






The Gardens Care Home is a single storey, well-appointed and very popular Care Home within the Coniscliffe Road area of Darlington. Set in the very peaceful Pondfield Close, they offer unparalleled Dementia, Nursing, and Residential care amidst a relaxing, leafy setting.
Residents at The Gardens Care Home enjoy first-class quality care within a homely and stimulating environment that places a real emphasis on their happiness and well-being. Staff at The...
Care Provided by The Gardens Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Eating Disorders
- Alcohol / Drug Misuse
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 56 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
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Day Care
Facilities
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Near Public Transport
- Wheelchair Access
- Ground Floor Accommodation only
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Please note that The Gardens care home does not offer Residential Dementia care, and Nursing care is only available in The Blackwell Suite, our complex behaviours suite.
- Care coverage 24 hour 7 days per week, tailored to the needs of the Resident.
- All meals and drinks, including specialised diets.
- In-house laundry service.
- Bedding and towels.
- All activities organised to promote physical and mental wellbeing amongst Residents.
Additionally, Residents can request the following external services for an extra charge:
- Chiropody
- Vision and/or hearing visits
- Dedicated dentist
- Hairdressing
- Newspaper delivery
Please note that fees published are indicative only. Prices vary based on room sizes, views and ensuite facilities. Final fees to be charged are based on an assessment of the needs and preferences of every Prospective Resident at The Gardens and/or The Balckwell Suite.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Gardens Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Gardens 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
- Ascot Care Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Hannah McCurley (Care Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 1974
- Last Refurbishment: 2019
- Number of floors: 1
Room Information
- Single Rooms (56)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (2)
Visiting
- Relatives are welcome at anytime, altough kindly ask that you aim to visit outside of protected meal times, which are 12:00-14:00 and 16:30-17:45 pm. Pet friendly home and welcome well-trained pet visitors with a little advanced notice. Prospective Residents can book a tour to be shown around, meet the team and have questions answered.
Parking
- Visitor parking is available to the side and rear of the home.
The Gardens Care Home Reviews (34)
The Gardens Care Home has a Review Score of 9.0 (9.031) out of 10, based on 9 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Gardens Care Home has 34 reviews.
Our mum was a resident at The Gardens for over three years and sadly passed away in early June. Throughout her time there, she received exceptional care, kindness and support from all the staff.
She was always treated with dignity, compassion and respect, and it was a great comfort to our family knowing she was safe, comfortable and well cared for.
The staff went above and beyond, not only looking after Mum but also supporting our family, particularly during her final days. Their professionalism, warmth and dedication made a difficult time much easier to bear.
We are especially grateful to the carers who showed Mum such kindness, patience and genuine affection every day. Their care meant so much to both Mum and our family.
Thank you to everyone at The Gardens. We would highly recommend the home to other families.
My Dad spent twelve weeks in The Gardens receiving end of life care, he was so well looked after. Every single one of the staff were wonderful, they are caring and compassionate . They treat the residents with respect and care for them in a dignified way. We as a family always felt Dad was being well looked after and safe. We could go home and not worry about him. I got to spend some special times with him in his last days doing activities and going to various entertainment events in the home. There is always something for the residents to do if they want too. I really can't praise Hannah and Kirsty and the team there enough and will always be grateful for everything they did for Dad and us. I will remember them all forever.
We're so very sorry for the loss of your dad, and truly grateful that you've taken the time to share such kind words with us during what we know is a difficult time. It means a great deal to hear he was so well cared for during his time at The Gardens, and that every member of the team showed him...
Clearly much improved since last CQC report was prepared. My mum has only recently moved into the home but in our experience to date it is much different in a positive way to the one I read about. Mum very happy and settled here and the wide range of activities has given her a new positive outlook.
Thank you for your kind review of The Gardens. It's great to hear that things have changed for the better, and that your mum has settled in so well. Knowing she's happy and has found a new positive outlook through the activities on offer will mean a lot to the whole team, and we'll be sure to pass...
Overtime he received very good care and support for his every day needs, being treated with dignity, respect and forming good relationships and friendships with the excellent care staff team.
The facilities more than met his requirements. They are well maintained & clean, with communal dining and lounge areas, and also private lounge areas which could be used when friends & family visited.
His room was spacious, comfortable and we were allowed to personalise it for him so that we made it comfortable & homely.
There was a constant provision of food and drink available to him as & when he required. And on request and special events was able to have personal ready meals made.
We were always confident with his safety and security within the home and have found management to be very approachable, responsive & proactive.
Our Father was very happy & content here & we were always made welcome too. We would highly recommend The Gardens.
Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful and thorough feedback about The Gardens. We're very pleased to hear that your father received such consistent care and support during his time with us, and that he was comfortable, felt respected, and was able to form meaningful relationships...
Quite quiet at moment. Home very supportive of mum after Dad's death in August. Thank you.
We are committed to...
I was a resident at The Gardens for 2 weeks for respite after having a hip replacement. All the staff were very friendly and did their jobs to a high standard. I felt relaxed and could not of got better looked after.
Thank you for sharing your positive feedback about your respite stay at The Gardens. We're very pleased to hear you felt relaxed, and that our staff were friendly and looked after you to a high standard throughout your stay. We are committed to continuous improvement and providing the best possible...
Friendly, respectful, professional staff.
Thank you for your kind words about The Gardens. We're pleased to hear that you're happy with the care your mother is receiving and that you've found our staff to be friendly, respectful, and professional. It means a lot to the whole team and we'll let them know of your kind feedback. We are...
