






You’ll notice a distinctive atmosphere of warmth and friendliness at John Wills House.
Experienced team are dedicated to ensuring that your care is built around your personal preferences.
Set in the leafy grounds of Westbury Fields retirement community, there’s a wealth of stimulating activities to enjoy.
Grow your own vegetables for the kitchen, support a charity in a Bake Off competition, enjoy a talk on photography or teach staff a thing...
Care Provided by John Wills House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 80 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
Facilities
- Smoking not permitted
- 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
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
We do accept third-party top-up fees in certain circumstances. Each of our homes has an agreed number of placements available at the local authority rate. Where these placements are fully occupied, a third-party top-up may be requested to secure a placement until a local authority-funded bed becomes available. Our team will always discuss this fully and transparently with prospective residents and their families.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact John Wills House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact John Wills 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
- St Monica Trust
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Wendy Leaman(Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (80)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (80)
Visiting
- Visiting is available in line with government guidelines.
Parking
- Free parking is available.
John Wills House Reviews (45)
John Wills House has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.561) out of 10, based on 18 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time John Wills House has 45 reviews.
Very good atmosphere food good staff extremely pleasant - mum (Mary) really enjoyed her stay in March.
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. It was such a privilege to have cared for your mum. We are so pleased to hear that the atmosphere and food were particular highlights for her, and I'm glad she had a positive experience with our colleagues. We will make sure to feed this back to the team.
In October 2016, after my husband's dementia became worse we moved and enjoyed the flat and the services. Then my husband died end '24. I continued living in for health on my own until mid November 2025. I was taken to hospital with back pain and vertigo which made walking unaided impossible. I came to John Wills House mid December '25 to stay. Reception here was very friendly. I received a walking frame that enabled me to walk and a pleasant room to cheer up with my own bits and pieces, which my son and friends helped me with. Even my own chair could be brought over plus various articles and clothes from my flat.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughtful feedback, we really appreciate it. We are so sorry for the loss of your husband and the difficulties that you have had with your health. We’re glad to know that your stay with us gave you the space and support you needed to get back on your feet. It was a pleasure to have you join us at John Wills House. Wishing you all the best
The Orchards in John Wills House has a lovely homely atmosphere. The staff are very motivated and leadership is excellent. Staff are very caring and have a very "can do" attitude, led by the staff lead. Meal times are relaxed and friendly, and staff join residents for meals. Organised activities are well received by residents and are stimulating and fun. More of these activities would be welcomed. Minibus outings have been very enjoyable and memorable. A first class dementia unit with first class staff.
Keeping our residents active, engaged and enjoying meaningful...
Their commitment to Dad's welfare in the later weeks of his life meant he was able to stay in his own room where he was comfortable and we are very grateful to Orchards for making sure Dad was cared for at this difficult time with such kindness and dignity.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful review. We're so sorry for your loss and our thoughts are with you and your family. It means so much to hear that our team provided exceptional care to your dad and helped him feel welcomed and comfortable throughout his time with us.
We'll make sure your...
My sister passed away early this morning. The experience we've had was amazing, the care was excellent. Staff excellent considerate and caring. We were well looked after day and night, the support was amazing. We thank you all so much.
Thank you so much for sharing your kind words during this difficult time. It was truly our privilege to care for your sister, and we're glad to know that you felt supported and well looked after by our team. We always strive to provide the very best care for each of our residents, and your feedback means so much to us.
Sending our best wishes and blessings to you and your family.
Outstanding care for palliative respite. Care staff and nurses went above and beyond for both my auntie and all of us as her family. Could not have asked for anything more. Only downfall was the early hours of the morning when auntie passed away, her daughter didn't feel very supported (different staff to who had been in all week). Other than that, absolutely outstanding care.
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback. It was truly our privilege to have cared for your auntie, and we're delighted to know that she received our outstanding palliative care.
I'm very sorry to hear that you didn't feel very supported during the early hours when she passed away. We...
From the very off I felt a good vibe about John Wills house. This was exacerbated by the presence and care provided by agency nurse on duty this afternoon (7/11/25) Sue (hope that's correct) She was caring, upbeat and positive. Sue made my wife and I a cup of coffee with a smile, said some very comforting things during a very difficult time (my dad is receiving end of life care) Sue is a credit to palliative care nursing. Helen and Julie at the reception desk were also very warm and welcoming. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this lovely review, we really appreciate it. We are pleased you have found our colleagues so supportive during this difficult time, and I will make sure to pass your kind words onto them.
My father came into respite care due to his wife's illness.The staff greeted us warmly and with great care while dealing with my dad. Dads stay was for three weeks while we sorted full time care for him. While dealing with any members of staff from reception, care staff and management, nothing was too much trouble. Everything was very professional and supportive.Thank you very much.
It was a pleasure to welcome your father to John Wills House for his respite stay, and we're delighted to hear you found everyone professional and supportive during his stay. Thank you for taking the time to leave us this lovely review, we really appreciate it. I will pass your kind words onto the team.
Dad stayed on Beeches 1 for the last year of his life, and I must say it was a wonderful year full of fun and laughter. Everyone took so much care of Dad, and the love and support given to him and the family was outstanding. Thank you all so much.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this kind review, we really appreciate it, and I will pass your lovely words of thanks onto the team. We are sending your family our very best wishes. It was a pleasure to have your dad join us at John Wills House, and we are so pleased that both your dad and family felt so supported by our wonderful colleagues.
Although the home does not provide luxurious accommodation or facilities, the standard of care is very high and most staff are professional, capable, charming and most importantly, patient and kind.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we really appreciate it. It is great to know that you find our standard of care very high and that our wonderful colleagues have been professional, capable and kind. I will pass your kind words onto the team.
