






The Willows Care Centre is located in Great Linford which is a village with the Grand Union Canal running through its centre just a few miles from central Milton Keynes.
Set in spacious, peaceful grounds the home has en-suite rooms and extensive communal areas and provides the highest standards of care and accommodation for people with residential, dementia, nursing or palliative care needs.
The Willows makes the most of the diverse...
Care Provided by Excelcare The Willows Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 130 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
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Excelcare The Willows Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Excelcare The Willows 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
- Excelcare
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Sahr Mosery(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 60+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: -1
- Last Refurbishment: -1
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (129)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (129)
Visiting
- Visitors welcome at any time.
Parking
- On site parking for visitors.
Excelcare The Willows Care Home Reviews (158)
Excelcare The Willows Care Home has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.853) out of 10, based on 52 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Excelcare The Willows Care Home has 158 reviews.
My family member has been a resident for four months now and is being very well cared for. They are happy and regaining their confidence. They have a great social life, there is always something going on. The Willows Care Home has a lovely vibe, so friendly. The rooms are extremely comfortable, well decorated and always so clean. The staff are excellent and so caring, I have not seen my family member so happy and relaxed for a long time.
Thank you so much for your kind words; it is always lovely to receive positive feedback and I shall relay this to our team members. Thank you for your time in completing this review.
There was so much support for my dad and me from the staff. I knew that Dad was getting the care and medical attention that he needed which meant that I could be confident that he was safe.
As his essential caregiver, I was able to visit him anytime which helped my dad enormously.
From the reception staff to the nursing staff and the carers, the friendliness and attention to detail were excellent.
While Dad was living at home, we struggled to keep him well enough to stay out of hospital. From the moment that he was in the care of The Willows Care Home, he was only admitted to hospital twice in eighteen months, instead of every couple of weeks, while he was in his own home. It was such a relief to know that he had everything he needed to keep him as well as possible.
Dad passed away in hospital in December 2022.
Thank you for all you did for Dad.
Our sincerest condolences to you and your family. Thank you for your kind words for The Willows, it is heartwarming to read for us all in the Excelcare family. Kind regards, Celia.
The most fantastic care home, friendliest staff around, a warm welcome as soon as you enter and nothing but smiles from there on out. Keep up the good work Willows! I hope when my time comes, I'll be cared for by people this lovely!
That's so very kind thank you, it's so rewarding for the team to receive such a lovely and positive review.
On entering The Willows, I felt an instant calm and kindness in the home with very polite, friendly and professional staff. All questions were answered and nothing seemed too much effort. The decor was well kept and the cleanliness was noticeable. A friend that I was visiting, was notably comfortable considering the poor health she now finds herself in.
Many thanks for your kind words; It is always lovely to receive positive feedback. Thank you for your time in completing this review. Kindest regards, Larysa Koss.
Only a short visit for my dad but the staff and facility were amazing.
Thank you for your kind review of the Willows Care Home. Glad to hear you were more than happy with your dad's stay. Kind regards.
My dear Mother was discharged from hospital to a step-down bed in the 12 bedded unit at Lavender Lodge which is opposite the main building of The Willows. The accommodation I cannot fault. It appears to have been geared for our specific needs as the rooms are in the form of a bedsit with a small kitchenette area allowing me to spend the lengthy time that I wanted to spend with Mum as she was palliative and deteriorating quickly. The carers are friendly although the motivation to provide all the care required did differ amongst the staff, as some staff would refuse to hoist Mum out into an armchair on some pretext which didn't seem at all logical to me. The expertise of end-of-life care was not robust so I felt unsupported. For example, I was the one who discovered that mum had oral thrush when I took the initiative to contact the Marie Curie nurse support line, which was hugely helpful. I alerted the staff to the pressure care of her heels. I am glad I was able to spend the time I could there.
We would like to thank you for taking the time to bring your experience to our attention. Please be assured that we take all feedback extremely seriously, and believe learning from feedback enables us to continually develop our team and care home. We do always welcome and encourage the opportunity...
I feel that my wife has improved a great deal since being in this very comfortable home. The staff are very good to her.
Good afternoon, thank you for your kind words to the home and we are very pleased to hear that your wife has improved since being at The Willows. Kind regards.
Very, very welcoming and put my partner at ease. A few problems were resolved very quickly, kindly and efficiently. Although his stay was a very short respite stay, all staff were so very kind and caring and made his stay a happy experience. We would certainly have no hesitation in coming again or recommending this home.
Thank you so much for your comments. The team members and people who live in the home always like to hear what has been written about the home. We will certainly look at how we currently do this to try to achieve a better service for all. Thank you for taking the time to review us. Kindest Regards, Larysa
Mum was transferred from hospital. The care staff at The Willows Care Home made her feel very welcome and happy as soon as she arrived. Very professional.
Kindest regards, Larysa.
My mum spent quite a few weeks at Lavender Lodge upon being discharged from the hospital. All the staff were extremely attentive and patient with her. The kindness I witnessed from some staff was exceptional and it felt like they were caring for their own relative which was extremely reassuring. Some issues around laundry and clothing going missing but this was resolved. There was always lots of food and drink to encourage mum to eat and drink and she did start to put on the weight she had lost in the hospital. I can’t thank the staff enough for how they treated mum.
Many thanks for your review, we really do appreciate your feedback. We will certainly look at how we currently do this to try to achieve a better service for all. Regards Larysa.
