
I cannot say how grateful my family is for the care and support we have receivedLynda T(Daughter of Resident/Service User)



I cannot say how grateful my family is for the care and support we have receivedLynda T(Daughter of Resident/Service User)



Etheldred House is a purpose-built care home, providing nursing and residential person-centred care to adults aged 65+ including those living with dementia.
The care home, which offers long term and respite care is situated in the village of Histon with good access to local shops and a library. Cambridge city centre is five miles away.
Etheldred House is divided into four houses over two floors, Apple, Pear, Cherry and Strawberry,...
Care Provided by Excelcare Etheldred House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- 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 85 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
- 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
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
All nursing fees include FNC which currently is £254.06
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Excelcare Etheldred House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Excelcare Etheldred 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
- Excelcare
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Santall Horn(Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2007
- Last Refurbishment: 2025
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (85)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (85)
Excelcare Etheldred House Reviews (146)
Excelcare Etheldred House has a Review Score of 10 (9.974) out of 10, based on 33 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Excelcare Etheldred House has 146 reviews.
My mum was very reluctant to go into Etheldred but she had become very unsafe in her own home and was depressed and anxious. I think in a matter of a couple of weeks her whole demeanor changed and I got my old confident, happy Mum back. The staff are so kind and caring, from the chefs to the admin team. Everyone knew her name in a very short space of time and continued to give her warmth and compassion. I love going to visit my mum, it is like a family. I now have total peace of mind that she is safe and enjoying her life, thank you all so much.
Thank you for taking the time to leave this positive review. We are so happy to hear that your mum is happy being part of our Etheldred Family too. We appreciate your kind words and I will make sure the team is aware.
My friend the resident has dementia and is quite temperamental. However, the staff appreciate her spirited approach to life and are endlessly caring and patient. They contact me as much or as little as I wish so I am not contacted about every trivial issue. A recent 1 to 1 meeting with senior staff was professional and rigorous, with the time to discuss more general matters and express my appreciation for the manager's special care as my friend settled in.
We appreciate the positive review and thank you for taking the time to leave this review. We will make sure that your kind words are passed on to the team.
A family-focused care home. We chose Etheldred Care Home because of Butterfly House, a purpose-built house on the grounds of Etheldred, for early-onset dementia. This was a home away from home and provided wonderful care for my young husband at the start of his and our journey with Etheldred. We were desperately sad when Butterfly closed and concerned about his transfer to Strawberry House. We need not have worried; the transition was smooth and I cannot praise the staff or management enough for their ongoing care and support. Etheldred is always open to visitors and is very family-focused. When issues do crop up, they are dealt with obligingly and helpfully. The home is always striving to improve care and support families in difficult circumstances.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this review. I appreciate your kind words and will ensure the team is informed. We will always be here for you if you need anything.
I am extremely happy with the care of my husband at Etheldred House. He is safe and contented. The staff are very friendly and always there to help. My husband enjoys the activities. The staff also show great care and concern for the welfare and well-being of relatives.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this review. We appreciate your kind words. We will pass this on to the team.
We are very pleased with the care that my dad receives at Etheldred. The staff are excellent. They have such a caring, compassionate approach and are always so kind. They predict my dad's needs and are always quick to keep him safe if it looks like he may need help. All of the staff are so friendly and as a family we feel very supported by the management team. Thank you so much to everyone.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive review about the care your father receive at Etheldred House. We really appreciate your feedback and will ensure this is shared with the team.
My mother is a resident of Etheldred House and has been there since June 2023. She has settled in well and everyone has been very supportive and friendly to her. We have had a couple of grumbles from her in that time, all of which have been dealt with professionally and sympathetically by management and staff on the wing. She is sadly now unable to walk or stand, which means the staff have to use a hoist every time she needs to use the toilet or move from chair to bed or wheelchair. The staff have done this properly and we have never had an issue related to it. The home has accommodated us by buying a motorised wheelchair for her. The little caring touches have been lovely. She's been able to put her own things into the room, including on the walls, which is a great help for feeling at home. There was a proper fuss made of her on her birthday. There have been two or three family events while she has been there that have been a nice way to meet other residents' relatives.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive review about your mother's stay at Etheldred. We really appreciate your feedback and will ensure this is shared with the team.
My mum is well looked after day and night, the staff at Etheldred really treat her as part of their family. As a family, we are kept up to date with any issues that occur. We can not thank the staff enough for all that they do for Mum and us as a family. Keep up the fabulous work you all do, not just for Mum, but for everyone living at Etheldred House and their families.
Thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to do this review. We appreciate it.
I am so pleased with the care provided at Etheldred House. I cannot visit as much as I would like and I always know that my father is being well taken care of by kind staff who always seem to be cheerful and who never seem to be overtired and over-harassed. So many thanks to everyone.
Thank you so much for the time you took to do this review and also for your kind words. I appreciate it.
Thank you to all the staff at Etheldred House for the care you gave to Mum in the last two and a half years of her life. You tried to engage her in a range of activities and were always giving of your time to ensure you worked with us so we came to feel like part of a large family. During her last days, you ensured she and we were cared for and looked after as she passed away. Thank you to everyone in the home from laundry, catering, office and care staff. In particular thanks to Apple House for all that you did for her and us.
