
The genuine quality of friendliness and happiness in Upper Mead is palpable.Sharon B(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Since my mother has moved into Upper Mead, she has been happy and well cared forD N(Son of Resident/Service User)

I cannot speak highly enough of this nursing home.Sue C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The genuine quality of friendliness and happiness in Upper Mead is palpable.Sharon B(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Since my mother has moved into Upper Mead, she has been happy and well cared forD N(Son of Resident/Service User)

I cannot speak highly enough of this nursing home.Sue C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Warm, welcoming and family-orientated, Upper Mead is a purpose-built care home at the heart of the historic village of Henfield, West Sussex.
Upper Mead offers residential, nursing and dementia care for older adults with choice, dignity and respect at the heart of everything.
From the moment you walk through the door of this home, you're welcomed with a smile. The home includes cosy and comfy lounges, dining and wellness spaces...
Care Provided by Upper Mead
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 48 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
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other 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 a person's individual needs, which will be discussed in detail before a person comes to live at Upper Mead. For people whose care is not self-funded, these fees are variable depending on the funding authority and a person's needs assessment.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Upper Mead for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Upper Mead 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
- Splendid Care Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Lynn Lovett (Registered Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (46)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (1)
Visiting
- Here at Upper Mead, they don't have strict visiting hours. However, they do try to enhance the dining experience for everyone and recommend that, unless joining a loved one to dine, guests visit outside of meal times.
Parking
- Upper Mead has a small car park and on street parking is also available opposite the entrance to Upper Mead.
Upper Mead Reviews (40)
Upper Mead has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.643) out of 10, based on 10 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Upper Mead has 40 reviews.
We were so lucky that Upper Mead had a vacancy just when we needed it most! The staff are so friendly and kind and the care my mum receives is the best! We visit regularly and there is always a different activity going on for the residents! The home always has a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Would highly recommend.
Thank you very much for your wonderful comments that will be shared with the rest of the team
The care given to my dad was excellent. The staff are just lovely, and that shows in the way they are with the residents, who are all happy and looked after. The whole team show a great level of empathy and understanding; nothing is too much trouble. Highly recommended.
Thank you for your lovely review and kind words about our staff team. We will pass on your kind review.
My husband entered Upper Mead in November 2020 when his care needs exceeded what I was able to give him at home. It was difficult for me to “let go” after 20 years of caring but seeing that my husband settled in straight away, was happy and well cared for, made it so much easier for me. The staff are friendly, welcoming, professional and caring and my husband is always treated with respect and dignity. During a period of illness last summer he received every nursing care and medical attention and I was always kept informed. Upper Mead has a real feeling of being home, rather than “a home” and my husband enjoys the activities that are on offer, particularly the regular singing sessions. I have been impressed by the professionalism of the staff who have balanced the need to keep the residents safe during the pandemic with the need for them to live their lives to the full. I am now able to enjoy spending time with my husband, knowing that his needs are being met.
Thank you for your wonderful comments which have been shared with the team.
My sister transferred to Upper Mead Care Home from another care home a month ago and I must say that the transformation this has made in her life has been fantastic. She has been really welcomed and has become her old self again. She holds herself differently, is more happy, focussed and engaged and has rediscovered a sense of purpose in befriending another woman with acute difficulties. The team at Upper Mead have been really kind and pragmatic and have made personal connections with her across the whole range of roles. I feel that I could not have made a better move for her, which is a tremendous relief for me. The buildings and layout are really good, the food is excellent and the activities team are bright and engaging. Her personal care has improved a lot and she looks so much better. They get her quirky sense of humour. She says that “it is all really rather wonderful“ which is very high praise coming from her. Visiting is easy and nice in all weathers.
Thank you for the wonderful comments on your review which have been shared with our team.
