
Very impressive, thank youP S(Wife of Resident/Service User)

A big happy family for residents and staff alikeF S(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

We are both made to feel part of a family, with great kindness and respect.Janet(Wife of Resident/Service User)

Very impressive, thank youP S(Wife of Resident/Service User)

A big happy family for residents and staff alikeF S(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

We are both made to feel part of a family, with great kindness and respect.Janet(Wife of Resident/Service User)

A stone’s throw from Exmouth Beach, Fernihurst has an excellent reputation, with a team devoted to enriching the lives of their residents. Providing nursing, dementia and palliative care, respite care breaks are also available.
The team are dedicated to creating wonderful activities and experiences for their residents. The maintenance man created a workshop for them to enjoy woodwork and tinkering. And he even built a Tiki bar for happy hour!...
Care Provided by Fernihurst Nursing Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 50 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
- Palliative / End of Life Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- 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
Our weekly fees are individual to each of our residents and are subject to a pre-admission assessment, which is required to understand the level of care and support needed. Our 2025 weekly care fees for nursing care start at £1600, but may be in the region of 30% more*. This depends on your care needs and the type of bedroom that is right for you, from our standard rooms through to our premium bedroom options.
*If you require more specialist care such as 1-2-1 support, your weekly fee could be higher.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Fernihurst Nursing Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Fernihurst Nursing Home 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
- Sanctuary Care Ltd
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- David Sarreira (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2011
Room Information
- Single Rooms (50)
Fernihurst Nursing Home Reviews (93)
Fernihurst Nursing Home has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.834) out of 10, based on 23 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Fernihurst Nursing Home has 93 reviews.
My husband was moved from the hospital to Fernihurst on March 17, 2020. Lockdown was in progress. He cannot talk to me on the phone. I saw him in the garden on June 16th and July 7th. He appears frail, clean and tidy. When I talk to the carers, they are nice, friendly and seem to be caring for him. Having been to the home outside, it appears to be a calm, friendly place to be. He has recovered from COVID; medical help was quickly got. It will be nice to get back to a new normal soon.
Very caring staff.
Obviously, the running of a care home needs to be managed and run by many 'ranks'. To me, the most important is nursing and care staff. These people make the experience for the resident bearable, or not. Most are amazing, hard-working, and kind, so important. Where personal dignity is involved this is paramount for their wellbeing and their loss of ability to manage their own capabilities. Possibly more activities could be done for bed-bound residents.
Thank you for your kind words about our home and team - they will really appreciate your feedback. Best wishes, Fae.
Despite the hardship of reduced staffing due to COVID-19; when I spoke to Mum she was in good spirits and cared for. I saw her yesterday after 3 months of lockdown; she looked well and clean. I have been able to speak to her on the phone most days and video calls.
Thank you for your kind words about our home and team. It's lovely to hear you've been able to stay in good contact with mum throughout this difficult period. Best wishes, Fae
Well done Fernihurst.
Thank you for taking the time to review our home and for such wonderful feedback. The team will really appreciate it. Best wishes.
My wife has been cared for in Fernihurst since 2016. She has been nursed and supported with love and care for her dignity. All members of the staff play their part and are helpful to visitors. Fernihurst is a lovely home and my whole family feel so fortunate that she is there.
Thank you for such a heartwarming review. Our team will be really appreciative of your kind words. Best wishes.
The staff are always kind and caring. My mum has been helped to feel very at home in the nursing home, she seems very content.
As we live 200 miles away, visiting is rare. The staff are excellent at contacting us if there are any issues.
Thank you for your kind words about our team, we are glad that you have peace of mind with our care. Best wishes.
The kindness and care of the nursing team particularly were amazing.
Thank you for your kind words about our home and team; they will really appreciate it. Best wishes.
The home is comfortable, clean and the staff friendly and helpful.
After my mother's previous care home claimed they could no longer meet her care needs, we are so thankful to Fernihurst for taking my mother in with advanced Alzheimer's disease. We had to go further afield to find Fernihurst as no nursing homes in our immediate area would accept my mum, but it was worth the extra drive to visit her. The carers have been exceptional. They never once raised an eyebrow at my mother's slightly eccentric ways. They enjoyed her "spirit" and quickly accepted her personality. My mother was always well-presented and neatly groomed, and her room and communal areas were always spotlessly clean, so there really is nothing to fault. We would highly recommend Fernihurst to anyone looking for specialist dementia care. Others may claim to be dementia care specialists but, shockingly, are quick to boot the residents out if the going gets tough. Thankfully not Fernihurst. We are very grateful to them; true professionals.
Thank you for such kind words about our home and team - it is wonderful to hear that you would recommend our home as a provider for dementia care. Our team will really appreciate it. Best wishes, Fae.
We cannot thank them enough.
Best wishes, Fae
Over the past year I have been continually impressed by the diligence, patience, humour and friendliness of the nursing and care staff. Always available and ready to address any concerns, they are well supported by management, creating a welcoming, humane and homely atmosphere. Activities are varied and enjoyable, but limited by what I would describe as an inadequate budget (not, I believe, the fault of the local management).
Best wishes, Fae
The staff at Fernihurst are an incredible team. Working under ever demanding pressures, they always seem able to put their residents at the heart of their care. I have put my trust in them to care for my mother, who has been in the home for six months, and they have been incredible. I always feel fully informed about my mother's care and it is easy to have open, honest conversations with management and all staff.
Thank you for your kind words about our home and team; they will really appreciate it. Best wishes.
I thought it was a very respectable home. They sorted out any problems that I had. The staff showed good care.
Thank you for your kind words about our home and team; we really appreciate it. Best wishes, Fae.
My mother is cared for extremely well by all staff who are always attentive and caring with her needs.
Thanks so much for your feedback. I will be sure to pass this onto the team. Best wishes.
Impressed by the quality of staff starting at the top. Patient, caring staff working under sometimes very stressful conditions. My wife's second stay in respite. Nice room with a view. Always clean and tidy during my frequent visits.
Thank you for your kind words and feedback Keith, the team will really appreciate it. Best wishes, Fae.
Previously he was in another care home where he was not cared for as much and he was sometimes distressed.
The carers at Fernihurst are very good, my husband was looked after very well. They had to do everything for him in his last few weeks but they were very good ensuring that my husband was comfortable.
Thank you for your lovely feedback, it is wonderful to hear how pleased you were with your husband's care throughout his time at Fernihurst. Many thanks, Fae.
My Mum lived here for 6 1/2 years. During this time both she and the family were supported extremely well during the difficult stages of her illness. We always felt that Mum was looked after in a dignified way and that the staff always shad time for the family to discuss anything. We would especially like to thank all of the staff on level 2 who was very comforting during Mum's last days.
Thank you for your kind words about our home and team during your mother's time with us. I will be sure to pass this onto Kathryn and the team. Best wishes, Fae.
He seems very happy here, and as well as can be expected at his age! Always well looked after by the staff.
Thank you for your review. I am pleased to hear your father is happy and settled at Fernihurst. Best wishes
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 01 July 2021Good
- 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)
- 12 Nov 2025
Fernihurst Nursing Home in Douglas Avenue has been awarded a national Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Quality Hallmark Award, in recognition of the excellent end-of-life care the devoted team provides. Manager...
There are no upcoming events for Fernihurst Nursing Home.
Awards / Recognitions (10)
- 21 Jul 2026Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Sanctuary Care Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Fernihurst Nursing Home.
Meet the Team (7)

