
beautiful place, the staff are all so welcoming, the residents are well cared foR T(Daughter of Resident/Service User)



beautiful place, the staff are all so welcoming, the residents are well cared foR T(Daughter of Resident/Service User)



Melbury Court care home, situated in the historic town of Durham, supports older people to lead their best lives with personalised residential, residential and nursing care.
The lovely home offers many facilities for residents to enjoy such as on-site hair salon, landscaped gardens and patio access on each floor. The enhanced wellbeing programme allows residents to pursue hobbies and interests whilst learning new skills.
From care assistants and nurses, to wellbeing...
Care Provided by Melbury Court Care Home
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
- For a maximum of 88 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
- Moderate Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent 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
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Melbury Court Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Melbury Court Care 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
- HC-One
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Nicola Durham(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (88)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (10)
Melbury Court Care Home Reviews (139)
Melbury Court Care Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.658) out of 10, based on 29 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Melbury Court Care Home has 139 reviews.
It has been three years now since our Mama has been in Melbury Court. What the staff at Melbury give us is something money cannot buy, peace of mind! We get phone calls if our mama has a problem between our visits, but the phone calls are few and far between. We know that she is well looked after, well fed, warm and has entertainment if she wants to participate. There's always something going on to entertain the residents, as the photos show. We love it. Thank you to all who have a part in looking after our mama.
My sister and I wanted a good nursing home for mam, and we read the reviews on Melbury Court, and we both said this is the one. My sister did all the groundwork, then she visited the home, and eventually we got mam a room there. The first time I viewed the home was when we were moving mam's furniture in, I was flabbergasted it was absolutely brilliant, could have not imagined us getting anywhere as good for our mam. Mam has been in for two months now, mam is very settled and speaks very highly of the staff, she enjoys all the activities and joining in with them. My sister and I have visited every week, and we speak very highly of the staff, excellent attitude to the jobs they do, they deserve a medal, they have been very good with mam, and we know she is in great hands. Thanks to all the staff at Melbury Court.
We moved my parents into Melbury Court at the end of October and are really pleased so far. Because mum and dad naturally wanted to remain together, they have both been placed on the same floor (Grace) and this means they have two rooms. One room is set up as a bedroom, the other as a living room. We were able to move their two-seater settee and Dad's armchair into the living room - along with some small tables, chests of drawers, pictures on the walls and their own TV. For the bedroom, we brought their own bed and also a TV for that room too. Melbury provide each room with a personal phone line as part of the accommodation - I was also able to transfer Dad's subscription TV package to Melbury - with them installing a dish just for Mum and Dad's living room. The staff are excellent - both in the office, the nursing team and the activities team. There is a lot on offer (Christmas party and church service, monthly singer, weekly minibus trips out). Dad says the food is very good too. So far we're very happy!
This is an excellent care home. It's a comfort to know my mother is in the best possible place she can be. The care is excellent. The staff are a wonderful team. The atmosphere in Melbury Court is positive and upbeat.
Our elderly aunt has been a resident of Melbury Court Care Home for over one and a half years now, As a quiet, reserved lady who is suffering from dementia, I would just like to thank the staff for the care given to her with dignity and sensitivity. Her face lights up when the staff come near her and speak to her respectfully! Sadly, due to her old age and deteriorating health she is now receiving end-of-life care which we are so thankful can be carried out in the comfortable surroundings she now sees as her home! The staff go above and beyond work duties in ensuring her family are kept up to date on any developments regarding our aunt's health and making us welcome 24/7 to spend time with her!
My husband and I are very grateful and thankful that my mother-in-law is cared for so well. Every time we visit, the home is clean, welcoming, friendly, bright and well staffed. My mother-in-law is always clean and comfortable. We couldn't have chosen a better home.
Our lovely mum has been in this care home for almost 3 years and I have never regretted choosing Melbury Court. There is always a true family feel to the place and seeing how content Mum is when I visit or take her back, after a trip out, is truly heartwarming. We have been particularly grateful for the wonderful support and understanding shown by the staff while dealing with the sad loss of our dad in June. Every effort has been made to take extra care of Mum and our family. The love and care shown to her on a daily basis is exceptional and this provides us with huge comfort. Thank you to all you lovely people especially those in the Nightingale Community. You are all diamonds and do an amazing job.
I cannot rate this home highly enough. My mother-in-law has been a service user since August 2016 and I have always found the staff friendly, polite, cheerful and more than helpful with any requests. The staff are always prepared to go above and beyond with anything to help out, nothing ever seems a bother. The home is always found clean and tidy as is my mother-in-law's room and en-suite. Even during Covid restrictions when they must have been so busy, they always found time to give updates over the telephone. I now realize how lucky we were to find this happy, friendly home with availability at the time we required help and further care.
What a wonderful care home! The staff without exception were at all times friendly and smiling, nothing was a trouble for them. I particularly enjoyed going to the dining room for lunch and dinner, where I was invited to choose from the day's menu and was served as I would be in a good restaurant. My stay here has been so relaxing with no worries. Everything was simply the 'best'.
Just an absolutely beautiful place, the staff are all so welcoming, the residents are well cared for and nothing is too much trouble. My mother has been a resident for around 2 months now and she couldn't be happier, she has settled in so well with the help from all the staff. Our dad sadly passed away before he made it to Melbury to spend time with mam so the transition has been difficult for everyone involved. The staff at Melbury were so understanding and sent beautiful flowers and cards of sympathy, it made a very difficult time just that much more bearable. Truly magical place which is an absolute pleasure to visit.