1) By the food - pre-prepared meals - not chef prepared as I was expecting in respite care.
2) The floor in the shower room was cambered the wrong way- so that the shower water did not go towards the drain and flooded the whole floor- making it a death trap if stood on- useless treading on a towel- this laundry costs must have been incurred.
3) I had hoped for more exercise and mental stimulation.
Thank you for choosing John Wills House for your respite stay. It was a privilege to have you join us and we are so pleased to hear you found our care excellent. We appreciate your feedback regarding the areas where you think we can improve and thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We...
The staff are all friendly, welcoming and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. Staff take the time needed to understand residents needs and to make them feel comfortable and welcome. The facilities are excellent.
Thank you for this lovely review, we really appreciate it. It is wonderful to hear you have found all our colleagues helpful. We pride ourselves on providing personalised care for each resident, and it is great to hear this being recognised along with our excellent facilities. I will pass your kind words onto the team.
My mother has been a resident for 2 years. No complaints. All staff very friendly, caring & helpful. Very well managed. Last week my mother reached 100, all staff went above and beyond to make it a very special day which coincided with 8th VE Day celebrations.
It's a pleasure to have your mother as part of the John Wills House community and an honour to have celebrated her 100th birthday with her recently. Our staff always go the extra mile for our residents, and it's wonderful to hear that you have always found everyone caring and helpful. Thank you for your kind review, I will make sure to pass your words onto the team.
I will miss the food and care I received here.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this lovely review, we really appreciate it. We are delighted to hear you found everyone kind and helpful throughout your stay. It was a privilege to welcome you to John Wills House and we are sending you our best wishes.
Excellent carers lovely rooms food could have more variety activities very good and entertainment very good.
It is wonderful to hear you found our carers excellent and enjoyed the wide variety of activities and entertainment we have take place at John Wills House. I will pass your kind words onto the team. We will also take on board your feedback about the food and appreciate you letting us know.
From Christmas Eve to February 24th 2025 my Father was a resident at John Wills House Nursing Home. Up until his death he received the most excellent quality of care in every way and from every staff member. Whether it be receptionist, cleaner, meals technicians, nurses, carers managers. They all took the time to do their best to make sure my father died with dignity and free from pain. Staff were not only supportive with my Dad but also us as a family already grieving the loss of our mother.
Please accept our deepest sympathies for your loss. It was a privilege to care for your father, and we are pleased to hear that you found everyone in John Wills House supportive and caring. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review during this difficult time, we really appreciate it, and I will pass your lovely words onto the team.
My sister died very peacefully at John Wills House. She had been transferred from hospital to Beeches 1 wing of John Wills House a few months before, for end of life care. During her time at John Wills House, she received the utmost care and kindness. I have total admiration for both the nursing and care staff - for their expertise and dedication and also for the way they maintained a cheerful homely atmosphere for the residents. They treated my sister like a special person and I could see that they gave the same attention to each resident on the wing. Certain staff stand out particularly for me but we've been asked not to give names. Overall the whole atmosphere on Beeches 1, in very difficult circumstances, was so positive and welcoming for both my sister and myself and her family. I'd like to mention the cafe staff too who were also very kind. The best comment about Beeches 1 came from my sister who, terminally ill but now comfortable in her room, said that she was happy to be there.
Please accept our deepest sympathies for your loss, we really appreciate you taking the time to leave us such a glowing review in difficult times. It is wonderful to hear that your sister was happy with us, and that you all felt so welcome. Our fantastic team work hard to create a positive...
My son spent about five months in JWH. He had Motor Neuron Disease. When he arrived was mobile but needed support. His only complaint at that time was the delay in response to his bell. Also, MND progressed until he was totally dependent on carers. The MND IT team fitted a call button he could activate with a small movement of his head if it was carefully positioned. The permanent staff managed his care well, but the agency staff did not seem to have the same understanding, and there were times when he was unable to call because the call button was inaccurately positioned, as he had problems until coughing and breathing also were potentially life-threatening. He died September 2nd.
Thank you for sharing your experience during such a difficult time. We're deeply sorry for your loss. We're grateful that our permanent staff could support your son through his care, but we sincerely regret the challenges you mentioned with the call button positioning. Your feedback is invaluable,...
Mum was made very welcome on arrival and settled in very quickly. She has had personal effects installed in her room and a bird feeder installed outside her patio doors. Her room is fitted with an overhead hoist and aerated mattress. This is in contrast to her previous nursing home where she stayed for 4 weeks after discharge from hospital. She was kept in bed for 4 weeks never once sat in a chair. There was no overhead hoist and the mattress was not aerated. Whereas on arrival at John Wills she was sat in a chair and used a commode within 1/2 hour. I'm impressed with the nursing/carer/admin staff. Also the staffing levels seem to be higher compared with the previous nursing home. The food is also much better. Altogether a more positive experience.
We are so pleased to hear you have had a positive experience moving your mum into John Wills House. We feel privileged to have her as a valued resident and glad she has settled in so quickly. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this lovely review, I will pass your kind words onto the...
The admission process to John Wills House and the welcome we received upon arrival was excellent. Everyone was extremely kind, caring and thoughtful throughout. My mother is receiving first-class care and she is very happy in her garden room with direct access to the garden.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us this lovely review! We are delighted to hear you are happy with our first-class care and wonderful staff, and that your mum is enjoying her garden room. I will make sure to pass your kind comments on to the team.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 14 January 2020Outstanding
- CaringOutstanding
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveOutstanding
- SafeGood
- Well-ledOutstanding
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 John Wills House.
There are no upcoming events for John Wills House.
Awards / Recognitions (1)
- 03 Sep 2020Recipient: St Monica Trust
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for John Wills House.
Meet the Team (5)

