Merse House

Merse Avenue, Kirkcudbright DG6 4RN
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8.5 15 Reviews
  • Merse House, Kirkcudbright
Merse House is located in Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, South West Scotland, overlooking the River Dee and is close to areas of outstanding beauty.

The home is a warm, friendly and welcoming residential home that provides care and support of up to 32 older people and those living with dementia. The home is designed to provide an inviting atmosphere where residents can feel relaxed and at ease. From cosy living spaces to beautiful outdoor areas, there is a variety of comfortable settings for socialising, relaxation, and recreation.

Everyone who lives at Merse House enjoys a comfortable and spacious en-suite bedroom which they are encouraged to personalise to their individual taste. The home has some wonderful spaces to relax and socialise including large lounge and dining rooms as well as some quiet areas.

The home runs an extensive programme of activities for everyone to enjoy that meets the passions and interests of service users, from one to one and group activities such as arts and crafts, gardening, quiz and game nights and sing-alongs, as well as hosting regular social events, including performances from local entertainers. The team also support people to enjoy days out in the community too!

The chefs prepare nutritious and delicious meals, which are freshly made on site and cater to any dietary requirements.

The team is comprised of trained professionals who are passionate about providing the highest standard of care. With empathy, respect, and kindness at the forefront of everything, the staff members are dedicated to fostering meaningful connections with residents and their families. The dedicated team of caregivers develop individualised care plans to ensure that every aspect of residents' well-being is taken care of.

Discover the difference that Merse House can make in the lives of your loved ones. Schedule a tour today and experience the warmth and compassion of the community.

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Care Provided

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 32 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Convalescent Care
  • COPD/Pulmonary Disease
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Ground Floor Accommodation only
  • Gardens
  • Residents Kitchenette
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: from £862
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £862
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: from £862
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £862

Prices exclude therapeutic activities such as hairdressing and chiropody.

These prices are only a guideline, please contact Merse House to find out the exact price for your requirements.

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 choose a care home based in Scotland, you may be eligible for the Scottish Government's Free Personal Care funding of up to £267.10 per week if you’re over the age of 65. This support is not reflected in this fee amount.

Good to Know

Person in charge

  • Isobel Little (Service Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 55+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes
  • Last Refurbishment: 1998
  • Number of floors: 1

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (32)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (32)

Parking

  • Onsite parking is available to visitors

Merse House Reviews (15)

8.5

Merse House has a Review Score of 8.5 (8.455) out of 10, based on 6 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Merse House has 15 reviews.

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  • 11
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Review from D F (Brother of Resident) published on 7 May 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My sister is well cared for and appears to be happy whenever I visit her.

Reply from Georgea Buckle, Operations Executive at Merse House

Thank you for your lovely feedback. We're delighted to hear that your sister is well cared for and seems happy during your visits. It means a lot to us to know we're making a positive difference.

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Review from Maureen C (Power of Attorney of Resident) published on 24 April 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Services and staff all excellent. Only thing is maybe could do with more activities instead of just sitting all day. Also hydration throughout the day & offers to sit outside on nice days.

Reply from Georgea Buckle, Operations Executive at Merse House

Thank you for your feedback! We're glad to hear you're happy with our staff and services. We appreciate your suggestions on activities and hydration - we'll certainly take them on board to help improve the experience even more.

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Review from S N (Daughter of Resident) published on 23 April 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Absolutely wonderful. Mum is well looked after clean, cared for, hair, nails, and clothes are all great. Room is clean and tidy, mum is well stimulated, content and happy.
Staff all seem pleasant and kind and good with mum. I am more than happy.

Reply from Georgea Buckle, Operations Executive at Merse House

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We're delighted to hear your mum is happy and well cared for. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to the team - it means a lot to us.

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Review from M M (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 February 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

Merse House is probably fairly ok due to the amount it costs every week, which is still a fairly substantial amount! My mother as far as I and other family are aware is well looked after. She has issues sometimes relating to food. After the review, I find the managers are far more forthcoming now i.e.
regarding the welfare of clients and anything else that is happening. Staff I have always found to be very approachable and friendly. Very caring and attentive to their elderly clients. Hopefully, Merse House is on the right track now!

Reply from Georgea Buckle, Operations Executive at Merse House

Thank you for your feedback. We're glad to hear your mother is well cared for and that communication with the management has improved. It's great to know you find the staff approachable, friendly, and attentive - we're committed to keeping things on the right track!

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Review from W I (Sister of Resident) published on 29 January 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My brother has been a resident for 5 years. I have seen the resident every week, in addition, I regularly attend family events. As such, I am aware of my brother's relationship with all the staff and by and large it is good.

Reply from Phil Benson, Executive Director of Operations at Merse House

Thank you for your feedback. We're so glad to hear that your brother has been well cared for during his time at Merse House, and it's wonderful to know that you have a good relationship with the staff and are actively involved in family events. We truly value the trust you place in us and will continue to ensure that your brother receives the best care possible. Your continued support and involvement mean a great deal to us, and we appreciate your kind words.