Mum has been in Upper Mead for over 2-years and has been very well cared for. When we went into lockdown in March, I was very concerned how Mum would cope without any visitors as she loves to see people, but the staff have been fantastic and looked after her as part of a family rather than just a resident, and because of this, she has remained content and stimulated which is so important for someone with dementia. When I see Mum, she is always clean and tidy and smiling (apart from the odd grumpy day), and I feel confident she is being well looked after, which gives me great peace of mind. The staff have to work incredibly hard but are always cheerful and approachable. If I have any issues, I know they will be listened to and feel able to talk to the management freely. After visits, Mum is happy to return to the main seating area, which she recognises as home, and this is a real measure of how well she has been looked after.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, your kind words really mean so much. We are so pleased you are happy with the care mum has been receiving and the whole team cannot wait to be able to get visiting back to 'normal' so families can spend quality time together again. Many thanks again.
Mum went to Upper Mead on 18 November 2019 after 13 weeks in the hospital finally diagnosed with delirium/dementia and too weak to walk. Mum is a naturally unsocial person and has lived on her own for 20 years, but in a week or so she had been on an outing and had made a friend. She was also walking with the aid of a zimmer. Although mum has deteriorated over the last year and spends more time in her room because of her heart condition that makes her tired, she is extremely well cared for by the excellent care staff, and on my last visit recently proudly showed me her painted nails done by Upper Mead staff. Mum also has her hair cut and blow-dried which makes her looks lovely. Last Christmas Day we were invited to join mum and her friend for Christmas lunch for a very small cost. We had a lovely time. It is a shame COVID has got in the way this year but we know mum is in very capable hands. Thank you, Upper Mead.
Accepted my now 93-year-old father into Upper Mead just before lockdown in march. He wasn't really looking after himself properly and felt it was the best place for him for the time being. The staff has turned dad around finding him much healthier and mobile now, he’s loving the entertainment and stimulation. He loves the care and the way everyone looks after the people in the care home. I've always found the staff extremely caring, never anything too much trouble in these very difficult times. In August dad decided to stay as he loved it so much, that says it all. Please note I can't answer all the question from personal findings below as I haven't been inside properly because of restrictions, of which I totally agree with. Dad gives me a good update so I have a fair idea.
I can not praise the staff at Upper Mead enough! Staff are friendly, helpful and willing to go that extra mile not only for our cousin but for us, as we live quite a distance away. Our cousin is happy and feels she is looked after very well. Staff have been brilliant with regards to providing a safe and caring facility under the difficult times of Covid. A huge thank you to all the staff at Upper Mead!
Thank you so much for your kind words, we are very grateful. It is lovely to be able to keep families in touch, even when they live so far away, and we are always more than happy to assist where we can to improve communication.
Looking forward to my next completely COVID safe visit.
Thank you so much for your kind words, it is a pleasure to keep you both and mum in contact in this weird and wonderful world we live in at the moment! We are so pleased she is happy and settled.
Upper Mead is looking after my mum, and looked after my father, who sadly died earlier this year. Although clearly under pressure, Upper Mead has coped well with Coronavirus, working out its own methods to enable visits and video calls. The staff show great empathy and ability when dealing with my mum, who is hard of hearing and suffers from Alzheimer's. They are caring and good-humoured. The home appears to be managed well, although like most care homes it struggles with understaffing. Every time I have visited I have been treated respectfully and there is clearly a good atmosphere. I would recommend Upper Mead.
Thank you for your kind words. COVID has proved a struggle but we have been overwhelmed by the support of families.
Having spent many hours (up until lockdown) visiting my mother, a resident at Upper Mead for just over two years, I wish to say how thankful I am to the brilliant team. The care and compassion shown to mum in this warm, friendly and welcoming home is simply exceptional. The last couple of months have been extremely difficult for all, I can't thank the team enough for their care, reassurance and dedication to the residents. I have been able to talk to Mum through the window on loud speakerphone, also via video. Mum reassures me; 'don't worry, I am being well looked after by these lovely people, I enjoy food and the entertainment'. On VE Day, photos were sent of the celebrations, I spoke to Mum through her window, she had so enjoyed the day.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We are pleased to hear you have been happy with how Upper Mead has handled lockdown, it has been a new and challenging experience for all like you say and we will be so pleased to be out the other side.
I would like to leave this review for Upper Mead as I feel that the care my husband is getting is truly amazing. The care staff are all my heroes during this pandemic and it is so reassuring to feel that my husband is safe and well looked after in these difficult times. No words can ever be enough to thank everyone for the care they have given to my husband and for giving me peace of mind.
