
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.
Athelstan House care home is where my mum is a resident and I can not thank the staff enough for the excellent care they give mum. They all work very hard which comes with a smile nothing is too much for them. The food is excellent, the activities morning and afternoon. I am so very happy that mum is very settled, absolutely loves staying at Athelstan which gives me peace of mind and I fully trust how they look after mum. Thank you to all staff, you are so much appreciated.
Fantastic staff and the care our father received we couldn't fault at all. We were always made welcome by all the staff and management and they always made sure we had tea/coffee etc. They made our father's last days as comfortable as they could and were passionate and very caring until the end. We can't thank them all enough.
My mother moved to Athelstan House after a three-month stay in hospital, as she could no longer live independently and required nursing care. The move to Lavender was made very smooth by the care and attention to detail by the staff, ensuring that her room matched her needs and the transfer from hospital was stress-free. From the moment Mum moved into Athelstan she has been treated with great care and kindness. She has enjoyed getting to know all the staff and enjoying the facilities such as the garden and hairdressers. Mum has had several periods of illness and the Lavender nursing and care staff have been quick to take the necessary steps so that Mum has been able to recover. As a family, we have been impressed with the cleanliness, quality of food and facilities at Athelstan and always feel welcomed when we visit.
We moved my mother to Athelstan House at the beginning of May after very promising meetings with the home manager and we were delighted initially with Mum's acceptance but sadly she is still having major wobbles mainly with myself rather than with the staff. Her hearing loss has caused many problems with her failing to be able to hear with facemasks and also other residents as they are softly spoken. However, when she has been encouraged to join in activities she is always happy although dementia means I rarely hear of them as carers don't always know because different people run them. I have had to mention a few times some concerns/requests but communication seems to fail at times as so many staff. Having said all of that I am generally very happy with the choice of home and hope Mum becomes more settled as time goes on.
Having to find a care home for a parent is an emotional decision but one member of staff in particular at Athelstan House couldn't have been more helpful. Despite covid restrictions, she ensured we had answers to all our questions and she couldn't have been more welcoming when we moved Dad to the home. Dad quickly settled and I am reassured knowing that he is well looked after. The staff communicate well with me if there are any concerns.
My dad transferred from a nursing care home in Hailsham due to him having severely deteriorated and his family being concerned for his welfare as we live in Wiltshire we could visit that regularly.
The move to Athelstan House has been a breath of fresh air. Dad has had his first shower in 6m. His appetite has returned he loves the food here often asking for 2nds which is good as he has lost so much weight.
The rooms are homely and the nursing care... well what can I say other than amazing. In the last 2 weeks since his admission, he has had more attentive and person-centered care than he got in the previous 6m at Hailsham.
Thank god we were determined to get him moved closer to us so we can visit more regular and he can get the care he rightly deserves in his later years.
The staff are all amazing all so accommodating, patient and worked tirelessly to help us secure admission for our dad.
It is the best move we could have made. Dad wants to live again.
My mum became ill and we were concerned as a family that she would not last long. The staff have been amazing. I was so touched by the care and attention given to Mum from senior management down to lowest carers. They all embody the spirit and values of the organisation. Mum seems to be on the mend but I really wished to thank all staff for care and help given to her. Nothing was too much trouble and the family were well fed and watered when we were expecting the end. Thank you for going above and beyond what we expected. Mum loves Athelstan House and the staff. She is so happy with care she receives.
Wonderful caring staff who have done their best throughout difficult Covid times. A couple of wobbles at the beginning but my mum happy and very well cared for. Lovely food and now that activities and outings will be able to restart soon everyone will feel more settled. Very good communication with staff which us reassuring.
We found our experience of respite challenging but the team at Athelstan was most helpful and caring - 10/10. We would be pleased to return as needs required. The premises and gardens are most welcoming, although restrictions remain due to the virus, maybe more events will be possible soon. Many thanks for being there.
My grandmother was a resident at Athelstan House. All started off okay, but problems soon arose. All were reported and never really dealt with. Sheer lack of communication and failure to fully understand holistic care. Many managers were appointed during this time and none really stayed long enough to do anything. Even during her final days, errors were still happening. Luckily she was not aware of this due to her dementia. All had been reported to the home manager and no response. I would not recommend this home.
