The Elms

148 Whitehouse Loan, Edinburgh EH9 2EZ
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7.7 13 Reviews
  • The Elms, Edinburgh
The Elms is a large Victorian mansion set in its own extensive grounds. It is situated in the Grange area of Edinburgh.

Providing specialist service to people with dementia who can no longer live safely on their own or in another residential setting, the team are knowledgeable and caring. Staff great take care to promote every resident’s wellbeing, respecting their dignity, choice and rights at all times.

The house was built for Alexander Hamilton, a solicitor, in 1858 and in 1884 was sold for £5,500!
The last private owner of The Elms was Rev. Thomas Crawford who passed it on to his daughter Nancy upon his death in 1937. The Elms was passed on to the Church of Scotland in 1955 to be Eventide Home.

The Latin motto on the coat of arms above the door ‘In Arduis Fortitude’ means ‘Courage in difficulties’.
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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Learning Disability / Autism
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Physical Disability
  • Visual / Hearing Impairment
  • Eating Disorders

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 40 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia
  • Advanced/Complex Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke
  • Palliative / End of Life Care
  • Bariatric Care/Obesity
  • Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Facilities

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

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: £1931 – £1931
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: £1931 – £1931

Excluded from the fee is
Hairdressing
Podiatrist
Any outings out of the home
Personal belongings (clothing, toiletries)

These prices are only a guideline, please contact The Elms 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

  • Agnieszka Chojnacka (Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Dementia Care
  • Ages 45+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2024
  • Number of floors: 3

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (40)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (40)

Visiting

  • Open door policy visit at anytime

Parking

  • Parking on site

The Elms Reviews (13)