Thank you very much for your kind words and for taking the time to write this review. Your support, love and kindness towards us all are appreciated.
Dad was taken into care at Etheldred Home's Strawberry House unit, which specialises in Dementia care. During the time Dad was a resident, the caring/nursing team treated him with the utmost respect, compassion and thought. We knew all of his needs were taken care of by staff who genuinely cared about him as an individual, not just a fee-paying customer. We are indebted to the whole of the staff at Etheldred, who ensured we had peace of mind that Dad was in a safe and caring environment.
Thank you very much for your kind words; we really appreciate it. We always strive to provide the best possible person-centred care for all living at Etheldred House. Your father will be missed.
My father is currently a resident at Etheldred. He receives excellent care and attention and the staff there are fantastic with dealing with the family. I know they have a tough job balancing all the residents, and with Covid, so I do understand that occasionally things may get missed or be slow to resolve. So on the whole they are brilliant.
Thank you for taking the time to do this review and for the kind words. I will pass on your comment to the staff who will appreciate it.
My mum is very happy at Etheldred House and the staff have been amazing with her, especially with the challenges she has set them! She joined during the lockdown period but the staff have been unbelievable with her and our family keeping in regular contact during this hard time with me, my brother and especially my dad (who was obviously getting used to the idea of being on his own). We visit every week and I see what the staff do for not only my mum but the other residents and believe me they do not get paid enough for the struggles they go through, they have the patience of a saint! Despite the pandemic, my mum seems very happy in the home, and personally, I am really, really thankful to everyone on the Etheldred House team from the girls in reception, the chefs for the amazing variety of food and to the team that works inside each block with the residents.
Thank you so much for your kind words, we appreciate it. I will pass on your comments to the staff who will appreciate it.
On every visit, I see that the staff are caring, patient, professional and cheerful. It is a great weight off my mind to know that my mum is so well looked after. My mum always seems quite happy which speaks for itself. The staff always keep me up to date with any news about my mum. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. I will pass on your kind words to the staff which we appreciate.
My Mum has been a resident in Etheldred House since August 2021. I cannot praise the staff enough for their care, dedication and cheerfulness. Also, they lay on numerous activities and mark significant events (birthdays, Royal Jubilee, Christmas, etc) which all provides a good environment for the residents. The building itself is modern and well maintained and communications with relatives on day to day issues relating to their care are first class.
Thank you very much for your kind words. We will continue to strive to provide the best possible care and facilities to our people living at Etheldred House. We appreciate you taking the time to write this review.
Mum has been a member of the Etheldred family for some time now and I am reassured to know how well she is looked after. The staff are friendly and caring and although the pandemic has made things very difficult for all, the staff have all kept smiling and continued to deliver a high level of care throughout. It is a comfort to know she is cared for and respected as dementia takes her further from me.
Thank you for your lovely words. We appreciate your kindness.
Mum is very happy at Etheldred House and the staff have been wonderful to her and to us. Everyone is so kind, helpful, and dedicated to their work. The challenges over the past 2 years, presented by the pandemic, have been extraordinary and the Etheldred team has managed a path through this that has kept mum safe and content. Equally, we have always been assured that she is in good hands. Despite the pandemic, mum has made a tremendous improvement during her time in the home, and personally, I am really thankful to everyone on the Etheldred team that has made this possible.
Thank you for your kind words. I really appreciate your support.
Etheldred and all their amazing staff have shown Mum (and us!) such kindness and consideration that now she has not only her family but also the Etheldred 'family' to ensure she is happy and well cared for. Staff are wonderfully cheerful, positive, and considerate, and always keep us informed. I would fully recommend Etheldred House care home without hesitation.
Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate your support.
My father has been in Etheldred for 4 years now and the care he continues to receive is excellent. The carers are kind, friendly, and very good at their jobs and I am indebted to them for what they have done for my father. Management is very efficient but, more importantly, they are compassionate. It is to their credit that Etheldred has not suffered the same tragic fate of so many care homes through the pandemic, and despite the difficulties facing care homes, they have maintained their high standards.
Your kind words are appreciated. Thank you for the continued support, love, and kindness.
The staff at Etheldred have been consistently excellent during this trying time. Despite the pandemic, they have done their best to make Dad feel he is a part of the Etheldred "family". They are always courteous when you phone and seem to know both Dad and me by voice alone! I feel a part of the family too!
Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate your continued support.
The staff and management at Etheldred are outstanding. My father lived in Pear House before he passed away and received wonderful care. However, my mother has now been cared for in Cherry House for the last 11 years and I have always had the confidence that she is loved and respected by all. The home work tirelessly to entertain, keep interests high with endless activities, celebrations of birthdays, Easter, Valentine’s, etc. I don’t know where they get their energy from. If anyone is considering Etheldred for a family member I cannot recommend highly enough. With the manager at the helm, you can be assured that they will care and love them 100%. My thanks go to every member of staff for caring for Mum and Dad.
Thank you very much for the kind words. I really appreciate it.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 27 September 2017Good
- CaringOutstanding
- 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 (0)
- 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...
- 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...
- 11 Aug 2025
The team at Etheldred House Care Home Care Home in Histon has been celebrating after receiving the news that they have sustained excellent practice in their recent accreditation with the...
There are no upcoming events for Excelcare Etheldred House.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Excelcare Etheldred House.
Meet the Team (2)

Santall holds numerous qualifications relating to care including Registered Managers Award.

Enrica is responsible for the running of the home in the absence of the Manager.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Excelcare Etheldred House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Excelcare Etheldred House has an Enhanced Service -more info.