I have organised the transfer of a friend to become a resident at Athelstan. I'm a close friend and partner to his sister and next of kin. I have found all my dealings with Athelstan staff to be brilliant. You are all welcoming during all communication and always professionally competent. This means it was very easy to get to know you even by phone but along with the ease of communication, there was always efficient response and handling of questions and procedures and plans for his moving in and his provision. On arrival, we were welcomed and he was very caringly moved in - a difficult thing for you all to do in the current restrictive manner things have to be currently dealt with. He feeds back by phone how happy he is and how he feels that he's been living at Athelstan a long time and he says it feels like home. I feel you're all brilliant as staff. A member of staff, in particular, was brilliant with the zoom viewing and other members of staff I've dealt with - all brilliant!
In 2016 it became impossible for us to continue to nurse my Mother at home so it was decided that she should move to Athelstan. Mum was very upset by the prospect of leaving her own home, but within two days of her arrival at Athelstan she was telling everyone how much she liked it there; something she did right up until the day she died. The swift way she settled in and the fact she was so happy is a true testament to the excellent care she received from all of the staff; their dedication and the love they show to the residents and their relatives is very humbling and is a pleasure to witness. When Athelstan had to shut due to Covid restrictions it was dreadful but I was very grateful that I could be confident in the knowledge that she was being kept safe, being well, and was being loved by the staff. I cannot praise the care my Mother received at Athelstan House enough and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone looking to move or to move their relative into a care environment.
Our family member has received exceptional care from the committed staff members during her time at Athelstan House. The care, supervisory, and management teams have been attentive and professional, ensuring that all aspects of the home’s services are at a very high standard. The rooms at Athelstan House are very well presented, and the home cleaned/maintained to an excellent level. The variety and quality of food is another plus, as are the beautiful gardens.
The care my mother receives at Athelstan House is best described as outstanding. My brothers and I realised back in December that Mum needed 24x7 help, choosing Athelstan House was a no-brainer as previously my father-in-law had received amazing care at Athelstan and an OSJCT home in his home town. My Mum is absolutely loving the care, attention, and help that she receives from the carers which for me, relatives, and Mum's close friends is a huge relief. All the staff at Athelstan House that I have spoken with are efficient, friendly, and very helpful. On the occasion when my Mum needed to see a GP the Athelstan staff were right on the ball, being fast and accurate in communicating the situation to myself and the surgery. When visiting Mum it is such a joy to see that the sparkle has returned to her eyes and it so reassuring to hear her being so complimentary about the everyday care that she receives.
The care that mum receives at Athelstan House in Malmesbury is amazing. Moving mum into care was a very difficult decision for me and my siblings. However, the care, compassion and love that the staff show to mum is heartwarming. She really is treated as part of the family. She is always happy and well presented and has a lovely relationship with the amazing carers. Nothing is too much trouble. A sincere thank you for all your dedication in a tough year.
My only negative comment, in common with some others, would be that communication to family members could have been more pro-active during this year; I appreciate how busy the staff must be but for the residents and families this is vitally important, especially for the residents who cannot initiate phone calls themselves. The recent management/family Zoom meetings have been very welcome, but again I would have liked these to have been instituted earlier on and regularly throughout this year to keep us informed.
Thank you very much indeed to all the wonderful staff at Athelstan.
My mum has lived in Athelstan House for almost 2 years now and she is happier than I’ve seen her for many years. She has dementia so needs constant surveillance and she gets that here. She’s living in a safe environment and has the freedom to walk in the beautiful enclosed gardens, which she loves. She thinks she’s on her holidays in a 5* hotel! The surroundings are indeed 5*. She has a beautiful room surrounded by her own things but more importantly, she has made lots of new friends and has a great social life with the other residents and the many activities on offer. The staff are exemplary, always smiling faces and happy to help. During the pandemic, they have gone the extra mile organizing video visits and keeping things as normal as possible for the residents. Overall, we are so very blessed to have Athelstan care for Mum.
Sometimes it is difficult getting through on the phone as the staff are very busy and perhaps in short supply, at times. However, everyone is always most helpful and friendly and I am well-updated regarding events, policies, etc. In such times, this will have been very challenging and I am full of admiration: they should definitely all be paid more!
Recently my sister returned to Athelstan House after being discharged from hospital. The care she has received since has been excellent and she is making a slow, but good recovery. During this anxious time I was kept well informed by the care leaders and enjoyed a “Zoom” call which I am sure was of great benefit to my sister and reassuring for me.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Athelstan House to anybody.
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.
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