She liked the view from her room
My condolences for the passing of your mum. Thank you for such a lovely review and I will pass on your appreciation and kind words to the team. We view it as a privilege to have been chosen to care for your mum at the end of her life. Our thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
My mother in law went into Ferndene after breaking her hip. She was in the home for nearly nine months until her recent death. I can only say that in that time she was treated with the utmost care and compassion. Her needs were well met. If I wanted to discuss anything members of staff always gave me their time and responded to my questions. Thankyou
Thank you very for the lovely review it is very much appreciated and I will pass this on to my team,
Having spent 3 weeks in hospital it was recommended that my Father should be in receipt of CHC ( Continued hospital care)in a care home. He was successfully admitted to Ferndene Care home where he received end of life care. He was provided with a room that I can only describe as beautiful, calm and fitting for an End of life patient. Indeed it had the perfect ambience. The care was exceptional and the carers were lovely and truly empathetic; they cared for us too at this very difficult time. For anyone seeking a place for a loved one on End of life I cannot recommend Ferndene enough. Thank you Ferndene for caring for my Dad so well.
My condolences for the passing of your father. Thank you for such a lovely review and I will pass on your appreciation and kind words to the team. We view it as a privilege to have been chosen to care for your father at the end of his life and hope you find happiness in the memories of times shared with him. Our thoughts are with you and your family at this time.
My husband stayed in Ferndene Care Home after coming out of Hospital. He was very satisfied with the care. The staff were very friendly and caring. He enjoyed the activities and the food was very varied and tasty. He is hoping to go back for day care.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are really pleased that your husband enjoyed his stay at Ferndene and we look forward to seeing him again on day care. I will of course inform the Manager and the team of your review.
Mum has been in Ferndene since May 2024. I know she is safe and being looked after. Her room is clean and big enough for the family to visit. It is always warm for her. The staff are friendly and will make time to sort any requests we may have. The only downside is, it can become quite noisy in the lounge at times, depending on what mood the residents are in. However, when it does become too noisy we can just ask for mum to be moved back to her own room. This is never a problem, as soon as the staff have time to move her they will.
The staff are also good with my dad, he spends a lot of time visiting mum and will always ask him if he'd like a drink or offer him food. They have different activities throughout the week and also treatments for residents such as hair and pedicures. The treatments are an additional cost but not expensive.
Thank you for your lovely review. We will make sure it is shared with the whole team. There are quieter lounges within the home that staff would be happy to show you on your next visit, should you want an alternative to returning to mum's room.
I would like to thank the staff team for doing everything possible to help my dad settle in. Following an illness, dad was no longer able to return home to my mum. All of the management recognised and respected how difficult this situation was for my parents after 61 years of marriage and dealt with them in a caring way. The process was made as smooth as possible and the whole staff team have been open, friendly and there for us as a family to answer our many questions. When we have had a query, staff have been very quick to respond on the phone, face-to-face or by email. Dad's room is comfortable and we were able to make it as homely as dad wants. He has especially enjoyed the bird feeder that we added to his window, after a suggestion from one of the staff and he loves to watch the feathery comings and goings. We were delighted by how quickly the staff got to know dad, his likes, dislikes and little quirks. He has been treated with respect, dignity and a smile by all staff.
Thank you for your lovely review. We are really glad your dad has settled in. We will make sure it is shared with all the team.
We moved our Mum to Ferndene a couple of years ago. She has become happier here and the staff always have time for us to ask questions. Her care is excellent from the cleaners, laundry, office, maintenance, assistants and nursing staff. I hope I didn't miss anyone out because they all deserve a mention. A big thank you from us to the whole team. Thank you!
Thank you for your lovely review. We will make sure it is shared with the whole team
My mum is 95 and been a resident for two years, she is well cared for and looked after by caring staff, who are on hand to do anything for her. She had a hairdresser to occasionally cut her hair and a chiropodist to see to her feet. Her medication is administered by the nurses regularly and if she needs it the doctor is called promptly.
Thank you for your lovely review. We are really glad you are happy with the care your Mum receives. We will make sure this is shared with all the team.