7.7

The Elms has a Review Score of 7.7 (7.688) out of 10, based on 4 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Elms has 13 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to The Elms
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Total of 13, showing 1-13
Review from A L (Friend of Resident) published on 1 April 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Elms is extremely welocming with a homely atmosphere and staff who are very helpful at all times. The standard of care appears to be excellent. There are many activities taking place and there are often special celebrations e.g. easter. My only concern is that clothing and shoes go missing from
residents' rooms. I completely understand why that happens and I'm not sure if there is anything that can be done to reduce this as, quite rightly, the residents have free access around the home.
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Review from C S (Son of Resident) published on 16 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is a wonderful caring home and the staff and management go out of their way to ensure the residents are well cared for. It is warm, and clean and has a calm and respectful environment. In many instances, it is apparent that the staff are very well trained, dedicated and committed to their residents.
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Review from Jane S (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 January 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The care at The Elms is excellent. Staff are unfailingly patient and cheerful with the residents. They are also very cooperative when visiting, i.e. making the necessary arrangements. I also appreciate the fact that when a GP is needed this is arranged very quickly.
I sometimes feel that communication
with relatives could be improved somewhat, e.g. in terms of consistency and regularity. Ideally, I'd like a weekly report which included information on what activities my mum has been involved in. This is, however, a minor point.
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Review from Nikki B (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 November 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5
Nightmare at the Elms?
Medication Forgotten - Dementia, sleeping pill, paracetamol.
Pads are regularly not changed for over 6 hours.
Fed cold food. Only two meal choices – meat or a vegetarian option.
The kitchen closes at 4 pm and the fridges are locked.
The bed was broken, and took over 10 days
to get fixed.
Room buzzers, don't bother, no one comes.
Left alone in the room in a chair with no brakes on, forgotten.
Staff are lovely but The Elms is often short-staffed. More agency than permanent staff so the Elms staff are frazzled trying to show the agency staff who's who.
No consistency with staff and, therefore, poor communication, resulting in a complete lack of continuity of care.
Not ideal with a family member suffering from a debilitating and degenerative illness.
Where is the dementia ambassador?
The Elms systematically fails to meet a resident's basic needs nor does management show any signs of trying to improve and in turn meet the basic needs of a resident.
Apparently, they do their best.
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Review from Shona D (Daughter of Resident) published on 29 August 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The team at The Elms are wonderful. The care team are genuine and care for my dad so well, taking the time he needs to go about his day. The building and grounds are well kept and maintained and the garden is so lovely for the residents to wander around or enjoy from the rooms overlooking it. The music
room and facilities are excellent and there is always a tea trolley with lots of healthy fruit, biscuits, and cake at hand. Regular updates by email on what is going on and individual contact from key worker. The care team are friendly and also provide updates when visiting. I feel relaxed knowing my dad has all his needs so well taken care of and he is happy at The Elms.
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Review from J M (Husband of Resident) published on 24 August 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Elms has felt like a safe place for my wife for the past three years. The staff are friendly and supportive and I trust them. There are varied activities both within the home and beyond. Staff communication with me has improved over time and I am now happy with the ways I am kept updated on my wife.
One of the features which my wife and I love is the very fine garden. I would recommend the Elms to anyone who asks.
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Review from S D (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 August 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I am very thankful for The Elms because of their respect for residents, the way they speak kindly and lovingly when that can sometimes be challenging. I love the gentle redirection as needed and the non-confrontational way of addressing challenges dementia brings, this is a gift and incredibly important.
Their reception of my mum when she's been out with us makes the whole process of her outing end so well... We are continually thankful to God for the way The Elms runs, well done friends.
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Review from F J (Niece of Resident) published on 6 April 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My uncle was only in The Elms for four days before he sadly died but we could not fault the care he received. All the staff treated him with respect and dignity. They were keen to get to know him and his history, his likes and dislikes. The manager came and introduced herself and explained the plan
for his care. We were impressed with the compassion and interest his key worker showed him. The home was clean and well-staffed. There were lots of activities going on.
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Review from Deborah H (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 March 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I think all staff are amazing, love the friendly atmosphere and the care they give.
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Review from Graham P (Son-in-law of Resident) published on 28 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Always excellent care. Empathetic and caring staff. Never any issues. Coming up to two years now for our relative and it has been consistently good throughout covid and afterwards. Even though these were difficult times.
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Review from Gavin F (Son of Resident) published on 28 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very caring staff, lovely setting in a large former victorian house, with big comfortable public rooms and beautifully kept formal gardens.
Food is fresh and cooked on-site by the chef. Management organises nice outings and entertainers/visitors coming to the Elms. (Building up again since Covid)
Mum is comfortable there and after looking at many homes very happy we chose it.
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Review from Linda G (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I feel really lucky to have my mum living at The Elms. The staff are friendly and interact with residents. I feel like my mum is loved and cared for. She regularly takes part in activities and outings. Our family are also welcome when we visit.
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Review from Alison S (Wife of Resident) published on 28 February 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My husband is extremely well cared for in The Elms. He’s settled, comfortable and not unhappy. All staff treat him with respect and kindness and there is always some humour!
I get regular updates about him and have always had easy access to management staff with any queries.
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Current Review Score: 7.7 (7.688)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 7.7 (7.688) out of 10 for The Elms is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.1 out of 5 from 4 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.6 out of 5 from 3 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.063 for The Elms is calculated as follows: ( (35 Excellents x 5) + (1 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) + (10 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 48 Ratings = 4.063
  2. 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 3.625 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Elms is based on 3 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 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 = 3.25
    2. 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 40 registered maximum number of service users is 8. 3 Positive Reviews ÷ 8 = 0.375
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. 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 Jul 2025
How well do we support people's wellbeing?
Very good (5)
How good is our leadership?
Very good (5)
How good is our staff team?
Good (4)
How good is our setting?
Good (4)
How well is care and support planned?
Good (4)
Care Inspectorate is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in Scotland. View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

1 Bed Vacancy

Posted: 28 Aug 2025

Self funding

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (4)

Agnieszka

Agnieszka Chojnacka

Job Title: Service Manager Joined: 2006

I have worked at The Elms since 2006 working my way up to Manager of The Elms.

Ashley

Ashley Reid

Job Title: Deputy Manager Joined: 2011

I have worked at The Elms since 2011. I love that every day at my work is different

Chelsea

Chelsea Johnston

Job Title: Deputy manager Joined: 2016

I started at The Elms when I was 17 as my first care job and have enjoyed it ever since.


I love spending time with the residents and supporting them with activities of daily living.

Angela

Angela Carlin

Job Title: Admin Joined: 1994

I have worked at The Elms as an admin for a number of years. I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Elms

What types of Care is The Elms registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment & Eating Disorders are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does The Elms have?

There are 40 Single Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at The Elms?

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

How far is The Elms to the centre of Edinburgh?

1.1 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 Elms to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Elms has an Enhanced Service - more info.