
Our experience has been very positive from day oneA L(Granddaughter of Resident/Service User)

Staff, food, activities and safety are amazing.Patrick G(Husband of Resident/Service User)

I thoroughly enjoy coming here. The staff are kind and helpful. The food is goodKathleen G(Day Care Service User)

Our experience has been very positive from day oneA L(Granddaughter of Resident/Service User)

Staff, food, activities and safety are amazing.Patrick G(Husband of Resident/Service User)

I thoroughly enjoy coming here. The staff are kind and helpful. The food is goodKathleen G(Day Care Service User)

Athelstan House is an eighty capacity care home located in Malmesbury, dedicated to person-centred methods and offering quality care for adults diagnosed with health-related needs.
The home also cares for residents with nursing needs who will be looked after by a team of registered nurses.
A team of professional care workers offer personalised care to suit the needs of each resident and to maximise well-being and are on-hand to offer round-the-clock...
Care Provided by Athelstan House
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 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
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
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
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
These services are: Personal care, accommodation,
utilities, use of communal areas, meals, drinks and
snacks, laundry (excluding dry cleaning),
housekeeping, maintenance and activities run by the
home.
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, opticians, hairdressing,
medications, toiletries, clothing, newspapers/magazines.
During your stay, you may need to purchase additional goods
and services. If they are able to provide such goods and
services, they will tell you how much these goods and services
will cost and they expect that you will pay for these goods and
services at the time you request them.
They can accompany loved ones to private appointments,
however the fee attached to this is £21 per hour. Where private taxi
services are used for transportation to appointments the cost should
be paid for by yourself.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Athelstan House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Athelstan 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
- The Orders of St John Care Trust
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Dean Palfrey(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2008
- Last Refurbishment: -1
Room Information
- Single Rooms (80)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (80)
Parking
- Free parking on site.
Athelstan House Reviews (87)
Athelstan House has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.784) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Athelstan House has 87 reviews.
When our parents have to go into a care home, you hope that they will be well looked after. When I visited Athelstone House, I was taken by how the staff interacted with all the residents and their patience and kindness. My Mum is extremely well looked after, and I have no fears that she will receive anything other than the best care. Mum is settled and happy and interacts with staff and other residents. I am so grateful for the efforts of the whole team to make my mum's residency as safe and happy as possible.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review. We're delighted to hear that your mum has settled in so well at Athelstan House and that you have confidence in the care and support she receives. It means a great deal to know that the kindness, patience and dedication of our...
We are very happy for our relative to have been placed at Athelstan House. The care he receives is excellent and we no longer have to worry about his welfare.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review. Your words truly mean the world to us. We're incredibly touched to hear how much of a positive difference the team has made to your mum's physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. Supporting our residents to regain their confidence, happiness, and sense...
The staff at Athelstan House are incredible, and nothing is ever too much trouble.
Thank you to everyone at this lovely home for all that you've done and are doing for my mum.
Thank you for such a wonderful review. We're truly grateful you took the time to share your experience. It's lovely to hear that you consistently receive a warm welcome when visiting, and that our team's helpfulness, attentiveness, and focus on security stand out to you. We work hard to create an...
Mum came to Athelstan House in January 2024. She had started to deteriorate, becoming very depressed after the loss of Dad and living on her own. After a period of respite at Athelstan she decided not to go home, enjoying the company, activities, food and feeling safe. Mum has made a marked improvement and is so much happier. The staff are great and the atmosphere is welcoming, we are extremely grateful
Moving into a care home can be a big change, especially after such a difficult time following the loss of your Dad, so it's wonderful to know that the...
My husband attends weekdays daily. Just before Christmas, I was out for lunch and was ill. Athelstan House kept my husband in to stay for 2 nights on very short notice and went to pharmacy for medication.
Thank you for your wonderful review and for sharing your experience with Athelstan House. We're so pleased that we were able to support both you and your husband when you needed it most. Providing flexible and compassionate care for our families is very important to us, and we're glad that the team...
We are very happy with the service provided in Day Center. John has the best care day by day. Excellent service from the moment we enter to the end of the day. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We're delighted to hear how happy you are with the service at the Day Centre at Athelstan House. It's especially lovely to know that John is receiving the very best care each day and that your experience is consistently positive from the moment you...
My dad has been at Athelstan House's day care for over a year now, and he's had many respite visits. I have to say, the staff are always so welcoming and make his stay there, whether it's just a day or a week, very enjoyable. There's always something happening to keep him entertained, he's well fed and I know when I leave him there, he is well looked after.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We're delighted to hear that your dad enjoys his time at Athelstan House, whether for day care or respite visits. Our team works hard to create a welcoming and engaging environment, and it's wonderful to know that he feels well looked after and cared for. Your kind words mean a lot to all of us!
Outstanding care for my mother who has dementia. Staff are amazing and my mother is very happy at Athleston House. The staff are friendly and keep me well informed about my mother and her daily care and needs.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a kind review. We are delighted to hear that your mother is happy at Athleston House and that you feel confident in the care she is receiving. Supporting residents living with dementia and keeping families well informed is extremely important to...