We have been very pleased with all the staff at Melbury Court who are so caring and kind when looking after my mother. Her room and facilities are good and she says the food is good too! Thank you all for looking after her.
We continue to be impressed with the care and empathy shown by the staff towards our mum. She hasn't been well over the last few months and the senior carers have kept us up to date with any changes in her condition and/or medication prescribed by the GP/practice nurse. The staff are always happy to see relatives and considering the effects of Covid are still lingering in the general population, they have done a fantastic job in keeping the home open for as much as they possibly can. Thank you to the admin team for arranging appointments, to housekeeping doing a wonderful job keeping the entire building looking great, to the kitchen staff continuing to provide good quality food, to the group of excellent carers - a brilliant team all round.
I continue to be impressed by the kindness, care and compassion shown to my mother. She’s been in the home for over two years now and continues to receive top-notch care from the lovely staff on the top floor. Like everyone, she has her good and bad days and I know I am safe in the knowledge that she is loved and well cared for. Thank you to all the hardworking, never stopping, good sense of humoured staff who continue to care for her.
Our dad has been a resident at Melbury Court for a year now. He is on end-of-life care and because of the late-stage Alzheimer’s/dementia, he does not communicate and is bed ridden. Unable to do anything for himself, he depends on the caring staff for all his needs. They all treat him with absolute dignity, warmth, kindness and compassion. Everything about this home is outstanding, led by fantastic management who genuinely care and treat you as family. Dad is receiving the best end-of-life care possible, and my brother and I would not want him to be anywhere else! Thank you, all the team, carers, management, nurses, caretaker, cleaners, chef, kitchen staff, laundry staff, admin staff. If there is a thing as the perfect care home, Melbury Court is about as close as you will find. It is a wonderful care home that has a homely feel, making it a pleasure to visit. I want you to know that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your fantastic efforts.
A quick mention of the heroes in housekeeping, led by a force of nature. It's because of them that everything is always clean and smells lovely, be it rooms or laundry.
Finally, the food - it's varied, well prepared, tasty and there's always a choice.
Thank you Melbury Court!
I continue to be delighted with the care my relative is receiving. She is in a period of marked decline and continues to receive kind and attentive care, with her needs being appropriately met. What I especially appreciate too is getting an update when I ask for one: nobody needs to look at notes. The staff are well familiar and clearly know their residents/patients on a day-to-day and even hour-by-hour basis.
My daughter is a resident in the nursing section of Melbury Court Care Home. She has advanced Huntington's disease and has complex nursing needs. She is treated with care and dignity which is so important for her as she cannot communicate herself. The nurses and the carers always carry out their work with knowledge and efficiency. We visit virtually every day and we are always made to feel welcome and encouraged to voice any concerns we may have. In our opinion, Melbury Court is an extremely well-run care home and we would like to thank all the staff for taking such good care of our daughter. We know she is safe. I would have no hesitation in recommending Melbury Court as being excellent in every way.
My father has just taken up residence in this care home. Personally, I don’t usually leave reviews but feel it’s important in this type of situation give people an insight of what experience as a family we have had. From my initial appointment to view the care home where I was met by member of staff who showed me round to then meeting the manager, and then two carers, I knew this was a special place. I class myself as a good judge of situations and can see when things are genuine or made up, and can honestly say this care home has made a very difficult situation that was thrust upon my family easy to organise and I can say the care my father is receiving is 1st class. He is not the easiest of characters to look after and is very independent, but he tells me he is well cared for, and trust me for him to say that he must be. I read the reviews before contacting Melbury Court and liked what I read and I can say the experience we’ve had since my father has been here is first class.
My sister has been a resident for over a year now and has had wonderful care, really settled despite advanced dementia, which was a great relief to us as she always said she wouldn’t go into care. The staff are all caring and friendly and I can’t fault them at all. We are always kept up to date with care relating to my sister and also what’s happening in the home, I look forward to the weekly newsletter. There are always so many activities to read about. I highly recommend Melbury.
Dad has been a resident of Melbury for almost a month now. During that time he has been convalescing from an illness as well as his usual Parkinsons Dementia challenges.
The team at Melbury have been fantastic, head and shoulders over other care homes we have tried. The staff are always friendly, courteous and genuinely care for Dad, considering his needs first and always. Rooms are nice and light.
Changing some of the furniture has been no trouble. Getting him an air based mattress to reduce pressure sores was a great idea and getting a similar cushion for his chair was inspired.
Marking my parents' diamond anniversary with a small gathering was also much appreciated.
Really impressed.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 09 April 2020Good
- 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 (19) & Events (0)
- 04 Mar 2026
Melbury Court Care Home, located on Old Dryburn Way in County Durham, is opening its doors to the local community for its new weekly coffee morning. Every Wednesday from 10.30am...
- 19 Feb 2026
Residents at Melbury Court Care Home in County Durham were recently treated to a colourful and uplifting cultural celebration, thanks to a special visit from performers from Durham Chinese School...
- 18 Feb 2026
Residents at Melbury Court Care Home in County Durham enjoyed a heartwarming Valentine’s Day celebration on 14 February 2026, complete with a delightful afternoon tea and lively entertainment. The lounge...
There are no upcoming events for Melbury Court Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (13)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: HC-One
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Melbury Court Care Home
- 28 Feb 2023Recipient: Melbury Court Care Home
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Melbury Court Care Home.
Meet the Team (0)
There are no Team Members posted yet.
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