






Balgowan House is a well-established nursing home located close to the centre of Saltwood village near Hythe in Kent. The building has been extended and refurbished (completed 2016) to provide warm, welcoming and comfortable accommodation for up to forty residents.
Balgowan House is able to offer single or shared occupancy with the option of en-suite facilities in accommodation provided over two floors with two lifts giving access to all areas.
Residents are...
Care Provided by Balgowan House
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 40 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
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
All fees are dependent on care needs assessment.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Balgowan House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Balgowan House 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
- Integrum Care Group
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Ann-Marie Miles (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 50+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2025
- Number of floors: 1
Room Information
- Single Rooms (34)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (3)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (14)
- Couples/Companion Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (1)
Visiting
- Balgowan House welcomes visitors at any time.
Parking
- Parking is available in the car park as well as unrestricted parking in Bartholomew Lane.
Balgowan House Reviews (84)
Balgowan House has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.681) out of 10, based on 22 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Balgowan House has 84 reviews.
I have been here for about three weeks and found the whole experience to be first-class. I am very happy and comfortable.
When I arrive the staff are always helpful and pleasant. My wife appears comfortable and not anxious. The staff are always very pleasant and my wife is always clean. Thank you.
Lovely staff, very helpful in every way.
Good home.
Thank you for your kind words. We are so pleased that you are happy at Balgowan.
Normally the food is excellent. The vegetables are soft to eat and things are chopped small but when the cover cook is on, we notice the difference. I've noticed that lots of food goes in the bin then whereas usually, everything gets eaten. The staff are really helpful and kind, especially the activities coordinator.
Thank you for your review. We always strive to provide an excellent, varied diet for all our residents. Your views are very important to us.
I am here because I had a fall, my son decided I needed 24/7 care which he could not give me.
A special note on the food, excellent. I am 97 years old but still very alert.
Thank you, Cecil, for your comments and we are so happy that you are finding life at Balgowan enjoyable.
It seems to be an excellent home. The lounge is very bright and clean and my dad's bedroom is clean and pleasant. The staff members I have met have been friendly and nice to my dad, which is important. I wish there were more members of staff though. I am hoping that my dad will be able to come down to the lounge soon and that we will be able to take him our in the warmer weather. He just needs to be able to walk again.
Thank you so much for your review, we really do appreciate it.
A very happy home. Very caring and clean. I wouldn't want my hubby to be anywhere else.
My mother first came to Balgowan House in January, initially for respite but after going into hospital she returned as a permanent resident. The staff here are all brilliant, very kind and caring, making sure all my mother's needs are met with professionalism and prompt administration. Communication between the home and the families is great, nothing is too much trouble. I would highly recommend this home to anyone looking to place a loved one.
Thank you so much for such a lovely review of the wonderful care at Balgowan.
On all visits to the nursing home, we have found it clean and tidy in both communal areas and resident's room. All staff are very caring and attentive to their residents and make us feel welcome. Staff always keep us informed of relative's health and well-being. Nice to see there are plenty of activities planned to keep residents healthy, both mentally and physically.
Thank you for your fantastic review. It is always so rewarding to hear such positive feedback.
Balgowen House is very well run, the staff are always happy, popping their heads into Mum's room checking in on her and asking if we are ok. Her room is very clean and tidy as are the lounge and dining area and there is always somebody around if we need them.
Finally, we are always kept informed on everything concerning Mum which is much appreciated.
Thank you to the manager and all her team for everything you do.
Thank you very much for your lovely review of the home and the team.
My father was not in a good place of mind or health when admitted to Balgowan House from the hospital. Although his health will not improve and is gradually deteriorating, the nursing care staff are lovely and very good with him, and he is so much happier in himself for being there and being well looked after.
Thank you for your kind words. It means a lot to the whole team when their input has made a difference.
All the staff are wonderful; they have made the transition so much easier for us as a family.
Thank you for your kind review. We are so glad you are happy with everything at Balgowan.
I am extremely pleased with the standard and quality of care my mum receives at Balgowan House. It is a very well-managed home that has a professional yet homely atmosphere. Communication with families is good. Mum’s care plan is reviewed regularly and evolves according to her changing needs. The nutrition is carefully planned and food is excellent. There is a varied programme of enjoyable events for residents which promote: social interaction, health and well-being, reminiscing and recall, mental engagement, gentle physical activity, fine motor skills, creativity and singing and perhaps most importantly, laughter. Above all, the compassion and kindness of the hard-working team is superlative. Nursing staff are knowledgeable and always available. Carers and support staff work tirelessly and cheerfully to meet the residents' needs. Each resident is known well by all staff in this relatively small home. This promotes a family atmosphere in which residents and their loved ones are valued.
Thank you so much for a very kind review. It is very rewarding for our team to hear such positive feedback.
Wonderful care home with lovely, dedicated caring staff, including the catering staff who provide an excellent variety of nourishing meals. My mum has been a resident for nearly two years, completely bedbound and it’s a tribute to the level of care she receives that she is still with me. Thank you to all the team at Balgowan, who work with a combined effort to achieve a shared goal.
My mother is always treated with dignity and kindness and as her family, we feel we can always make enquiries about her without feeling we are being intrusive. My sister and I are so very grateful for the care our mother is receiving and that she is happily settled at Balgowan.
The care my dad had for the last year was amazing. All the staff are exceptionally caring. I would recommend Balgowan House to anyone looking for an excellent care home for themselves or a loved one. Thank you so much.
Thank you for such a lovely review. I will pass this on to the Balgowan Team.
My grandmother has been at the care home for over 2 months and she has settled in very well. She really enjoys the choice of a wide variety of home-cooked food. They regularly have singers and entertainment. Balgowan feels warm, with a homely atmosphere. The staff of all roles are friendly, caring and treat people with dignity. We feel glad to know that she is safe and well cared for.
My mother has always been reluctant to enter the care home setting and had very real concerns particularly as the first home she entered was very poor. However, my mother is now happy, able to communicate have regular visitors and enjoy life. She clearly feels safe and welcome and enjoys the care and personally friendly approach of the staff.
Personal care is dignified and respectful. The food I understand is lovely with a really good degree of flexibility depending on needs and personal preferences.
My mother's health and happiness have been more stable since joining Balgowan and I and my family are very grateful for their care and time.
Balgowan House provides a very welcoming atmosphere for residents and visiting families. The staff are friendly and kind and always go out of their way to provide whatever my grandmother needs. The home is exceptionally clean, and the resident's bathrooms and bedrooms are always immaculate. The food is fantastic, freshly cooked and catered to each person's needs. The staff are happy to help make each resident's room feel homely by putting up photos and pictures. I can't fault the care home at all, my grandmother is so lucky to be here and although moving into her first care home at 101 is emotionally a difficult step for her, the staff have been so kind and thoughtful to her and she is enjoying having a new lease of life with friendly residents and staff to chat to.
But mainly Balgowan thrives because of a culture of kindness expressed by all the staff, senior and junior. So pleased that my mum got in!
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 16 January 2020Good
- CaringGood
- 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 (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Balgowan House.
There are no upcoming events for Balgowan House.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Balgowan House.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Balgowan House.
Meet the Team (5)