The experience with Ferndene so far has been a positive one, the care provided to my Nan has been excellent and I am happy with the manner in which we have been dealt with as family members. All staff have been excellent.
Thank you for your lovely review. We are really glad you have had a positive experience. We will make sure this is shared with all the team.
Wonderful, accessible location. Grounds, buildings, and facilities are all clean and well maintained. Carers, admin staff and everyone working their is a pleasure to deal with. They all go around with big smiles on their faces and do their best to make residents and visitors feel welcome. My father has issues, regarding his residency there and can be quite difficult to handle and not the nicest person to deal with though this hasn't phased any of them and they continue to try and find ways to make him feel more comfortable and improve his quality of life. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are really pleased you are happy with everything and we will pass this onto the whole team.
A huge thank you to all the staff and carers at Ferndene Gainsborough. Mum settled more quickly than anticipated and was kept safe and well by everyone. The admin team are very easy to deal with. They communicate well and make payments easy. Mum got her hair and nails done in the home at a very reasonable cost. My only slight reservation was the occasionally high level of noise from other residents and a near-constant alarm in the corridor opposite mum's room.
Thank you for your lovely review. We will make sure it is shared with all the team, especially the people mentioned. We will also look into what can be actioned in regards to the noise level. This is unfortunate and we will monitor and support as we can. Best wishes
Well what can I say about Ferndene except Fern, don't! Please, please do not put your loved ones into this home. I am in the process of moving my mother-in-law out of this place. The website is lies. They do not cater for specialist diets. Vegetarian, pescatarian or diabetic. I take my mother-in-law's vegetarian meals in for her. She currently has very bad skin tears to both legs, a bruise on the palm of her hand, a sore sacrum, and cellulitis that the nurse stated it wasn't (it most definitely was). This same nurse seems to think it's appropriate to take diabetic blood sugar readings after mother-in-law has eaten. Sugars are then high, and she gets told off and is only "allowed" water to drink. Items have disappeared from her room that should never have left her room. Theft? Who knows, they certainly appear not to and couldn't care less. She has a wonderful view of a garden shed from her bedroom window. Fabulous for an 81-year-old. Rooms are small. Some senior care staff are "little Hitlers". Do not use this home.
We are sorry you have felt unhappy with the care your mother-in-law has received and also the need to complain through this media platform. I have been into the home and have not found any complaints raised in conjunction with the concerns you have raised in your review with exception of an item...
They treated my Nanny with the dignity and respect she deserved in those final moments. The lady who phoned the family to let them know she had passed was so caring on the phone sending her apologies and asking if we were with our partners. Even going after she’d passed to take a thank you card, the ward manager was lovely sending her regards to all the family and giving us time to empty her belongings out of the bedroom.
Thank you again to all involved in my Nanny’s care.
Thanks for spending the time to write us a review, we are saddened to hear the passing of your Nanny. Thank you for your kind words and we are pleased you were happy with our hospitality and care your Nanny and family received from the home. We will ensure this is shared with the manager and staff team and Ferndene.
My Mum spent only 5 days in Ferndene under end-of-life care on discharge from the hospital. Every member of staff, from the manager to the care staff treated her with respect and dignity. She was continually checked on to ensure she was comfortable day and night and I was welcomed to the home whatever time I arrived. The room was very clean, warm and the bird feeder on the window meant Mum could see birds when she was awake.
Many thanks for giving us the time to write a review. I will ensure this is shared with the manager and staff team at Ferndene.
My dad was recently fast-tracked from our local hospital for end-of-life care; I personally can't fault the care and respect they have shown my dad. The carers are absolutely fantastic and very helpful.
Many thanks for spending the time to write us a review. I will ensure this review is shared with the manager and staff at Ferndene.
At the beginning of April of this year, I was put into Ferndene Care Home for respite as a result of a bad experience and safeguarding issues in my previous placement. After being at Ferndene for a short while I was made to feel very much at home, the staff were very professional and made me feel safe and that I was being looked after very well, the food was all fresh home-cooked meals daily and myself and the other residents were fed very well. Also, my personal care was also very much in hand with the staff being very switched on to my needs, reflecting on all said this was a wonderful place to stay boosting my mental health and also losing weight, fabulous place, amazing staff and they are very much missed by myself. Highly recommended for any ones loved ones.
