
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 have been very pleased with the care received by my partner who is struggling with his mobility and cognition. All the staff are lovely with him and very friendly and caring. It is a great comfort to know that he is receiving such excellent care and warmth.
We would like to thank you for your words of kindness which are very much appreciated. We are pleased to hear that your partner is receiving such excellent care at The Orchard. All comments will be passed on to the team and thank you again for the review.
Kind and helpful staff taking care of my dad 24 hours a day. The Orchard Nursing Home have been very supportive and always ready to listen.
Many thanks for your positive review Paul. Your wonderful comments have been passed on to the team who will be delighted to hear your feedback.
My mother was at The Orchard for nearly 7 years. She was always treated with respect and care. Her room was bright and airy and her clothes were always neatly washed and pressed. The carers were all aware of my mother's needs and if she needed anything, they would always let us know so we could bring it in for her. We got to know all the carers and nurses on the second floor very well and felt like part of the family at the home. Although my mother could not really participate in any of the activities, the activities team always included her.
We are so pleased to read your wonderful comments Alison, about the care your mother received at The Orchard. All comments will be passed on to the team and thank you again for the review.
it was Mum's birthday on Aug 20th. The staff made her a cake and brought it in and sang happy birthday to her. This was organized by the activities coordinator on the 2nd floor. It was a really lovely touch. Mum has been in the Orchard since April 2021 with severe dementia. She's well looked after and I see the same staff regularly, whenever I visit. The staff keep regular contact with us (Mum cannot really communicate with us now) and let us know whenever there is an issue or Mum needs something bringing in.
We are so pleased to read your wonderful comments Brian, about the care your mum receives at The Orchard. The services and support we deliver as a team to your mum and whole family is extremely important to us and we love to make occasions like birthdays as special as possible. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
I searched extensively for a placement for a loved one for whom the placing was of an urgent matter. I was impressed with the home from the reception I received on arrival. The place was clean and the decor pleasant. I was given a tour of the home and while walking around was told what the home had to offer. The lady showing me around knew and greeted all the patients by name but what impressed me the most was that, while viewing the patio and garden, she noticed that a resident was cold, walked over and adjusted a blanket around the lady with a kind word. The lady with me was not a nurse hence my pleasant surprise at her actions. My friend was admitted shortly after this first visit. The nursing staff keep me informed of anything relating to my friend's welfare and do their very best to see to his needs. It gives me comfort knowing he is in good hands and that I can continue giving personal care to my loved one without having to contend with the day-to-day needs he has.
Thank you for your lovely comments, Ann. The care and services we deliver as a team to our residents and their loved ones are extremely important to us. Your feedback will be shared with the team.
Couldn’t have been more impressed by the way The Orchard treated my grandfather. The staff were both diligent and kind, keeping him comfortable in his last moments. They were also very compassionate and allowed my mother and me to stay as long as we needed to, by his side at the end. Really impressed by their service.
Thank you for your kind words and recognition of the team at The Orchard. We are really sorry for your loss, and we hope we made your grandfather’s last moments as peaceful as possible. Your comments will be passed on to the team.
The Orchard Nursing Home in St Albans is a happy place to stay. The staff are cheerful, kind and professional. The food is good, there is a library, activities to take part in and a garden to enjoy throughout the year.
Your positive review means a lot to us and we are pleased you had a happy experience at The Orchard. Thank you for taking the time to give us a five-star review and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future should you ever want to visit again. Thank you again
I have been a volunteer for nearly three years and have enjoyed my weekly visits to The Orchard very much. I have always been made most welcome by staff and residents alike and treated as an equal.
Thank you for your review, we are pleased you enjoy being part of the team here and thank you for the work you do.
We have been at The Orchard for nearly three years, and I cannot fault their support and care. When you move your relative into a home, you do all the research you can and hope that you have made the right decision – with The Orchard, I can truly say that we have found another family. This choice is reflected in my grandmother daily; she is treated with care and respect, has ‘in-jokes’ with each member of staff, and even on the worst days of her dementia, knows how safe she is. During the height of the pandemic, the staff at The Orchard mitigated as much fear and confusion as possible, bringing a spirit of camaraderie and security. The reassurance I feel in our decision is unquantifiable. Being able to visit her without any concerns is wonderful and has given us back our relationship without the additional stresses and worries of caring. Thank you all. So very much.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a fantastic review, Georgina! We're happy to hear that your grandmother is receiving such great care at The Orchard – she is an absolute pleasure to have as part of our family. I will pass on your wonderful comments to the whole team.
