Water Mill House Care Home

We came to Water Mill House to have lunch with my brother. We were greeted and met with great courtesy and had a coffee in the Bistro. The ambiance was lovely and the staff were friendly and helpful. Lunch was wonderful, tasty and beautifully presented. Prior to our visit we were treated with care and kindness. Nothing was too much trouble. Overall our experience was very positive and I feel my brother is in excellent hands.

I felt immediately at home on arriving at Water Mill House where I received wonderful care. The staff are all amazing, friendly, compassionate and caring. I was so impressed with all the activities that are organised; and although my stay was only a short one, I did feel that this was so important for long stay residents. If I have a small criticism it would be regarding the food. I found the meals rather stodgy and unhealthy, too much cream etc. Although I should say perhaps this is unfair as I was feels very nauseous due to medication. However this is such a small point and my congratulations to all management and staff on the way the home which run and grateful thanks to all.

The care home is well decorated, clean and tidy. The staff are very helpful, smiley and kind. Always trying to get the residents involved in numerous activities, including outside of the care home. Very well run.

Our mum is thriving in Water Mill Care Home. Her participation in activities continue. Mum loves company, so leaving her alone in her room is not good for her. We had noticed a slippage in her care when mum moved floors from 1st to 3rd, so I think the handover could have been better, so that the new floor got to know mum quicker. The importance and making and reading notes is imperative here. We raised our concerns and they have all been resolved now. The range of activities is excellent.

I could not wish for a better place to for my husband who has late stages of Parkinson's. The care and kindness from every member of staff is unbelievable. They give him his dignity, but health and safety always comes first. I don't know where we would be without Water Mill Care Home.

Over the last 8 weeks I have had encounters with this care home as we have made the difficult decision to put my mum into care. From our very first interaction with the home and staff it has been very positive. The care for my mum and the whole team has been so caring helping us all with this transition. Mum is so much more active and is busy going on outings, joining in using her walker, things that were not happening previously. Highly recommend.

I would recommend the Water Mill House Care Home to anyone as they genuinely do care.

Water Mill House is a lovely care home with very good facilities and kind and welcoming staff. They have been unfailingly kind and supportive to me and my husband, who has used the day centre service for nearly a year.

In six weeks this situation has completely turned around. She is smiling again, engaging with staff and eating really well. The chefs/cooks at Water Mill have listened carefully to what Mum will eat and have bent over backwards to ensure that she has nutritious food that she can enjoy. A very special mention for the hairdresser. She has encouraged and succeeded in getting Mum to trust her and have her hair cut and blow-dried for the first time in months. We are delighted and relieved to see Mum enjoying life again in this calm and caring place.

My mother has been at Water Mill since March 2024, the Staff, Management and Facilities are superb, really giving me peace of mind. The team at Water Mill really go the extra mile to look after the residents and families. I could not think of a better place for mum, she really feels safe and happy. I highly recommend Water Mill House.

Wonderful staff, professional, friendly and very caring. I feel my dad is well looked after and his complex medical needs are monitored and administered to accordingly. All staff are proactive and reactive as and when required.

However in 2024, we decided to move my Grandmother due to the decline in management & culture since 2020 when there was a change of management and style. My Grandmother's care needs were not met due to poor management & oversight of care provision. There were two separate incidents where my Grandmother's health was severely impacted, one due to an undetected severe bacterial skin infection and then undetected bowel impaction. Subsequently, we did not have confidence in the management of care. In addition, we do not feel care costs are in line with similar quality homes (with higher rated CQC audits). We feel comfortable leaving this review now, as when my Grandmother's needs increased we made the distressing choice to move her at 89 years old to an alternative local home where she passed away in March, managed with care and dignity by the new team.

Thank you to all the staff

My dearest Gran was a resident here at Water Mill House Care Home for the last 2 years of her life. She was so happy there the care and attention that the staff and the manager gave was out of this world. The home has a lovely atmosphere everybody is treated with dignity and respect you wouldn't find a better home.

I believe the main issues stem from insufficient staffing and poor management. I hope this feedback is taken seriously to prevent others from experiencing similar distress during such a difficult time.

Our mum came to Water Mill House for respite care and I cannot believe the change in her health and wellbeing as we prepare to go home. The amazing care she has received has helped her eat well, make friends and get stronger. We visit anytime and are always welcomed, the facilities and rooms are so clean and bright with a calm, warm feel. Nothing is too much trouble for the wonderful staff. Thank you for looking after our mum so well.

Our mother was in this wonderful place for 3 weeks' respite in January 2025. Everyone working there was so friendly and caring towards mother and the family which put our minds at ease. We had total trust with the team looking after Mum's welfare. Communication with the family was excellent and very responsive to our requests and needs. Mother settled in very well, we believe one of the main factors was due to all the staff's expertise and knowledge with caring for the vulnerable. Mother's appetite improved immensely due to the quality and variation of meals. The facilities were exceptional, a special mention to the Bistro and Hairdressers which made such a difference to Mother's experience. If our mother requires further respite, we would not hesitate to bring her back to Water Mill House.

My father came to Water Mill House in November 2024 for respite. Due to the amazing care the staff have shown towards Dad he has now chosen to stay at the Watermill on a permanent basis. His mental health, happiness and well-being improved greatly within a week of being out of hospital and cared for at the Watermill. The Watermill provide home-from-home care. Nothing is too much trouble and the staff are always cheerful and attentive to Dad. He is treated with dignity, care and tenderness. The family are welcomed and listened to. We have become his children and grandchildren again rather than his carers. Dad enjoys the variety of activities and feels safe and secure. Thank you so much to all the staff at the Watermill. The family can relax with peace of mind that Dad is well cared for.

My mother-in-law went into the care home with advanced dementia and a significant bed sore. The team here worked very hard to try and heal the sore, provide pain relief and keep her clean and comfortable. This is a model care home. Clean, friendly, bright, decorated nice and modern with private bathrooms per room. If you are worrying about sending your loved one to a care home that they may face neglect or be left 'to rot' then you really need to visit this place. My mother-in-law actually felt happier knowing she had what she needed on hand versus all the hassle of calling doctors and long wait times for district nurses etc. The garden is beautiful and always lots to see and hear. It never smelled bad and is a nice place for family and friends to visit as they can use the nice bistro/coffee shop/family dining room, gardens and even a library with books, games and puzzles for the little ones. An excellent care home.

My dad has settled in well. Staff friendly and helpful.