





A small, quiet residential care home in the pretty village of Melrose in the Scottish Borders.
St John’s care home is within easy reach of the town centre, and has spacious private gardens with a lovely view of the Eildon Hills.
St John’s is a traditional stone villa with beautifully appointed, large shared dining and lounge areas, and a purpose-built annexe of ground floor residents’ rooms, each with a French window onto...
Care Provided by St John's
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 17 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
- Palliative / End of Life Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Stairlift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Fees are tailored to the individual and are dependant on many factors, exact pricing can be discussed with the care home Manager.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact St John's for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact St John's to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
Support you may be entitled to
- If you choose a care home based in Scotland, you may be eligible for the Scottish Government's Free Personal Care funding of up to £260.30 per week if you're over the age of 65. This support is not reflected in this fee amount.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Mansfield Care Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Jenny Hunter(Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2003
Room Information
- Single Rooms (16)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (14)
St John's Reviews (8)
St John's has a Review Score of 8.7 (8.713) out of 10, based on 2 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time St John's has 8 reviews.
The staff are friendly and caring and there is always a tempting smell coming from the kitchen
I cannot recommend St John's highly enough.
PS my dog is always welcome too!
I visited my cousin today and was really impressed with the sitting room, it looks so stylish and welcoming. The new Managment have done a fantastic job and is very approachable, the new staff are a breath of fresh air, bringing energy and warmth back into the home where it was previously missing. During my visit the occupants were happily playing a word game with the staff which was lovely to see
Thank you very much for a lovely review - as always, if there is anything we can help with when you are in, please just let us know.
Carers are so good with my Mum and really look after her. Cannot fault the care and attention she gets at all. They really take their time and effort with her and deal with her type of dementia in a very sympathetic way.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review, we are so pleased you are happy with the care provided at St John's.
I visited St John’s care home to visit an old family friend and was incredibly surprised at how lovely the home is, the gardens are incredible and the perfect place to have visits with loved ones on sunny days, the staff were polite and happy and I could tell this had a knock-on effect to the residents living and thriving within the home each person took time out of there incredibly busy day to say hello make sure we were comfortable and that my friend had everything they needed from a cold drink to suncream and a sun hat. My friend couldn’t be happier in the home and sang the praises of each member of staff. The home itself is beautiful in a lovely location, one thing that surprised me is how nice the home smelled it didn’t have the typical clinical smell that care homes usually have but instead smelled fresh and clean. My friend told me how much they enjoyed being there and participating in everything the home had to offer. Lovely place, with residents and staff.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review. We are delighted your friend is enjoying life in St Johns.
Grandad particularly enjoys his nip of whisky in the evening before bed!
Thank you so much for taking the time to review St John's. We are glad he is still enjoying his nightly dram!
Our dad has been a resident at St John’s for over 2.5 years now and is happy and settled. The staff are fantastic and he has a great rapport with them. He prefers to spend the majority of his time in his room (his choice) and enjoys the peaceful surroundings and views from his window. He’s encouraged to join in activities, but never forced, and this suits him really well. When he does join in he especially loves the live music entertainment in the main lounge and spending time in the gardens. Our family has peace of mind knowing he is happy and being well cared for.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review our home. We are glad that your dad is happy living in St Johns.
All the staff are very good with Dad, and it's great to know that he is in good hands. There are lots of activities going on if he wants to get involved.
Thank you for your kind review. We are so pleased your Dad is happy at St John's.
My husband has now been living at St John’s for a good while now. He is so well looked for; he thinks he’s in a hotel. He loves to brag about how well the staff look after him. He says he enjoys his wee visits from the manager and that she sits and has a cuppa with him; he has thrived there. I am so happy to have found St John's. What great peace of mind I have now.
Regulatory Rating
Care Inspectorate (CI) Rating
Date: 11 November 2025- How well do we support people's wellbeing?Good
(4)
- How good is our leadership?Good
(4)
- How good is our staff team?Very Good
(5)
- How good is our setting?Very Good
(5)
- How well is care and support planned?Good
(4)
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for St John's.
There are no upcoming events for St John's.
Awards / Recognitions (1)
- 14 Oct 2022Recipient: St John's
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for St John's.
Meet the Team (1)

Jenny started with Mansfield Care as a domestic worker, quickly progressing through roles to become Home Manager of St Johns in October 2024. Over 14 years, she gained valuable experience and developed a deep love for her residents and team. Jenny finds it rewarding to make a meaningful difference in people's lives and now can’t imagine working anywhere else. Outside of work, her greatest joy is her son, and to recharge, she enjoys walking in the hills, finding peace in the fresh air. One of her favourite parts of the week is the coffee afternoon at Galahill, where residents, the team, and prospective residents connect in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Jenny’s journey at Mansfield Care is a testament to her commitment and passion for her role.
Frequently Asked Questions about St John's
What types of Care is St John's registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does St John's have?
There are 16 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at St John's?
Own Furniture if required, Stairlift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Residents Kitchenette, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is St John's to the centre of Melrose?
0.5 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 St John's to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. St John's has an Enhanced Service -more info.