I am genuinely impressed with the care and consideration demonstrated by staff at The Gardens Care Home towards all residents. The staff are always easily approachable and their willing to provide any information requested. The care home is always clean and bright and a nice place for residents. I appreciate it is a very demanding and challenging environment for staff and they meet the challenges daily. My only concern is the lack of activities which would stimulate the residents and add value to their days.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're so pleased to hear that you find the staff approachable and caring, and that the home is clean, bright, and welcoming. We also appreciate your recognition of the challenges staff face and your kind words about how they rise to them. Your feedback about...
Been a resident since July/August 2024. Lack of staff, especially at night. Many residents require two members of staff for personal care and there are only three staff during the night which often leads to long delays before they are able to attend to my partner's needs and others. The above colours my partner's overall opinion of the home which is generally good, with the staff doing their best.
My husband is in the Blackwell suite of The Gardens Care Home, I can't praise them enough. He is well looked after and loved by all staff and I mean all staff, including cleaners. The care he receives is 100%, the food is first class and also the cleanliness of the home and my husband as well. I come away from visiting him knowing that he is well cared for and settled and happy.
I have visited many nursing homes in recent years and for an overall assessment, this EMI section is simply the best. The accommodation and the staff are superb. The friendly, dignified and helpful way all the residents are looked after is heartwarming. All visitors are welcomed and made to feel at home.
The staff at The Gardens are extremely caring towards the residents. They are patient and kind. In recent times, as Dad's mobility has worsened, they have been proactive in organising a larger room, more appropriate for his wheelchair. We are very grateful to the staff and are reassured that Dad is being looked after in a safe and caring environment.
My parents have both been in The Gardens - my mum for three years and my dad for two. My dad died in the home in July 2022. The carers were brilliant looking after him in his final week before he died. My mum is really happy and has a lovely relationship with all the staff. This makes me relaxed, that she is in the home.
The staff are amazing, nothing is a problem. I have asked them asking service users what they want to eat, giving them a choice of three things. "Nothing" service user says, then they say "How about a salad with X Y Z on?" "Oh yes please" service user said. A big well done. I have never heard a complaint from the staff at all. They work long hours and very hard, all the time.
entertainment and activities are regular and varied. Any issues highlighted, if reported, are addressed immediately and resolved by the seniors. My resident is happy and I am happy that she is getting the care that she needs. The only negative would be that there seems to be a shortage of permanent carers and they work very long weeks at work.
Had hoped like everyone else we were coming to the end of lockdowns. I appreciate the need to keep residents safe but how The Gardens go about this is becoming a joke. Informed on 29th July closed to all except essential carers. Contacted by phone on 2nd Aug reopened. My sister attempted to visit today to be told they are closed! My family all travel to see mam. It's time The Gardens got some systems in place with regard to updates. I really feel for staff that have to answer the door. They are given no information. Sadly big turnover of staff. I fully appreciate the work done by staff on the floor in particular the kitchen staff who seem to be a constant. I don't believe there have been management changes, however, they don't have any regular contact with relatives.
My husband is in The Blackwell Suite at the Gardens for Dementia. He has been there since the beginning of May 2022 on 1-1 care. The Ascot care staff and carers in Blackwell are amazing. However, the one to one carers are not always so good, as some of them do not understand all English and I don't understand them, also which is a concern. But on the whole, they are very attentive but seems they are learning.
I don't ever see management. I would like staff to be trained in infection risks arising from putting items on the floor. I'm not able to take part in activities. I find the room a little small, particularly during the long periods of "lockdown" recently. Cannot fit two chairs for choice when confined to room or for a visitor. A happy atmosphere abounds. The staff seem to get on, and it's a welcoming place.
I have lived at the Gardens since December where I chose to move to. It was very important to me that I came to the Gardens as my brother lived here for more then 7 years. My family have had many years at the Gardens and have always been fond of the place. Since moving here myself, I have settled in and become friends with the staff and made some special friendships. I would not have moved to any other home. The staff are always happy, friendly and they are always willing to help without question. The rooms are always clean and tidy thanks to the amazing cleaners, I cannot complain about the food the kitchen staff are very good, and the laundry staff do a good job with all the clothes. The carers are also amazing, they work hard and always have a smile on their face. The seniors work very hard and are very good at what they do, they go above and beyond. Thank you for looking after me so well and making me smile.
A lovely place. They can't do enough for my aunty who really loves it there, never have to worry about her as we know she's being well looked after. Such a clean, bright and homely place. All the staff are very professional. Can't recommend the Gardens enough.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 12 November 2024Requires improvement
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- 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
Bed Vacancies
Posted: 27 July 2026For more information on the specific beds available, please contact the care home directly.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for The Gardens Care Home.
There are no upcoming events for The Gardens Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for The Gardens Care Home.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for The Gardens Care Home.
Meet the Team (2)

Hannah joined Ascot care in 2025, as Care Home Manager for The Gardens care home and The Blackwell Suite, our nurse-led unit specialised in complex behaviours.

Kirsty joined Ascot Care in 2013 as a Care Assistant at The Gardens. Since then, she has been promoted to Team Leader in 2014, Senior Carer in 2017, and Deputy Manager in early 2025.
She has an NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, and a CACHE Diploma Level 3.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Gardens Care Home
What types of Care is The Gardens Care Home registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Eating Disorders, Alcohol / Drug Misuse are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does The Gardens Care Home have?
There are 56 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at The Gardens Care Home?
Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Near Public Transport, Wheelchair Access, Ground Floor Accommodation only, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is The Gardens Care Home to the centre of Darlington?
1.4 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 The Gardens Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Gardens Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.