
Everyone is so warm and welcoming, and everyone who visits is really impressedJem D(Husband of Resident/Service User)

The way in which he was admitted, cared for and encouraged has been fantastic.Mark P(Son of Resident/Service User)

A clean, modern, friendly environment with pleasant, capable staff and positive atmosphereNatasha B(Granddaughter of Resident/Service User)

Everyone is so warm and welcoming, and everyone who visits is really impressedJem D(Husband of Resident/Service User)

The way in which he was admitted, cared for and encouraged has been fantastic.Mark P(Son of Resident/Service User)

A clean, modern, friendly environment with pleasant, capable staff and positive atmosphereNatasha B(Granddaughter of Resident/Service User)

The Orchard Nursing Home is located in a quiet residential area of St Albans, a calm and welcoming setting for residents. This purpose-built care home features bright and modern interiors, beautifully landscaped gardens and a range of thoughtfully designed spaces for comfort and relaxation.
Highly trained staff are available to get to know residents individually, offering the highest standards of residential, nursing and dementia care on a permanent and short stay...
Care Provided by The Orchard Nursing Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Younger Adults
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 63 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
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- 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 The Orchard Nursing Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Orchard Nursing 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
- Caring Homes Group
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Dumitru Varzaru(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 40+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2013
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (63)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (63)
Visiting
- Visitors welcome at any time, but The Orchard Nursing Home would encourage visitors to call in advance to ensure that any specific arrangements can be met.
Parking
- The home has its own car park for visitors.
The Orchard Nursing Home Reviews (114)
The Orchard Nursing Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.689) out of 10, based on 24 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Orchard Nursing Home has 114 reviews.
I am very comfortable and well cared for. Food very good, portions are a bit too large, hate waste would prefer smaller portions.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us and it's lovely to read your comments reflect this. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
My friend came to Orchard after a knee replacement for some respite care. All the staff were so lovely and helped her during the early days post-op. I would recommend Orchard to others for similar care.
Thank you for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us, and it's lovely to read your comments reflect this. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
Unfortunately, my aunt is bed-bound so not able to access the activities they have. But as I joined the social media group. The residents look so happy and it looks like they enjoy the activities.
We would like to thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and positive comments about the home and team at The Orchard Nursing Home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us, and it's wonderful to read your comments reflect this. Your comments have been shared with the team who will be delighted to hear your feedback.
We could not rate the staff at The Orchard more highly and cannot thank them enough for their warmth and dedication. From the moment you enter it's evident that all staff have received high levels of training. Everyone, including cleaning, maintenance, reception and catering staff, interacts with residents with empathy, sensitivity and respect, demonstrating an excellent understanding of dementia care which is very reassuring. Communication is always excellent, any queries are resolved immediately. The well-being co-ordinators are immensely creative; every week there is a varied programme of events covering every possible interest of the residents from arts and crafts to cookery and gardening, there's live entertainment, quizzes and pamper sessions plus regular trips to garden centres, parks and cafes. We have had two relatives at The Orchard so can vouch for both the nursing and residential care which is delivered holistically and with good cheer. Thank you Team Orchard!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us, and it's lovely to read your comments reflect this. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
From day one, we as a family, and especially for Mum moving to Orchard from independent living, have always been given the warmest welcome. Mum settled in well, thanks to the excellent nursing care she needed after a couple of months in hospital, and the friendly staff who look after her. It gives us great peace of mind that Mum is safe and happy in her new home. Thank you Orchard!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Home. It is wonderful to hear that your mum is settling in at the home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us, and it's lovely to read your comments reflect this. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
My father opted to come to The Orchard after my mum had been looked after there, he was very impressed by the care. He's on palliative care and the staff have been excellent at keeping in touch with me, keeping him comfortable and being proactive about his needs. The team are very kind and the standard of personal hygiene for the patients is excellent.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Care Home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us, and it's lovely to read your comments reflect this. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
