Wardington House

Maggie and the brilliant team at Wardington House came to the rescue after my father had a fall, and was increasingly unable to look after himself. At home, he was anxious, agitated and thin - and I was exhausted trying (and failing) to stay ahead of his dementia. Since arriving at Wardington last November, Dad looks happier and calmer, the colour has returned to his cheeks and he has put on a bit of weight. Having visited a dozen care homes, I can tell you that Wardington House is a rare gem of place. The warmth, attentiveness and dignity of care never fail to impress. Staffing levels are high and the nursing care is exceptional. Residents always look neat, clean and well-dressed. There's a no locked doors policy, so they are free to roam around the grounds and gardens, which are immaculately maintained. It's a joy to visit Dad here - and I always leave with peace of mind, knowing he is being treated with such kindness and respect. Kudos to Wardington for all that it has created.

My father moved into Wardington in Spring this year. We selected the home as it was clear that there was a genuine care for the residents and, being specialists in dementia care, my father's needs would be well understood.

I cannot say enough good things about the home. We've had absolutely no concerns or issues since Dad moved in. There are always good staffing levels with nurses on hand and everyone is very friendly. The atmosphere is very calm and relaxed with light and airy rooms that have a lovely homely feel. The communication from the home to ourselves has been very good.

My father's physical health has improved significantly since making the move as he is now being monitored by healthcare professionals. He is very comfortable - and very much enjoying the lovely homecooked food!

Wardington is a calm place to visit. As relations we are made to feel very welcome with a tray of tea and biscuits brought round. Communication is good. My sister and I totally trust the staff with my mother's care.

My mother moved here 2 years ago from another care home where she was considered to need strong drugs to control her behaviour. However, what she really needed was effective communication tailored to dementia and freedom to be herself, and this is exactly what she has found at Wardington House. She settled immediately, in part due to the excellent communication skills of the staff and the respect they have shown her as an individual. I am always so impressed with how knowledgeable staff are about her. They always keep me informed of any changes and the detail of updates is so impressive. It can feel as though Mum is the only person they care for. As a musician, she has been well catered for, with many musical activities, and she has a piano in her room. The garden and grounds are impeccable and residents have no restrictions on their movements. This has meant my mother is now very content and I feel reassured and confident that the care she is receiving couldn't be better.

My husband has been a resident for over five years, and during that time, his needs have changed. The care he continues to receive has been outstanding. The staff demonstrate exceptional caring and are skilled, knowledgeable and wise about dementia care in all of its aspects. The staff management enables flexible working patterns so there are high staff retention rates resulting in a long-serving dedicated team. In my experience, this is unique. The combination of the team, ethos, surroundings and atmosphere creates a very special place. My advice to anyone looking at choices of care homes is not to be over-influenced by on-trend decor, menu choices or every room has ensuites- but do compare ratios of SRN nursing staff, which are high at Wardington House. We were guided through the transition process to moving into residential care - and my family has never looked back or had doubts that this was the very best decision that could be made.

I believe that my relative receives first-class care at Wardington House - care which meets his particular needs. Staff treat him with dignity and respect. The Home feels warm and safe. It is clean with no nasty smells. The gardens are stunning; the fact that they back onto a field (with sheep and lambs grazing in the Spring) is a bonus for residents who are used to rural living.

I was given a lengthy tour and given opportunity to ask many questions at a preliminary visit. During the subsequent 18 months, my father has received excellent care which mirrors the initial information provided, and the advice given has been helpful. The senior managers are visible on the ground and there appears to be very little turnover of nursing staff. When visiting there always seems to be sufficient support for residents and I know that as my father's needs have increased so has the level of care. Communication is excellent, telephones are answered promptly, and I receive updates on my father regularly. All the staff are pleasant, gentle and helpful and this applies to the gardeners and maintenance staff. My father has his own room with en suite facilities and he can leave his room whenever he wishes. The buildings are attractive, well-maintained, nicely decorated and clean. Rooms have rural outlooks. The gardens are attractive, and resident friendly.

My 98-year-old Mum has been living at Wardington House for 10 years. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 12 years ago. It's difficult to put into words how good the managers and more importantly the team are. They are simply the most dedicated, caring, patient, empathetic and humanistic people I have met. This is what care is all about, not the building, facilities etc which are all fantastic, it's the team at Wardington. I doubt you could find a better place for your loved one.

My uncle has been a resident at Wardington House for the last couple of years and from the moment we arrived with him after transferring from a different home, he has been so much happier, settled and less anxious. It is truly a home, rather than a 'care home' and it seems that all the staff are engaged and compassionate. Every time I phone him I speak to the same members of staff, who always know how my uncle is. I get calls if they are concerned about him, and although I don't think he engages much with the activities, there is a great variety of things going on, as well as super grounds. It is quite a long way from where I live, but every visit has been reassuring and relaxed. The other residents also seem content and although this is specifically a home for people with dementia, it does seem to have a calm atmosphere. I think not having obviously locked doors is a huge benefit. I would definitely put myself on the waiting list here if I needed similar care in the future.