Many thanks for leaving us a review. We are pleased you have had a positive experience in our home and your health has improved. I will ensure your review is shared with all staff at Ferndene.
Mum was fast track funded from the hospital to Ferndene for end of life care, where she spent the last six weeks of her life. We would have wished for a better end of life experience for her, but that was not to be. The care is patchy, I would say. Some staff were lovely, knew just how to be with mum, and catered well to her needs. Others seemed uninterested, and unaware of basic needs. For example, one time mum was left wearing nothing but a tiny vest, even as she was shivering with cold. Frequently my sister and I felt we had to help the carers as they seemed either inexperienced or very short-staffed. The manager, was fantastic throughout. Additionally, an awful lot of mum's possessions went missing during her time there. Two framed photographs, her varifocal glasses, two pairs of slippers, multiple jumpers, trousers, and pyjamas, and these were never found/returned despite many requests to the staff. An inventory should be taken of residents' possessions when they enter the home.
It is crucial, particularly at end of life that we do everything we can to help the person, and their family, to...
Ferndene has been looking after my brother for around four weeks, I have to say that the care is 100% better than any of the other homes he has been to. I have no concerns about the home and do not seem to be worried about the care he receives here like I used to be worried about at other homes. My brother seems so much happier to be here and I love that I am able to visit him at the home, he seems so relaxed every time I come to visit. Staff are all very approachable and answered and acted on any queries I had in the beginning. Nothing is too much trouble.
Many thanks for spending the time to write us a review. It's wonderful to hear you're happy with the service you and your brother is receiving with our home Ferndene. We will ensure this review is shared with the manager and staff at the home.
My father has only recently become a resident so my visits were limited for the first two weeks to his room window, a ground floor room was provided enabling the visits which was great. I have since visited him in his room, tested and covid compliant and he has settled well. All the staff look very friendly and helpful and I look forward to many more visits in the future so that I can give a more rounded review.
Helpful and caring to both resident and family.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave us a positive review. It is important for us to receive feedback on the service we provide and I will ensure this is fed back to the manager and staff at Ferndene.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 01 February 2023Good
- 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 (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Ferndene Care Home.
There are no upcoming events for Ferndene Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Ferndene Care Home.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Ferndene Care Home.
Meet the Team (1)

My care journey began in April 1990 when I started my first role as a night carer. I quickly realised how much I enjoyed working in the sector and knew it was the career path I wanted to follow. I progressed into a Senior Carer role and later had the opportunity to step into management when covering for a Manager who had left. I enjoyed the challenge and decided to gain the relevant qualifications to become a Registered Manager, successfully securing the role. I have worked as a Registered Manager since then, mainly within older people’s services, with some experience in learning disability care.
I was inspired to work in care by a desire to provide high-quality support and to make a real difference to people’s lives. What I enjoy most is knowing that the care we provide can have a positive impact on residents and their well-being every day.
My key area of expertise is older people’s services, where I have built extensive experience over many years in care and management.
My approach to supporting residents, families, and my team is to be approachable and supportive at all times. I enjoy sharing my experience with my team and take pride in developing staff so they can deliver high-quality, person-centred care.
I am passionate about ensuring residents are able to live the life they choose in a safe and caring environment, and that families feel confident, involved, and part of our “care family.” I also have a strong passion for delivering high-quality end-of-life care, ensuring residents’ wishes are respected and that they and their families receive compassionate support throughout. Outside of work, I am a busy mum of two wonderful boys who keep me on my toes. I have raised them to always show respect and kindness to others, values I strongly believe in. I also believe that while life can be challenging at times, it helps build strength and resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ferndene Care Home
What types of Care is Ferndene Care Home registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability, Younger Adults are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Ferndene Care Home have?
There are 49 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Ferndene Care Home?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, 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 Ferndene Care Home to the centre of Gainsborough?
1.0 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 Ferndene Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Ferndene Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.