Our mother has been a resident at the Orchard for over 18 months now. It is very comforting for us to know that Mum is in such a safe environment. She is very fond of all the staff in respect of the care, activities and nursing teams. When me or my sister visits, we are always treated in a friendly, reassuring and helpful manner. We always feel comfortable when there are aspects of mum's care that need addressing as everyone responds in a positive way.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Care Home. We are pleased to hear your mother is getting the care she deserves. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely...
Our mum has been in the Orchard for about 18 months, and everyone has been very caring and kind. It's good to know she is safe and being cared for. All the staff are friendly and professional and as well as helping Mum it’s nice to go and see everyone.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are pleased to read your positive comments about your mum's care at The Orchard Nursing Home and it is lovely to hear she is settling in at the home. Your feedback will be passed on to the team.
I have been visiting my mother every 4 - 6 weeks for over 5 years since she was moved to the Camp Road Care Home, St Albans. She is now totally immobile and depends totally on staff care. I am very impressed by the help of the care home staff and grateful for all that the staff do for her. I typically see her for 45-60 minutes each visit. At 91, she had coped very well. I value the doctors and staff who care for her medically as well as pastorally. I accept that limited intervention may help a little in due time to bring a good end to her very limited life.
Dear Mark, we would like to thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and positive comments about the home and team at The Orchard Nursing Home. Also, we continually strive to improve the care and service we provide and appreciate your feedback relating to 'activities'. All comments will...
I am very happy here.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review, we are so pleased to read your positive comments about the care you are receiving and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families is extremely important to us, and it's lovely to see your comments reflect this. Your feedback has been passed on to the team.
I had a fainting and sickness bug and the staff could not have been more caring.
Sheila, we would like to thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and positive comments about the home and team at The Orchard Nursing Home. All comments will be passed on to the team.
My mother was transferred to The Orchard Nursing Home from a residential home as her needs changed dramatically. Having spent just a month in The Orchard both her physical and mental health have improved far beyond expectations. I believe it to be due to the whole team approach which is very caring and planned around the individual needs. I feel very much part of the team supporting her to be happy relaxed and out of pain so that she can enjoy the short time has had. There is a relaxed compassionate and caring feeling around the whole plan that mum is now part of.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so pleased to read your positive comments about the care your mother is receiving and recognition of the team at The Orchard Nursing Home. Your feedback has been passed on to the team.
All the staff are so kind and caring. Always a warm welcome on arrival. My mum is very happy and I wouldn't want her being looked after anywhere else. Outstanding in all areas.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so pleased to read your positive comments about your mother’s care at The Orchard Nursing Home. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us, so it’s lovely to hear your mother is...
The care home is such a wonderful place to come into. Everyone is so friendly and happy. It’s a pleasure to visit. The best bits are the activities which are so well run and managed. They really make an effort for all the residents and think of so many unique and interesting things to do.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review Linda, we are so pleased to read your positive comments about The Orchard and recognition of the team. Your feedback will be passed on to the team who will be delighted with your 5-star review.
She is completely settled and so comfortable.
Mum is a type one diabetic with increased dementia issues so needs care in maintaining her diabetes.
The staff care for her with such kindness and professionalism.
She has the opportunity to join in daily activities and has made friends.
Never an easy decision to have a loved one move into a care setting but The Orchard has made it so much easier for us.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard, we’re very happy that your mum is settled and feels comfortable here. Your positive feedback will be shared with the team.
My Mother suffered from Vascular Dementia and moved to The Orchard Nursing Home in January 2020. We were so thankful that she was being looked after by such kind and caring staff, in all departments, throughout the Pandemic, and the Orchard won an award for its care during this period. Despite being bedridden, all of her needs continued to be met throughout her time in the Home, including spiritual ones, as the Well-Being Team ensured that she continued to have Bible and prayer readings on a regular basis. She finally passed away in her own, lovely room, with family by her side in March, aged 96. The care not only for my Mother but also for family members during her last days was outstanding, ensuring that she passed peacefully without any pain. I would not hesitate to recommend the Orchard to anyone requiring any level of care. All residents receive one-to-one attention, not just for physical needs, but for social interactions as well, ensuring that each person still has a quality to their life.
