






Horton Cross Nursing Home is an Ilminster facility that is registered for forty-seven residents and specialises in personalised care for older people, as well as having a great depth of expertise in dementia care.
Residents have the comfort of en-suite bedrooms, with the home being set up to support privacy and dignity, whilst nurses and skilled carers are available at all hours of the day and night.
Care Provided by Horton Cross
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- 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 47 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
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Smoking not permitted
- 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
Horton Cross can accommodate Double occupied rooms for married couples.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Horton Cross for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Horton Cross 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
Owner
- Sentimental Care Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Elena-Luminita Porancea (Registered Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2025
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (43)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (2)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (3)
Visiting
- Family and friends are welcome to visit at all times.
Parking
- A large car park either side of building- adequate parking for up to 30 cars
Horton Cross Reviews (47)
Horton Cross has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.615) out of 10, based on 31 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Horton Cross has 47 reviews.
It's always a pleasure to visit weekly and see all the residents . There's a lot going on in the summer, garden fetes , and celebrations, all celebrated with decorations, and special menus. I am impressed at how relaxed my MiL is, having seen her become more and more anxious over the years, now, she seems entirely settled and tells me regularly just how well she sleeps ! As a family we feel able to finally relax knowing she is really well cared for.
Thank you very much for your wonderful and thoughtful feedback. It means so much to us to hear that your mother-in-law feels settled, relaxed and safe, and that she regularly tells you how well she is sleeping. Knowing that your family can now relax because you feel confident she is well cared for...
As always, the calm atmosphere and attentive staff make this a really relaxed place. Residents receive pleasant greetings by all staff, good food, entertainment and mental stimulation, quizzes, games and discussions to suit all. There are pleasant communal areas for social interaction ,lovely gardens and with Mum's large room, with recliner armchairs ,we sometimes visit in her room. We always leave feeling she is well looked after, happy and without any form of anxiety.
We are delighted to hear that you continue to experience Horton Cross as a calm, welcoming and relaxed home. It is particularly meaningful to know that your mum appears happy, comfortable and free from anxiety,...
Nice welcome from staff who recognised me by name. Had a laugh and went to find mum who was sitting in the main lounge in a comfy chair.
Always brilliant to see her and I could see she was pleased to see me which is great and a good sign that all is OK. Was playing catch and joking with one of the carers, really nice young chap but forgive me for not remembering his name. Joking and smiling all the way.
Staff were responsive to my questionable about mums medication and they chatted to me about a couple of things to keep me in the loop and aware. No major issues and she is being looked after well. Staff attentive and responsive as always.
Left as they were all heading in for lunch.
Had a nice chat with manager who was very kind and understanding.
Good job everyone. Luv you alll
Thank you very much for your kind and touching feedback. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
It is wonderful to hear that you received a warm welcome and found your mum comfortable, happy and enjoying a playful moment with one of our carers. Seeing our residents...
I always found the staff friendly , helpful and welcoming. They supported Dad amazingly through the time he was there. He was happy with the care he received and his relationships with both staff and residents.
I would recommend this nursing home to anyone needing nursing care.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback.
It means a great deal to know that your dad felt happy, supported, and well cared for during his time at Horton Cross Nursing Home. We are truly pleased that you found the team to be friendly, helpful, and welcoming, and that the care and...
My elderly father was struggling at home following a minor operation, and needed additional nursing care for a short period of time. From the initial contact with Horton Cross, the support that they gave was hugely valuable. All staff that I met were caring, friendly and went the 'extra mile' to help make sure that Dad felt welcomed and relaxed in the setting. The manager gave a huge amount of her time to go through everything with us, and to make sure that the nursing care they provided was in line with the requirements of the hospital. The setting at Horton Cross is bright and welcoming, the rooms are spacious and well equipped. The gardens are lovely for Residents to use on warmer days and everything feels friendly and relaxed.
Dad spent three weeks at Horton Cross and during this time his nursing care was consistent and regular. I would have no hesitation in approaching the home again for further periods of Respite Care as/when needed.