My Auntie is well looked after, she loves the meals she has. All staff are kind and attentive. Facilities are always clean.
Thank for taking the time to review the home and we were pleased to hear you were happy with your Auntie in our care. Kind regards.
The staff are very friendly and helpful. My mother-in-law enjoys living here and is always telling me the carers and manager are lovely and always help her if she has any problems or issues that need dealing with.
We are very grateful here at the Willows for the lovely comments. Thank you for taking the time to review our service, and we do hope we continue to support you and your family. Kindest Regards, Larysa
My husband has settled very well at the Willows. The staff look after him very well and he is always clean, well fed and hydrated. The management has changed during the time my husband has been a resident but the home seems to be running very well and is currently being refurbished in the dementia unit.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review. Kindest regards, Larysa.
The residents are treated with care and respect. The home has opened up now to more activities and these are excellent. I would recommend this home to anyone.
We are so thankful to you for taking the time to review our home. Your feedback is appreciated. The people who live here and our team members also feel it is important to have a family environment to live and work in and it's wonderful that you think this also. Kindest regards, Larysa.
All staff are really helpful and friendly. For the first time since Mum has gone into care, we can rest knowing she is well taken care of.
We are so thankful to you for taking the time to review our home. Your feedback is appreciated. The people who live here and our team members also feel it is important to have a family environment to live and work in and it's wonderful that you think this also. Kindest Regards.
Mum came to The Willows 2 months ago, she's settled in so well. The staff are really friendly and always available to help Mum. Nothing is too much trouble. She is really happy and well cared for.
Kind Regards.
On Sunday 26 June 2022 while on the phone with Mum, I was privileged to hear the interaction between her and one of The Willow’s amazing carers. The carer demonstrated a kind, patient but firm approach in dealing with a situation that included a variety of ongoing physical, emotional and mental health challenges. Mum has a complex condition which is hard to define and I am truly grateful for the exceptional care, respect and attention she receives. As a family, we couldn’t ask for more from the well-trained, hardworking, friendly and professional team at the Willows. Thank you!
Thank you for such wonderful comments. It's always a pleasure to read positive feedback and is a pleasure to relay back to the team members. Thank you once again. Regards, Larysa
All team members I have encountered, have been very helpful, the reception team have been excellent in helping me with my visits and testing when I've not been able to. I am very grateful to the team who are looking after my dad while he is recuperating. My only niggle is I would appreciate water in Dad's room at all times and it topped up, when required.
Thank you so much for your comments, the team members and people who live in the home always like to hear what has been written about the home. We will certainly look at how we currently do this to try to achieve a better service for all. Thank you for taking the time to review us. Kindest Regards,
Mum is well looked after and loves it here.
Very happy.
We are delighted to have received such a wonderful review. The team members do work really hard to support both the people who live here and their families. Thank you for taking the time to submit your comments. Kindest Regards
My Aunt has been there for a little while and was treated really well. She received the utmost respect and was treated with dignity. Last night she had a stroke and I cannot thank the staff enough for the prompt actions they took. The manager was at home but immediately went in to ensure everything was OK. My Aunt is in hospital but when she is well enough. Fingers crossed she will want to return.
Thank you for your review of the Willows. We are very pleased to hear that you are happy with the care of your Aunt and wish her better. Kind regards, Celia.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 30 December 2024Good
- CaringRequires improvement
- 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 (11) & Events (5)
- 08 Jul 2026
It makes me deeply sad when people default to the stereotype that care homes are lonely, bleak or institutional places. Too often, care homes are spoken about as a last...
- 13 May 2026
Students studying beauty therapy at Milton Keynes College recently visited The Willows Care Home to host a relaxing pamper morning for the people living there. Students Annabelle, Andrea and Aysha,...
- 06 Jan 2026
Members of the Excelcare family welcomed the New Year by sharing their favourite memories from 2025 and their hopes for the year ahead. Taking time to reflect on the past...
- 25 Aug 2026Organiser: Excelcare The Willows Care Home
- 22 Sep 2026Organiser: Excelcare The Willows Care Home
- 20 Oct 2026Organiser: Excelcare The Willows Care Home
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Excelcare The Willows Care Home.
Meet the Team (4)

Sahr join The Willows Care Home in October 2022 as a Home Manager. He has worked in the care sector for over 18 years and held various roles from carer to Home Manager; he brings with him a wealth of knowledge of caring for older people.
Sahr is passionate about delivering a high standard of person-centred care and transformational leadership. Sahr has completed Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management, Level 4 NVQ in Leadership and Management for Care Services and Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care.
Sahr’s primary responsibilities include managing day to day smooth running of the home. Supervising and motivating team members to deliver high-quality services and ensuring the needs and aspirations of people who use the services are being met.

Justyna joined Excelcare in October 2022 in the role of Residential Manager.
She is responsible for leading and managing the residential unit and Lavender lodge on all aspects of day-to-day business deliverables, including performance monitoring in relation to quality and best outcome for people who live in the home.
She has recently become our Operations Support Manager.

Gale has been with Excelcare for 16 years, appointed as Regional Administration Manager.
Gale was promoted to Business Manager in 2022. She is responsible for developing and engaging with team members to include Admin, Care, Domestic, Laundry and Catering services to the Home.

She works closely with the management team, receptionist to ensure the smooth running of administration within the home and help to ensure high standards are maintained throughout the home.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Excelcare The Willows Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Excelcare The Willows Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.