The Orchard has become the next best thing from home for Dad and in some ways the best place. He has now been a resident for just over 4 years and in that time he has never complained to us about the care he is receiving. We witness on a daily basis the friendly and caring atmosphere generated by all the staff. Any requests made by us on Dad's behalf have been acted upon in a speedy and professional manner and we know all the staff put the residents' needs first. Dad needs encouragement to join in with activities and the Well Being team are always up to get him involved in things they know he will enjoy. Dad had to spend some time in hospital earlier in the year which really affected him physically and mentally. On his return, the nursing and care teams have made every effort to get Dad back to where he was. When Dad is having a good day the way he interacts with the staff is a joy to be seen. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Cannot say it enough.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a fantastic review! We're happy to hear that your Dad is receiving such great care at The Orchard and I'm pleased your Dad is enjoying his time with us too. You kind comments will be passed onto the whole team who will be delighted to hear the praise.
The Orchard nursing home was the perfect place for me to recuperate after surgery on a fractured ankle. The staff were warm and friendly and I enjoyed socialising with the residents. Constructive feedback would include fitting larger sheets and duvets on beds; more extensive gluten-free food provision and when you update the room alarm system, make sure that the sound only goes to the staff who need to hear it.
Thank you, Stephen, for your review and positive comments regarding our home and staff who work hard to deliver high standards of quality care at all times. Your honest feedback is appreciated and will be passed on to the team.
My mother-in-law spent ten weeks at The Orchard between December 2021 and March 2022. We chose The Orchard based on recommendations by friends which was then backed up by a very favourable initial visit. From the outset, we were highly impressed by the professionalism of the staff and the care and individual attention given to the residents. Every effort was made to help her settle and the team were keen to find activities to suit her needs and interests and to get to know her as an individual. Residents are encouraged to mix and get to know one another, yet there is also respect for privacy and a resident's personal space. All family members who visited her, remarked on the friendly and caring family-like atmosphere. I have no hesitation in recommending The Orchard and in fact, have done so both during my mother-in-law's stay and afterwards.
We are so pleased to read your wonderful comments about the care your mother-in-law receives; the team were thrilled with your feedback as we strive for personalised-centred care for all our lovely residents.
The Orchard staff have been amazing, the activities team have really kept my mum occupied and the care shown has given us the satisfaction to know we made the right decision. I have visited lots of care homes in my occupation and this is certainly the best.
My husband moved here to the dementia ward one week ago and I felt really happy from day one! The staff (which is the most important aspect, in my opinion, of any care home) are all absolutely lovely. The level of staff on the unit is high enough for them to take time with each resident, I see staff continually talking to all the residents and treating them with kindness, dignity and even affection which really made me feel emotional. My husband is a high needs patient with advanced young onset dementia (FTD) and motor neurone disease. He has lost the use of his arms so he is very vulnerable and unable to do anything for himself. Knowing that the staff here are patient and kind is really reassuring. The management team are accessible and willing to help with all requests, where physically possible. In addition, the food is fabulous, the nursing care so far has been amazing with great attention and interest being shown in his condition and adjustments to his diet made almost immediately.
My fiancee has been at the Orchard since May 2019. I could not have wished for a better care home for her after her severe cognitive impairment. The nurses and carers are wonderful with her showing empathy, respect and dignity. The whole team have shown her and me, so much love and care I cannot express my gratitude enough. Wonderful, wonderful people.
My father has been at The Orchard for three weeks now. The way in which he was admitted, cared for and encouraged has been fantastic. He has gone from being bedbound to being up and in a chair/visiting the lounge/taking part in daily activities, even if in his room. Calls and visits are allowed, and sensibly and carefully monitored. All in all, a fantastic home for Dad.
The Orchard has cared for my mother excellently in the very difficult circumstances of 2020. They have managed to maintain some contact through video calls, and similar when actual visits were not possible.
Having been discharged from hospital, I placed my dad into The Orchard (Camp Road) for him to convalesce for three weeks. Dad and I found the staff to be so caring and attentive to all of my dad's needs. I was always kept informed of how he was. The nursing staff were excellent. One staff member was my first point of contact placing Dad into The Orchard. She was so kind and caring. I would highly recommend The Orchard (Camp Road) for it's caring, professional and kind ethos.
Dad was only at The Orchard Nursing home for a short time. Staff were very helpful and caring towards Dad, myself and the family. Communication was very good from the nursing staff and we were always kept in the loop. The home was always immaculately clean and great measures were put in place to keep residents, staff and families safe. The activities are good for the residents with a wide range of things to do.
Excellent and safe home with many activities, and very good care for the elderly. The food is very good, and the staff are very friendly and efficient. If you need nursing care, I recommend The Orchard where the residents seem very happy and comfortable; even throughout the recent pandemic.
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.