Thank you for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. We are delighted to hear that your father had a positive experience with us during his respite stay at Horton Cross. Supporting individuals and their families during periods of recovery is something we take great pride in, and it is...
Horton Cross is always clean, bright and tidy. The staff are always pleasant, cheerful and very helpful. There is plenty of activities for the residents, and the meals are very tasty and ample. It is a nice, relaxing place and always nice to be greeted with a friendly welcome. My brother seems very happy and content there and always says how helpful all the staff are and nothing is too much trouble for them.
Your kind words are truly appreciated by the whole team and are a wonderful source of encouragement and motivation for our staff. It means a great deal to know that you find the home clean,...
I recently visited Horton Cross Care Home with a client and her partner, and from the moment we walked in, we knew it was somewhere truly special. The staff and management were incredibly welcoming and clearly dedicated to providing the highest level of care. Everything is so well organised, and it's clear they put real thought into every detail for their residents.
The cleanliness throughout the home was outstanding, and the overall atmosphere felt calm, respectful, and reassuring. It gave us great comfort knowing that residents are cared for with such dignity and compassion right through to the very end of their journey, which is so important.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Horton Cross Care Home to other families looking for a safe, caring, and supportive environment for their loved ones
Your words truly mean a great deal to all of us and provide reassurance that our commitment to delivering compassionate, dignified, and person-centred care is being recognised. We are delighted to hear...
I do not live nearby and can only visit my aunt 3 or 4 times a year. Each visit to this lovely, relaxed home is a joy. My aunt is engaged and happy. The staff are attentive to visitors and residents.
Thank you very much for taking the time to visit Horton Cross Nursing Home and for sharing your kind feedback.
We are truly pleased to hear that each visit has been a positive experience for you and that your aunt appears engaged and happy within our home. Creating a relaxed, welcoming, and...
We visited my aunt, as we have many times. Each time I notice that the home is bright and clean. The staff were welcoming, offering refreshments, and discussing my aunt with us. The dining room opens onto the garden, which is lovely and smart. My aunt is engaged and happy.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your lovely feedback.
We are delighted to hear that each visit to Horton Cross Nursing Home has been a positive experience for both you and your aunt. Your kind comments regarding the cleanliness and bright environment of the home, the welcoming...
My brother was a resident for the last 6 months at Horton Cross. He was always clean, well fed and cared for with affection. There was always lots of activities going on. The manager is caring and very prompt in resolving any issues or concerns, and with time to listen. The care at the end of my brother's life was exemplary. He was kept comfortable at all times. The staff were also amazing in their care of myself and my family, making sure they looked after us too, and with compassion.
Your kind words about our team, the activities, and the care provided at the end of your brother's life...
My dad needed a local care home for end of life care. I visited Horton Cross, and they were extremely helpful in facilitating a room for him quickly. Even though he spent all of his time in his room, they have been very attentive and accommodating. It is a very clean and caring home.
It was a privilege to care for your father, and we are glad that our team was able...
The support and care mum received was fantastic the home is a welcoming place for families too . The support we received throughout mum's final days was incredible
Mums room was beautiful it was a large room with en suite and views across the fields
Holton cross is on a busy road but this was never a problem.
I have already told my family if my time comes and I need care Holton cross is where I want to be.
I will share your feedback with the whole team at Horton Cross, as it will mean a great...
The staff at Horton Cross have been absolutely amazing over a very difficult period after losing my Father. I'd like to make a very special mention to Kathryn, she was amazing looking after my Mother and caring for my Father at this time. Everyone at Horton Cross, the manager, the chef, all the staff you try so very hard to make everyone part of the Horton Cross family and I thank you all from Lee and all the Fowler family X
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such heartfelt words during what has been an incredibly difficult period for you all. We are truly sorry for your loss, and it means a great deal to our whole team to know that we were able to offer support and comfort to your family at this...