I have been working for the St Monica Trust for over 25 years. I have been the Care Home Manager at John Wills House since August 2013.
My passion is to provide a home for our residents where they can enjoy later living and remain a part of the community. We have the ethos that John Wills House is a family and everyone in the family has a say in how the family home operates.
‘Our residents do not live in our workplace; we work in their homes’

I have worked at John Wills House for over 16 years, starting as a registered nurse and currently as a deputy care home manager of the short-term care unit.
My earlier career was in acute care, but once I made the decision to come into social care, I knew I had found my passion. Our residents are at the heart of what the team do, and to see our residents achieve their own personal goals with the support of our therapy team and return home is great to be a part of.

I have worked at John Wills House since it opened in 2003. I started as a Secretary/Administrator, working my way through to Senior Administration Manager. I have had the good fortune to see our care home grow and prosper over the past 18 years. The highlight of my role is to see our residents safe, comfortable and secure each day and to work with all of my amazing colleagues.

I have worked at JWH since 2005. Starting as an NCA and working my way through to a Senior NCA.
I am passionate about making our residents feel as at home as possible because this is their home and we are part of their family. I also enjoy supporting my colleagues in the day-to-day running of the unit.
You just need to be here to feel how lovely it is and to feel part of the JWH family.

I have worked for St Monica Trust for several years as a nurse. I love coming to work every day because at John Wills House you’re not just part of a team, your part of a family.
There is no nicer feeling than seeing our residents smiling and laughing on a day to day basis, knowing that they feel safe and secure in their home.
Frequently Asked Questions about John Wills House
What types of Care is John Wills House registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does John Wills House have?
There are 80 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at John Wills House?
Smoking not permitted, 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 are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is John Wills House to the centre of Bristol?
3.4 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact John Wills House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. John Wills House has an Enhanced Service -more info.