Thank you, Diana, for taking the time to leave us a review and for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard. We are sorry for your loss and we are pleased that your mother received the care that she deserved while she was staying with us. Your comments and five-star review will be passed on to the team who will be delighted.
There is greater stability of staffing: the good staff seem to be rostered more frequently.
After 6 months of almost daily complaints about my father’s care plan not being followed - food he can’t eat/would choke on, pills found on the bedroom floor, sitting rooms unsupervised, low standards of cleaning, my father unshaven, ulcer on toe as foot checks not regular, things are now much better.
The nursing staff always were very good.
Some of the care staff are very good.
Food is noticeably improved.
Activities were always very good, now even better: more outside talks and regular exercise on the programme.
Cleaning is getting better.
Love that they sit friends together at mealtimes.
Only marked safety as poor as the movement sensor isn’t always on in my Dad’s room and there are not always staff with the residents in the sitting room - so my father has had more falls/been discovered later than would otherwise be the case.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for The Orchard Nursing Home and for your comments about our home and team. We are pleased to hear that you have observed improvements to our service since your dad moved in as we continually strive to improve the care and service we provide. I know...
As a relation, I can only say how good the staff are, all the staff from reception and management to nursing staff. Any query is generally answered within minutes not hours, whether by phone, in person or by email. There is never a limit to the length or time of a visit. Mum is always encouraged to join in activities and I feel that the staff genuinely care, it isn't just a job.
I would definitely recommend The Orchard.
Thank you, Jane, for taking the time to leave us a review, we are happy to hear that your mother is settling in at The Orchard as well as the positive comments about the home and your recognition of the team. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
The rooms are comfortable and spacious and are all decorated to a good standard, unfortunately, my mother is unable to take advantage of the in-house hair salon and little cafe, where there are always a selection of cakes/pastries!
I am extremely happy with the home and would be happy to recommend the home for either respite or long-term care.
Thank you, Teresa, for taking the time to leave us a review. We are pleased to hear your mother is settling into The Orchard and for your kind words and recognition of the team. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families are extremely important to us. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
My Dad came to The Orchard for respite care, this was so I could go in and see him, as he lives a long way away from me. Our family have never had to use care homes or elderly care before, so we were somewhat nervous. However, all I can say is that the care staff and nurses made my dad and us feel very welcome. The care he received was excellent, loving and understanding. They very quickly got to know his needs, he thought the food was amazing (this from a fussy person). The room was good, and if we had stayed longer we could have made it more of a home-from-home. The activities looked excellent and Dad did join in and enjoyed them, but he also was allowed respectful 'me time' too. They have a statement in the home which says that the workers are coming to work in your home, as the Orchard is the home of those that live there. All the staff take this on board. My biggest thing was that the home was not awkward about my many visits nor how many times a day I came to see him.
Thank you Sue for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard. Your dad was a joy to care for during his stay and we are so pleased to know he enjoyed the activities. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and families is extremely important to us. Your comments will be passed on to the team.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 01 August 2019Good
- 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 (2) & Events (0)
- 17 Sep 2025
We are proud to be in partnership with Therapy on Thames whose expert physiotherapists use our onsite specialist physiotherapy room and equipment to support residents needing physio after a fall...
- 22 May 2025
Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive neurological conditions that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks. It is most associated with Alzheimer’s...
There are no upcoming events for The Orchard Nursing Home.
Awards / Recognitions (13)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Caring Homes Group
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Caring Homes Group
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Caring Homes Group
Meet the Team (3)

As the Home Manager, I believe that our residents should be treated with the highest quality of care possible and I have the responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents. I lead by example and involve myself in the day-to-day life of the home as well as making The Orchard a happy and enjoyable place in which to live and work.

Our carers and nurses are highly skilled, with qualifications to manage all types of care, including residential, nursing and dementia. Within each team, we’re able to offer specialist care for complex conditions.
I bring a wealth of clinical expertise and compassionate leadership, supporting high-quality care and ensuring residents at The Orchard feel safe, respected and well looked after every day.

I support families from the first enquiry, offering guidance, reassurance and a warm welcome to help make choosing care at The Orchard feel easier and informed.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact The Orchard Nursing Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Orchard Nursing Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.