Very happy with mum's care. Nice to see investment into property to up the standard. Have not really had any problems or concerns. Staff always happy and helpful. I have seen staff changes often over the 3 years, but have no reason to complain. All staff, past & present, have always been helpful and made mums life as pleasant as can be expected under the circumstances.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We greatly appreciate your kind words. As discussed in residents and family meetings, we are committed to investing in refurbishing rooms and communal areas to ensure residents comfort. While plans do not always go exactly as anticipated, open...
The staff have treated my mother with kindness and dignity. The management and staff are improving the home considerably from where it has been in the past. They seem hardworking, friendly and dedicated to their roles. We are grateful for the love and care they gave my mother, up to her sad passing recently.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your kind words. We truly appreciate your feedback. As we always say, there is always room for improvement at Horton Cross Nursing Home, and we value the thoughts and ideas of our residents and their families in helping us continue to grow.It was a...
All staff were very kind to us when we visited each day.
I would recommend Horton Cross to anyone looking for a nursing home.
Thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt words. It was truly an honour and privilege for us to care for your late husband and to have him as part of our Horton Cross family. He will always be remembered with great fondness by our team.It was also a pleasure to welcome you and your son into our...
Grandma is really treated like an individual who has something to contribute to the place, not like a patient but a resident of a tight community.
She is bounds happier here than where she has been previously - the freedom is the main thing, she can stay in her (very spacious personalised) room if she wishes, she can make her way down to the living room in the lift. She tells me the meals are lovely. The staff are so kind. There are so many things to keep them entertained - quizzes, garden parties, coffee mornings.
We are incredibly grateful to all the staff for their ongoing care and kindness.
Facilitating care can be very complex and hard to be perfect for everyone but I would genuinely recommended this place.
Thank you so much for your wonderful and heartfelt feedback. We take every commentpositive or constructivevery seriously, and your kind words will be shared with our staff and residents, as they truly mean a great deal to us all.It is deeply rewarding to know that your grandma feels valued as an...
That said, having to wait three months after his death for the deposit repayments to be given the authorisation to be refunded in full by Sentimental Care was rather frustrating to say the least. The management and admin at Horton Cross also felt that it reflected badly on them, especially as they were the ones who had to chase things up on our behalf. None of this was in any way their fault, however, and it in no way detracted from the high level of care which they'd provided.
IF Sentimental Care addresses the speed with which it makes repayments to the bereaved following the loss of a loved one to back up that high level of nursing care, I'm sure it would make it an even better experience for all concerned.
Thank you sincerely for your thoughtful feedback. We are honoured to have had the privilege of caring for your late father and supporting both him and your family during his time with us. It was always a pleasure to share conversations with him, with you, and with your wonderfully kind mother, who...
Seems spotlessly clean.
Lovely garden.
Very caring.
Thank you very much, Kate, for your kind words and lovely description of Horton Cross Nursing Home. It is wonderful to see how much can be expressed in just a few words about our home, and we are delighted that you found the environment friendly, caring, clean, and welcoming.We are committed to...
The management listens to preferences & concerns so we can all work together to make this change in living arrangements as good as it can be.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We are delighted to hear that both you and your mum feel welcome and valued at Horton Cross Nursing Home. Our team takes great pride in creating a supportive, friendly, and professional environment, and its wonderful to know this has made a positive difference...
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 17 December 2025Good
- 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)
- 15 May 2026
We are excited to announce that our annual Garden Party will be held on Saturday 25th July from 2 -4pm. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy a fun afternoon...
There are no upcoming events for Horton Cross.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Horton Cross.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Horton Cross.
Meet the Team (3)

With over 15 years of experience in the care industry, I've had the privilege of working in various roles that have enriched my understanding of both care delivery and leadership.

I bring a wealth of experience to the team as a Clinic Lead.

I have a background in business administration and customer service, and I bring a caring and friendly approach to the role.
Frequently Asked Questions about Horton Cross
What types of Care is Horton Cross registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Horton Cross have?
There are 43 Single Rooms and 2 Couples/Companion Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Horton Cross?
Own Furniture if required, Smoking not permitted, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Horton Cross to the centre of Ilminster?
1.5 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
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