Lynn and the Upper Mead Team
Warm and friendly on all counts with respect to the care provided for the residents, very nurturing nursing care provided and activity staff too, especially the day staff. Management work well with those on the ground to ensure a lovely atmosphere for residents. My Dad really loved it here. Thank you for the excellent understanding and care you gave him throughout his stay with you all.
Since living here I have felt extremely allayed, however.
The staff are caring, the food is good.
The rooms each have their own toilets and washing facilities.
A complete home from home.
The manager is excellent and very approachable.
Your cheerful outlook on life brightens our days!
It was a worrying time when the only lift broke for many days, residents were stranded upstairs and staff over-worked in running lounges and meals on 2 floors.
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We are so pleased that you feel your mother is well cared for with us here at Upper Mead.
The best care home in Sussex.
Thank you for your kind words. I am very proud to have Upper Mead in my portfolio of services and will share your opinion with pride next time I am there.
I am very grateful for the level of care that my mother has received since she moved to Upper Mead in May 2014.
Whenever I visit my mother, (1) there is invariably a smiling face to greet me - be it a resident, nurse or carer, (2) the manager’s door is “always open" (3) answers to any questions I might have are always provided knowledgeably and promptly and (4) most importantly, my mother is happy. Moreover, whenever she has had a health issue, I have been notified immediately and kept informed of any changes to her condition. I have no concerns that she is at risk.
The staff are very helpful, attentive and friendly; nothing seems to be too much trouble for them and I think the Manager, does an amazing job. It is plain for all to see that the principle reason for this is that she is devoted and cares greatly about her residents and staff. In turn, the reason her residents and staff are happy must have a huge amount to do with her.
When I do find something I am not happy about I discuss with the manager and/or the administrator, they are always approachable and helpful.
I am pleased to have found such a happy place for my husband to be looked after.
In general I am my husbands care. However when well - he was very particular about his appearance and dressed well. Too often I find him looking untidy - ill matching clothing - which is frequently not his own.
The staff treat all the residents with respect, humour, dignity and care. They are unfailingly kind and patient and take the time to get to know everyone as an individual.
Mum really enjoys taking part in the excellent activity program that takes place every morning and afternoon, but if on occasion she decides to have a quiet afternoon in her room one of the carers will often pop in to sit and chat with her.
The food at Upper Mead is tasty, varied and plentiful. Always freshly cooked and well presented. Cups of tea in the afternoon are often accompanied by home baked cakes!
All in all I can't speak highly enough of Upper Mead. The Manager and all the staff do a tremendous job and have created a warm and friendly community.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 02 June 2023Good
- 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 (1) & Events (0)
- 03 Aug 2026
The team from Upper Mead Care Home took to the field for some fundraising duties at Henfield Cricket Club’s President’s Day, helping to raise money for Cash for Kids while...
There are no upcoming events for Upper Mead.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Upper Mead.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Upper Mead.
Meet the Team (1)

For more than 30 years, Lynn Lovett has been at the heart of Upper Mead Care Home in Henfield, part of Splendid Care. With a career rooted in compassion, dedication and deep community connection, Lynn has become not only a much-loved leader, but also the steady presence that has helped shape Upper Mead into the warm, person-centred home it is today.
Lynn first joined Upper Mead in the mid 1990s, beginning her journey as a night shift care assistant while raising her two children. She soon realised that care was more than simply a job; it was the career she was meant for. As she puts it, “the home is my life and my world,” a sentiment reflected in the longevity and commitment of her service. Over time, she progressed through roles including dementia unit leader, drawing on both her growing expertise and her natural gift for supporting people with kindness and dignity.
Around 15 years ago, Lynn was appointed Home Manager, a role she embraced wholeheartedly.
Lynn takes immense pride in ensuring the home feels like a true family environment. She is passionate about maintaining choice, dignity and respect at the centre of every decision. Three decades on, Lynn continues to lead Upper Mead with the same dedication she brought on her very first shift. She remains deeply proud of her team and the community they have built together.
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