This home is second to none. For five years (so far) they have guided my Mother and me through all her stages of Alzheimer's, having taken her in as a depressed and difficult resident from a previous home. Her transformation was instant. The atmosphere at Wardington is calm and cheerful. The staff stay for a long time and the continuity of care really demonstrates how good a specialist home like this can be. It sets a very high standard. Despite now living quite far from the home, I have absolute confidence in what they do. Also, their payment set up is clear and fair. They will always show a mature and compassionate attitude towards their residents. Observant staff are visible at all times in each room. Residents can be safely 'free range' in the grounds. They have taken an interest in my mother's background/family and have nurtured her both mentally and physically from day one. It is a very special place.

The fact that all residents at Wardington House have dementia makes for a very special environment: residents are free to come and go around the large house and grounds. It is a very peaceful, kind, open and happy environment. The staff are local people, friendly, diligent and very professional. The nursing care is absolutely exemplary (not least in dealing with a broken hip - not to mention the hard grind of COVID-19). My family could not be happier with the home, which will be my mother's last. Her GP told me, memorably: 'In all my years as a GP, I have never set foot in a better-run nursing home'. I don't have those comparators, but I reckon that's right.

When Mum had to move out of her own home she immediately settled into her lovely room with extensive countryside views and loved the freedom to explore the grounds. All the staff know her and continue to look after her growing needs in a highly professional, but caring manner.

My wife has been a resident at Wardington House for more than two years. During that time I have visited her three or four times every week staying for several hours each time. I have always been able to leave secure in the knowledge that she is in the very best place possible. The staff are always kind and considerate towards all of the residents. I have been able to observe this first-hand on many occasions. I really appreciate the relaxed atmosphere that the staff create throughout the home. Each month there is a programme of events designed to entertain the residents. It is special, I believe, that they can wander throughout the communal areas of the premises and the extensive gardens if they wish. I will always be grateful that I found such a special place to care for my wife.

Our mum has been in Wardington House for nearly a year and we her family are extremely grateful to all the wonderful staff who have looked after her so well and with such kindness and tolerance. She is accepted as she is and benefits from the freedom of unlocked doors and being able to walk outside in the beautiful garden with its gorgeous planting, distant views, lambs and award-winning chickens. Visiting family benefit from the spacious and uplifting surroundings too. The rooms and reception areas are also characterful and well-appointed. For us it has been important that sedatives are not used and residents are included in the life of their house, their home with a programme of activities if they want to take part. The food seems delicious and varied and residents can look into the kitchen and talk to the chefs in action! The phone is always answered and the approach to visting is very open and hospitable. First and last a shout out and deep respect for the wonderful staff who care for Mum.

My mother has been a resident at Wardington House for two and a half years now, where she is very comfortable and settled and obviously well cared for. The staff are fantastic, so friendly, patient and caring. The house and gardens are lovely, the food is all homemade and delicious and the atmosphere is always cheery and bright. The residents can join in with lots of activities if they wish and have free reign of the lovely grounds. I would not hesitate to recommend it.

We are made very welcome on our regular visits and we get continuous updates on Mum's care and how she's doing in general. Really couldn't fault anything at all. An amazing place.

This truly is a care home like no other. I moved my father there from another home and cannot be happier. The teams' knowledge on dementia is outstanding yet their caring approach sets them even more apart. And set in such a beautiful garden, not only do residents have full opportunity to be outside, it is a more pleasant and comfortable environment for visitors. I leave after each visit feeling that my father is in the best possible place.

Wardington House is a truly excellent nursing home, specialising in dementia care, where all sorts of clever techniques are used to allow residents to wander freely around the lovely grounds (in daylight hours). The staff are extremely caring and very professional and the staffing levels are kept unusually high, ensuring there is always someone close at hand with a friendly smile. My mother's behaviour is rather challenging at times, but the staff have been absolutely fantastic at managing her difficulties, with both compassion and expertise. It is so reassuring to be able to leave her in their competent care.

My mother stayed at Wardington House for respite care following a fall. I cannot thank the staff enough for the quality of care they gave her. They all understood her needs and went out of their way to meet these. And they were always friendly and welcoming to me. Wardington House is a very special place.

Outstanding - the things I think are amazing are knowing what everyone likes and cares about. They know I like collage and they give me all the old newspaper. The people who work here give the feeling they love working here and don't mind us annoying old people. This makes everyone more cheerful and relaxed. They have an incredibly clever way of keeping an eye on everyone so they don't get lost in the garden or stuck in the bath.