All staff really care about the resident . Mum and all of her family are very happy with the level of care that she receives in Athelstan house
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are delighted to hear that your mother is cared for in every way possible and that you are happy with the level of care she receives at OSJCT Athelstan House. Knowing that both residents and their families feel supported and reassured means a great...
She has recently been on a group trip out too.
There is always something going on.
The care staff are warm and friendly and also very welcoming to me when I visit.
She was initially unsure about moving in to a care home but now says she is so pleased she did.
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely feedback. We're delighted to hear that your friend is enjoying life at Athelstan House and making the most of the group activities and outings, there really is always something happening! It's wonderful to know that she's settled in so well and feels happy...
All of the medical staff that I came into contact with were caring and considerate. This also was the case with staff in the care home.
I visit the home every so often to see some of the staff and residents that I had made friends with.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. We're truly honoured that you chose to continue your rehabilitation journey with us after such a life-changing event, and we're glad we could provide a supportive environment during that time. Your kind words about both our hospital...
My mum has been here since Feb 2024. She originally started attending as a day resident twice a week. We then had emergency respite at Christmas 2023.
Mum finally moved in full time in Feb 2024.
The staff have always been amazing, so friendly and genuinely care about the residents. It doesn't matter what time of the day I walk in to visit my mum. I am always greeted with a smile and more often than not a cup of tea.
Mum is happy, very well cared for and the activities team are brilliant.
The staff are so helpful and approachable. I cannot say enough good things about them.
Thank you to all the staff at Athlestan for giving my mum life and making her final days happy.
Thank you so much for sharing such a moving and generous review. It means a great deal to all of us to hear how supported you and your mum have felt throughout her journey with us, from day care through to full-time residency. Knowing that she is happy, well cared for, and enjoying life here and...
The staff and volunteers at Athlestan House are so kind and caring toward our mum, who can be a bit of a character! They understand her and her needs and look after her. It is an immense relief to know that mum is in good hands and we (me and my brother) are extremely grateful to all the staff and volunteers. It really is the little things that make all the difference. Thank you, Athelstan House.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. Your kind words mean a great deal to our staff and volunteers. We're so pleased to hear that your mum feels understood and well cared for, and it's lovely to know that the little things we do help make a difference. It truly...
Our mother has been at Athelstan House for four years with dementia. The care received is excellent and the staff wonderful. We're very pleased and content that she is in the right place.
Thank you so much for your kind review and for sharing your long-term experience with Athelstan House. We are truly grateful for the trust you have placed in us over the past four years to care for your mother. It means a great deal to hear that you feel confident she is in the right place and that...
My mother has just been admitted to Athelstan. She is bedbound and used to stare at 4 walls on her own 22 hours a day (2 hours carers 4x 30 minutes), although this is new to her. I have seen an immediate improvement in her mental health; she is smiling again and more like her old self again. She has mentioned numerously that she is so impressed with the care she receives, as well as how friendly everyone is, and the food is brilliant.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for trusting Athelstan House with your mother's care. We are truly pleased to hear about the positive impact her admission has had on her wellbeing, particularly the improvement in her mood and mental health. Knowing that she is smiling again and...
The staff in both the day centre and on the unit are always polite and helpful. The care is excellent. Residents are encouraged to participate in activities. These are available frequently.
All staff are also very polite and friendly to me. You are encouraged to treat it as your home which is lovely.
Any change in my husband has always been communicated to me, either by phone or in person. It is always easy to speak with staff if you need to.
The food and choice of menu is excellent, and residents are kept well hydrated.
I feel my husband is in a very safe place with excellent care.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your kind and thoughtful feedback. We are delighted to hear that your husband's transition from attending the day centre to becoming a resident has been a positive experience. Your comments about our staff, communication, activities, and care mean a...
It is a pleasure to visit Mum in Athelstan House. The staff are warm & welcoming, and Mum is being very well cared for. We are very fortunate to have such an excellent care home available for her.
We appreciate you taking the time to write us a review, thank you. We're honoured to be able to care for your Mum and it's a pleasure to have her with us. Please just let us know if there is ever anything more we can do to support her.
Athelstan House is a very caring residential home where the staff are excellent.
Your feedback means a lot to the whole team, thank you. We appreciate you taking the time to write the review.
I visit very often as I have a friend there. It feels so homely as soon as you walk through the door. The staff, all of them, give you a big welcome. I am 87 years old and live opposite, so this may be my next step although I am very healthy at the moment.
It's always good to see you when you come to visit - you're always welcome. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences of Athelstan House, and for your feedback.
We visit our friend regularly. Sadly she hasn't truly settled in and wonders when she is going home. She enjoys joining in some activities but not all. Sometimes she feels that coordinators 'keep on' when she isn't keen on taking part.
Thank you for taking the time to write us a review and for sharing your experiences of Athelstan House. Our team is working with your friend to help her settle, though we appreciate it does take some people longer than others. It's great to see her joining in with some activities and if there are others she might like to do that we're not currently offering, please just let us know.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 27 June 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 (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Athelstan House.
There are no upcoming events for Athelstan House.
Awards / Recognitions (9)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
- 28 Feb 2023Recipient: The Orders of St John Care Trust
Meet the Team (12)