My name is Nikki, and I am the manager at Fernihurst Nursing Home.
I have been in the care industry for 38 years, supporting care services throughout Devon and Somerset. I have won the Care Home Managers' Award in East Devon for Outstanding Person-centred care for the Enhanced Health in Care Homes Programme. I have achieved the Top 20 Care Home Award in Southwest England.
During my career, I worked hard to turn around inadequate care homes, which I have achieved. I believe in creating a workplace where staff are listened to, valued, and supported. I believe that if the staff are empowered to deliver their best, this directly impacts the quality of care the residents receive, being the highest standard of compassionate person-centred careI am very passionate about my job. When I am not at work, I like to spend time with my family. I am married to a Police sergeant and have 3 children who are all grown up, we enjoy holidays together and creating memories. I am also passionate about gardening and spending time outdoors.

My professional journey has taken many paths before ultimately leading me to my true vocation as a nurse. I began my career in Trinidad, serving in a paramilitary organisation under the Ministry of National Security, where I developed discipline, resilience, and a deep sense of responsibility. I later gained international experience working with Royal Caribbean in the hospitality industry, before returning home to work in the oil and gas sector as a Fire Rescue Technician.
Each of these roles shaped me, building strong leadership skills, cultural awareness, and the ability to remain calm and compassionate under pressure.
Despite my varied career background and many achievements, nursing older people has always been my calling. Caring for the elderly is not just a profession to me - it is a purpose rooted in empathy, respect, and human connection.
I am a Registered Nurse and currently the Nurse Manager at Fernihurst Nursing Home. Working at Fernihurst has allowed me to develop a deep and meaningful understanding of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, neurodivergent conditions, and the behavioural and psychological challenges associated with complex needs. This experience has strengthened my commitment to compassionate, person-centred care that honours dignity, individuality, and life history.
The journey has not always been easy, but it has been deeply rewarding. The consistent support of my team and senior management has made this transition smoother - not just for me, but for the whole team. At Fernihurst, we work closely with external professionals, health and social care partners, and our local community to ensure that each resident’s care is truly optimised and always delivered in their best interests.
Fernihurst holds a special place in my heart. Its rich cultural diversity reflects Sanctuary’s values of equality, inclusion, and respect, and it creates a sense of belonging for residents, families, and staff alike. For many, Fernihurst is their home, and within these walls, we are more than colleagues- we are an extended family, united by compassion, trust, and a shared commitment to providing the highest standard of care.

I have worked at Fernihurst for over 8 years.
My job role working with the residents and family members is very rewarding, no two days are the same.
We have very welcoming staff, and we all work together as one big family. It is a pleasure to be part of the team.

Coming from a retail manager's position after 20 years, a change in career led me to our home. Being on reception, I am privileged to get to meet the lovely families and friends of our residents. Being the first "port of call" its obviously important that I make sure that everyone gets a warm welcome and queries are dealt with in a friendly and timely manner.

I came to the UK in 2024 for a change in career direction, as I was previously employed in the public health sector in the Philippines. Now that I am doing bedside nursing, I have learned a lot, and it has broadened my horizon in relation to my profession, and I have also enhanced my skills.
Being employed under Sanctuary Care, specifically in Fernihurst, is a blessing for me because it has given me opportunities not only to touch lives but also to improve the quality of life of the residents that we are taking care of in our home and also their relatives.

I came to the UK in 2021 as a student and joined Fernihurst under sponsorship in 2023.
My role as a carer allows me to support and care for families' loved ones, and I am proud to be part of the Fernihurst team.

I came alone from Zimbabwe in 2023 to work at Fernihurst. I was worried that life would be lonely, and working with strangers would be hard, but it all changed from the very 1st welcome from the Sanctuary/Fernihurst Team. Working here has been amazing and fun. I have learnt so much from my colleagues; it is a blessing to work with such great people.
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