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Review from S E (Son of Resident) published on 16 January 2025
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are delighted with Merse House. The care my dad gets is excellent and the staff are brilliant. They are always cheerful and very helpful.

Reply from Phil Benson, Executive Director of Operations at Merse House

Thank you so much for your kind words. We are thrilled to hear that you are delighted with the care your dad is receiving at Merse House. It's wonderful to know that our staff are making a positive impact with their cheerful and helpful approach. We truly appreciate your feedback and are grateful for the trust you've placed in us to care for your dad. Thank you again for your support!

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Review from Valerie E (Wife of Resident) published on 25 October 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Every member of staff gives excellent care and attention to all the residents. A decision was quickly made by staff for my husband to be taken to hospital by ambulance when he became so ill. Now my husband is back in Merse House, all members of staff continue with their excellent care and attention.
For anyone whose loved one needs to go into a care home, I would recommend Merse House as their first choice.

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Review from S P (Daughter of Resident) published on 14 October 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Professional and caring throughout. High standards of cleanliness throughout. All staff are welcoming, polite and approachable. Nothing is too much trouble and communication between the staff and relatives is brilliant. Empathy and understanding of both Dad's condition and its impact on his family.

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Review from L P (Sister of Resident) published on 10 September 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband, who has vascular dementia as well as physical caring difficulties has resided at Merse House for several weeks. I have found the staff smiling and friendly. They appear to care about the residents valuing them who they were as well as who they are now. The food is excellent and I have received
help with complications of having my life partner in care rather than at home and am grateful to be able to feel that he is safe and well looked after. He seems happy as far as I can tell. Thank you

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Review from M P (Relative of Resident) published on 21 June 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The person is cared for with dignity and care (very good). The staff are fantastic with the residents. They are well looked after. Some do more than they should.

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Review from F S (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 June 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A huge thank you to all the staff who look after Mum and make her stay at Merse a happy one now she is no longer able to be at home. The staff go out of their way to be caring and helpful in all aspects of her care.

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Review from O H (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 June 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are so kind and helpful and Mum is happy living at Merse. Today was Mum's 95th Birthday and the staff went out of their way to put on a tea party for her and made her day extra special. The staff at Merse are a credit to that home. Thank you, from all our family.

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Review from Michael K (Stepson of Resident) published on 7 June 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I have found the staff very friendly, helpful and professional. They provide for all his needs, good food, clean room and laundry done.
It cannot be easy dealing with someone with dementia but they handle him very well, with kindness and patience.

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Review from L C (Niece of Resident) published on 6 June 2019
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The home is clean (very) and tidy. The carers and other staff are very polite and my aunty gets great care. I have nothing to complain about.

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Review from Ann J (Relative of Resident) published on 22 May 2018
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My husband's Aunty became a resident. The room she had was bright and spacious with a lovely large bathroom. She did not settle right away but the manager and her staff did everything in their power to make her as comfortable as possible, they encouraged her to join in activities and outings. We were
able to visit anytime and were even able to spend Christmas and birthdays with her.


The manager and staff at Merse House are very caring and are like your family, they take great care of your family member and they keep you informed of all that is going on with them, and what is going on in the home itself.


The last 4 days of Auntie's life, l was able to stay with her morning and night, the staff gave me breaks so l could go and eat and stayed with her while my husband and I went to make funeral arrangements, they made sure she was comfortable and pain-free.


We cannot praise them enough. We could not receive this total patient care in hospital. To the manager and your staff, YOU are the best.

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Current Review Score: 8.5 (8.455)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.5 (8.455) out of 10 for Merse House is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.2 out of 5 from 6 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.3 out of 5 from 5 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.174 for Merse House is calculated as follows: ( (29 Excellents x 5) + (24 Goods x 4) + (15 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 69 Ratings = 4.174

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 4.281 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Merse House is based on 5 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.5

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 32 registered maximum number of service users is 6.4. 5 Positive Reviews ÷ 6.4 = 0.781

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Regulatory Rating

Care Inspectorate (CI) Rating

Date: 14 Jan 2025

How well do we support people's wellbeing? Adequate

(3)
How good is our leadership? Adequate

(3)
How good is our staff team? Adequate

(3)
How good is our setting? Adequate

(3)
How well is care and support planned? Adequate

(3)

Care Inspectorate is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in Scotland.

View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

1 Bed Vacancy

posted 11 Aug 2025

We currently have vacancies available for spacious and comfortable rooms within our care home. Residents receive personalised care and support from our compassionate caregivers, including assistance with activities of daily living, medication management, and healthcare monitoring. Contact us today to arrange a viewing of the home and to meet our team!

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (0)

There are no Team Members posted yet

Frequently Asked Questions about Merse House

What types of Care is Merse House registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability & Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does Merse House have?

There are 32 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Merse House?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Wheelchair Access, Ground Floor Accommodation only, Gardens, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room & Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Merse House to the centre of Kirkcudbright?

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 Merse House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Merse House has an Enhanced Service - more info.