Dean started his career with The Orders of St John Care Trust in 2012.
Whilst working for the Trust, Dean has undertaken a variety of roles starting as a Kitchen Assistant before progressing through to a Carer, Care Leader, Head of Care and now a Home Manager.
Dean became Home Manager at Athelstan House in early 2022 and prior to that was Home Manager at Ridgeway House in Royal Wootton Bassett.
Before that, Dean worked at The Cedars in Purton as the Head of Care. Whilst there, he worked with the team to improve care standards and lead the team to achieve a 'Good' rating with the Care Quality Commission.
During his time with the Trust, Dean has worked at several of the Trust homes supporting and indeed achieving an 'Outstanding' CQC rating at one of these homes in February 2017.
In November 2019, Dean was awarded a Chairman’s Commendation Award for meritorious service.He has completed a QCF Level 5 in Leadership and Management, including Levels 2 & 3 in Health and Social Care, complemented by the Level 3 QCF Dementia Award.
Dean is continually looking to enhance his knowledge and skills which he can then pass on to his team.
His ethos and vision are to ensure that residents living at Athelstan House experience a positive environment, with a team who are happy to develop opportunities and good relationships with the local community.

Lucy has worked in the care sector since the age of 18, starting her career as a Care Assistant. From this position, Lucy developed a real passion for the care of the elderly, gaining specific qualifications and experience in residential, nursing and dementia care.
Lucy has worked for OSJCT for 14 years, progressing into a Care Leader role, then Head of Care and is now one of two Deputy Managers at Athelstan House, taking a hands-on approach and being motivated by the happiness of the residents and the team.
Lucy strives to ensure each resident is able to live their life as they choose, having the support and care that they require. Within her role as Head of Care, Lucy supports and supervises the team to continually promote a person-centred approach.When not working, Lucy enjoys practising her photography, baking celebration cakes and spending time with her young nieces.

Louise previously enjoyed a career in retail before moving into care.
She was the manager at H J Knee department store in Malmesbury before moving briefly to Gloucester and then returning to Malmesbury to begin her career in care.She started out at another care home and after just one year became Shift Leader where she stayed another 18 months before moving to Athelstan House as Care Leader.
It was early in 2022 that she became Deputy Manager and aside from her care responsibilities in the residential households, Louise also enjoys managing the Athelstan House activities, team.
Louise enjoys finding solutions to any challenges and she loves helping residents and their families.Outside of work, Louise has four children and in her spare time, enjoys outdoor activities and day trips with the family.