I qualified as a State Enrolled Nurse in 1983 and later as a Registered General Nurse in 2002, gaining both clinical and management experience within the NHS in both hospital and district nursing environments.
I was appointed to the position of Registered Home Manager of Balgowan House in May 2018 having previously been Registered Manager at another Kent care home.
My time at Balgowan has been incredible and have an amazing team and wonderful residents.

Lynne started her career in care here at Balgowan House in 2013 as a carer.
In 2017, Lynne left to work at William Harvey Hospital as an HCA on the Acute Medical Unit. After 2 years in the Trust, Lynne went on to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and qualified in 2021. Lynne continued to work on the Acute Medical Unit at William Harvey Hospital until 2024.
Lynne enjoyed her years spent at Balgowan House before going on to pursue her nursing career, so when the opportunity arose to return to Balgowan as a registered nurse, Lynne was excited to rejoin the team and continue her career.
In April 2026, Lynne became the Deputy Manager here at Balgowan and enjoys working closely with her colleagues to help lead and support the home, ensuring residents and their families receive the highest standards of care and support.

Cassie Williamson started a BTEC National Diploma in Health Studies in 1997, she worked in various roles before joining Balgowan House in March 2000 as a Health Care Assistant (NVQ 3). Cassie very much enjoyed the role and remained in the post for 15 years. In 2015 the Home Manager introduced a new administration role and she was quickly identified as the perfect candidate.
Cassie is a major support to the Home Manager and everything she does is integral to the day-to-day running of the home. The role is extremely busy, but Cassie enjoys the challenges and variety each day brings. Cassie may now be doing the admin work, but she still spends time interacting with the residents and getting involved in the home’s activities and events. She is a very valued member of the Balgowan team.

Mo is the activities Coordinator for Balgowan House.
She ensures that every resident has interaction and activities each day.
All residents are considered when activities are planned - from arts and crafts to music to events.
Outside entertainers are a regular feature here at Balgowan and family and friends are always welcome.

Cathy has worked for Integrum since 2012, first at Saltwood full time, then here at Balgowan full time. She also is bank Chef between all 3 homes as and when required.
Bev has worked for Balgowan since 2016, first as a carer sometimes helping with the cooking, now just cooking part time!
They pride themselves on cooking, fresh home cooked food for the residents.
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