Lovely, fresh environment set in a grand building with a historyKaren H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
Care for my brother has been excellent. The staff are so caring and patientPatricia F(Sister of Resident/Service User)
Knowing she is safe and cared for is a huge reassurance for us as a family.Isla F(Granddaughter of Resident/Service User)
Lovely, fresh environment set in a grand building with a historyKaren H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
Care for my brother has been excellent. The staff are so caring and patientPatricia F(Sister of Resident/Service User)
Knowing she is safe and cared for is a huge reassurance for us as a family.Isla F(Granddaughter of Resident/Service User)
Alastrean Care Home is a beautiful home set in glorious Royal Deeside amid extensive gardens, approximately 30 miles west of Aberdeen. The house now provides residential and nursing care for ex-members of the RAF and other non RAF residents.
The emphasis at Alastrean is on ensuring a high quality of life and maintaining the independence and dignity that residents deserve. The home environment is friendly, welcoming and sophisticated, while the home...
Care Provided by Alastrean Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 51 Service Users
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
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
- Palliative / End of Life Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
PLEASE NOTE: fee would be from £2264 if you are entitled to FREE Personal and Nursing Care Funding.
These fees are for guidance only and based on a standard room. Room prices can vary depending on where the room is located within the Home.
Your weekly fee will be confirmed after a pre-admission assessment. This helps us to get to know you and fully understand your individual care needs, so we can be certain we’re providing all the care you need.
We’d love to chat over your specific needs, answer your questions, show you around, and help you find the best care for you.
Contact Alastrean 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
Support you may be entitled to
- If you choose a care home based in Scotland, you may be eligible for the Scottish Government's Free Personal Care funding of up to £260.30 per week (if you are over the age of 65) and Free Nursing Care funding of up to £117.10 per week. This support is not reflected in this fee amount.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- BCG
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Teresa Kasza (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2010
Room Information
- Single Rooms (51)
Alastrean Care Home Reviews (31)
Alastrean Care Home has a Review Score of 9.3 (9.349) out of 10, based on 10 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Alastrean Care Home has 31 reviews.
Overall I'm very satisfied as long as there are no further changes in the boss! All staff are friendly, kind and do what they can in the hours given to them. Activities are not really encouraged and those offered are boring. What happened to painting and more creative things? The kitchen could do with a shakeup, something that tastes.
Thank you for your review - we're glad your experience has been a happy one. We make sure to feed back all comments to staff, so will certainly make them aware of your comments on the activities. Many thanks again.
I have only been having dealings with Alastrean for 6 weeks, however, I find this home to be run in a very professional and friendly manner. Lovely, fresh environment set in a grand building with a history and decorated in a very contemporary manner. Beautiful landscaped gardens. All staff are very friendly and helpful and have a caring disposition for the residents, which is extremely important. Various lounges all with good quality furniture. Even a pamper room, up to date equipment in the allocated bathrooms and excellent facilities available in each individual “flat” helping the residents make it feel like their home.
Thank you for your review of Alastrean House. I am delighted to hear you have been happy with the excellent care our team provide, as well as the facilities and equipment. I agree - it is a beautiful setting!
I'll ensure your comments are passed on to the team and hope to see you on your next visit.
Kind regards
Louise Byars - Executive Manager to Tony Banks
Balhousie Alastrean is clearly understaffed. I cast no aspersions on the care staff who have to prioritise resident safety. For example, on days of particular shortage, residents are kept in bed all day. The call bell typically goes unanswered for 10 minutes. In any 40 minute visit, the bell will be operating 30+ minutes as one call follows another. On average, visitors wait 10 minutes to be let in. Other homes are better staffed and fees are lower - so it can be done. If there is an emergency, there is no resilience in the Alastrean system, so health and safety is an issue.
I will ensure your feedback is passed on our Head of Operations for investigation.
Kind regards
Louise Byars - Executive Manager to Tony Banks
Myself and my daughters have been up to visit granny and granda on a few occasions and they are very happy so many things going on and it’s great as we have been able to get involved too!! The staff have all been friendly and helpful we look forward to visiting soon and see what’s happening.
Really friendly staff and a great building and grounds. It feels more like a 5-star hotel. I have eaten there myself on a number of occasions and it has always been great. There is now loads of entertainment for the residents and the other families and friends have all been lovely.
My grandma was extremely sad when she moved to Alastrean but it has been the best thing for her.
The staff are so good with her and she is always smiling now.
My grandma is a resident here. She is so happy and very, very well looked after. She has a beautiful bedroom. I haven’t seen her looking so well and happy like this for a number of years. The whole home is gorgeous! It actually feels like I’m sitting in a 5 star hotel when I go to visit her. Keep up the good work!
Balhousie Alastrean Care Home is a beautiful country house set in an impressive woodland setting and complimented by lovely, well-kept gardens. The decor is modern and comfortable. The bedrooms vary in size and style, but most have beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. The staff are friendly, approachable and very willing to help in any way they can. The arrival of a new and very enthusiastic activities co-ordinator has been a great asset to the Alastrean team and residents are benefiting greatly. I appreciate the care my father is receiving.
Purpose built rooms with spacious wet rooms en-suite, homely aspect and well maintained. Recently refurbished so still very new looking with plenty of areas for private chats. Offers of food from the restaurant and joining relatives freely given. Concerns initially about staffing levels and nursing care but these seemed to have been resolved over last few weeks. Recently recruited an activities coordinator who seems to be making every attempt to engage residents.
Relationships with relatives would also benefit from the explanation in advance of a relative being admitted. Eg when and if they forwarned if a resident becomes ill.
Thank you very much for your feedback, it’s always really important for us to hear and we take your comments on board. We are working hard on our staff group and creating great environments to live and work. We are still developing our home where the culture follows that of Balhousie Care’s values and ethos.
Our family viewed several homes before Alastrean but once we saw Alastrean we were in no doubt we had found the ideal home for our Mum. Not only is the home in a stunning location and the decor beautiful, but all the staff are kind and caring and Mum adores them. Although her illness is incurable, Mum's health and fitness level have improved considerably due to the excellent food, having a laugh with her carers and the stimulation from the activities in the home.
Regulatory Rating
Care Inspectorate (CI) Rating
Date: 09 September 2025- How well do we support people's wellbeing? Good
(4)
- How good is our leadership? Good
(4)
- How good is our staff team? Good
(4)
- How good is our setting? Good
(4)
- How well is care and support planned? Good
(4)
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (27) & Events (0)
- 19 Jun 2026
The excitement is building! World Cup fever has truly taken hold across our homes, with residents getting stuck into the spirit in all sorts of wonderful ways, from crafting bunting...
- 01 Jun 2026
Life at Alastrean House has been wonderfully busy, set against the stunning backdrop of the Aberdeenshire countryside. Residents have been enjoying a packed programme of activities, from a lively bingo...
- 06 May 2026
One of Scotland’s leading care home providers, BCG, is celebrating one of its very special nurses, after she has been recognised as the very best in the country – winning...
There are no upcoming events for Alastrean Care Home.
Meet the Team (1)
Teresa has worked at Alastrean for a number of years and has a wealth of knowledge, about both your loved one’s needs, the staff and the home itself.
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