She is passionate about providing quality palliative care and enjoys the challenges of wound care and pressure area prevention. She enjoys building relationships with residents, their families/friends and work colleagues to provide quality resident focussed care.
Her previous nursing experience was gained in Vancouver, Canada where she lived for 18 years and has brought with her important, extensive and valuable experience.
Family life is very important, she loves spending time outside walking, hiking, mountain biking when time and the weather permits.

Before starting at Athelstan House, Gail worked with children who had special needs but when the care home opened, she decided on a career change to expand her experience in a different area of care.
She enjoys running activities that make the residents happy and helping to make them smile. There are simply not enough hours in the day!

He trained for four years at catering school in Poland and following this, he became Chef to the Major General of the Polish Army in Warsaw, planning and preparing parties and banquets for the General’s guests.
In 2007 he moved to the UK to work for the Compass Group as a chef at RAF Cranwell where he was responsible for all meals prepared in the kitchen, cooking for 100-300 customers. He managed menu planning, stock control and general supervision of the kitchen team.
More recently, he was Chef for Richmond Villages retirement communities.
In his spare time, Rafa enjoys playing tennis, gardening, music and of course cooking!

Tracy has 30 years' experience working in the warehousing sector, from meat to furniture. She is relatively new to the area and also decided that a different career direction was in order too.

Donna’s career in care started 20 years ago, beginning as a Care Assistant and then progressing to a Care Leader when she began working for OSJCT Athelstan House in 2019. Donna has gained NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care in 2006 and Level 3 in 2015. Donna is extremely passionate about her own professional development and sharing what she has learnt with others to ensure high standards of care to all our residents. Donna is currently undertaking a Level 4 Apprenticeship. In her role as Care Leader, Donna works in partnership with our residents, families, colleagues and healthcare professionals to ensure the residents are our main focus and that their diverse and complex needs are met daily.

Left to right; Lynn, Louisa, Karen, Caroline, Gail (Activities Co-ordinator), Jean and Issy.
Our volunteers play an essential role in supporting our residents and team on a regular basis.

Blessword started his career with The Orders of St John Care Trust in 2023. He is enthusiastic, and confident working as part of a team. Blessword started as a Carer and soon progressed to being a Care Leader. He is also a trainer for People Moving and Handling at Athelstan House, Malmesbury.
Before joining the Trust, Blessword worked as a Nursing Care Assistant for Highway Polyclinic and part-time Hospital Administrator at Multichoice Hospital in the Midlands of Zimbabwe for two and half years. He also worked as a part-time Ambulance Technician, Healthcare Assistant for NectaCare Family Private Clinics and for NSSA Workers Compensation Rehabilitation Centre which specialised in comprehensive clinical treatment, including therapeutic and skills training for injured workers to enable speedy re-integration into communities and work situations In Zimbabwe.
Blessword has been commended for his excellent interpersonal and communication skills. He holds a certificate in Systemic Counselling from the National University of Science & Technology Zimbabwe, trained by the Medical Laboratory Clinical & Scientist Council of Zimbabwe for HIV Testing & Counselling, holds a certificate in Emergency Medical Training & is registered with the Allied Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe as an Ambulance Technician.
With his passion and keen interest in learning, Blessword is currently studying for a Diploma in Social Adult Care to enhance his knowledge and Skills in the UK. He is also supporting other Trust homes across Wiltshire with training new members of staff and offering refresher training.

the catering, the housekeeping and the maintenance. He loves the friendly atmosphere in the home and that the team create a new phase of life for each of the residents, and new experiences for them.
Peter retired from the Army after 37 years of service and now loves to spend his spare time with his grandchildren, or fly-fishing.

Peter has been with the Trust since 2019 and he looks after the non-care side of Hayward Care Centre e.g. the catering, the housekeeping and the maintenance. He loves the friendly atmosphere in the home and that the team create a new phase of life for each of the residents, and new experiences for them.
Peter retired from the Army after 37 years of service and now loves to spend his spare time with his grandchildren, or fly-fishing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Athelstan House
What types of Care is Athelstan House 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 Athelstan House have?
There are 80 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Athelstan House?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Athelstan House to the centre of Malmesbury?
0.5 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 Athelstan House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Athelstan House has an Enhanced Service -more info.