This care home stood head and shoulders above all the others we visited, we made the right choice.Rhoda J(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
she has made new friends and enjoys all the activities but still gets the 24-hour care she needs.J M(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)
we knew that she would receive the comfort that we as a family were unable to giveAnn S(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
This care home stood head and shoulders above all the others we visited, we made the right choice.Rhoda J(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
she has made new friends and enjoys all the activities but still gets the 24-hour care she needs.J M(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)
we knew that she would receive the comfort that we as a family were unable to giveAnn S(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
Water Mill House Care Home provides expert care to adults (18+) with a range of support needs, including rehab following a stroke or amputation, paralysis, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. The dedicated team also delivers residential, nursing and dementia care with love and kindness, holding Platinum Accreditation under the Gold Standards Framework for compassionate end-of-life care.
In 2026, Water Mill House won the Palliative Nursing Home Provider Award at the...
Care Provided by Water Mill House Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
- 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 70 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
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Day 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
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- 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 Water Mill House Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.Contact Water Mill House 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)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Carebase
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Victoria Forsythe (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 18+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2025
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (70)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (70)
Water Mill House Care Home Reviews (120)
Water Mill House Care Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.747) out of 10, based on 42 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Water Mill House Care Home has 120 reviews.
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.
My mum has had a hard time settling. Also does not want to live or eat kitchen home made special meals. A particular staff member went out his way to get her the emergency mental health team. Management have moved her room so she can see fields & animals & the school. Staff at all times go out of their way to help her make her feel loved & special.
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.
Firstly, please accept my sincere condolences to you and your family at the passing of your grandmother. Thank you for your kind comments about our team, however I was really disappointed to read much of your review. The matters you refer to, which happened back in 2023, were thoroughly...
When I saw my nan she looked so happy, she was dressed immaculately her hands nicely manicured, she was excited to tell me about the new activity coordinator and the lovely food she has been having.
The manager was walking past nans room she came in to say hello , it's so nice to have a manager who genuinely cares about her residents and her home.
Nothing is too much trouble and the manager does everything to make the lives of all that live at Water Mill fulfilled and happy,
I wouldn't have my nan anywhere else
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.
My father has been left waiting for over an hour for pain relief and has been left in soiled pads for extended periods, which is unacceptable for someone in his condition. When concerns were raised, the response from management was dismissive, with comments like "you can move somewhere else" and "you need to adjust to how we do things here."
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.
We were pleased to read your comments about our wider team being caring and compassionate. However, we were saddened to read the remainder of your review. We take all feedback extremely seriously, carefully looking into the concerns you raised with us directly and we hope the detail we included in...
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.
I am totally blown away by this fantastic care home my father-in-law resides at. Where do I start? The staff are amazing - nothing is ever too much trouble. You simply turn up as a visitor whenever you like (save lunchtime) and it really doesn't matter as they are not putting on a show for you; they are simply getting on with their wonderful work. The manager is rightfully proud of her team and says it's been years since they ever needed agency staff. As a person myself that worked in care for last 20 years, that it amazing and only reaffirms that it is a nice place to work at. My father-in-law loves the staff and they appear to love him - you really can't fake this - it's really happening. The place is spotlessly clean whenever I visit. The cafe on the ground floor is a wonderful place to visit, the gardens are immaculate. I cannot thank the home enough! Wonderful.
When dad went into the Water Mill House Care Home after a hospital stay we were not sure if it would be for respite, or a permanent move. Staff were all welcoming, friendly and supportive from the Manager down. The home is a lovely bright homely environment and the rooms are the same, no nasty smells. Lots of activities going on daily, if you want to join in. They have a hairdresser and mini gym, a bistro that is available to residents and families. There is even a private dining area for residents to have a meal with friends and family on special occasions. Thanks to the support and care of the nursing and care staff Dad was able to build up his strength and return home. A thank you from me also for the support they gave me during this stressful time. Would recommend.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 20 September 2023Requires improvement
- Caring Good
- Effective Good
- Responsive Good
- Safe Requires improvement
- Well-led Requires improvement
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 (9) & Events (0)
- 19 Jun 2026
Two residents from a care home in Hemel Hempstead enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience when they came face-to-face with elephants during a special VIP visit to Whipsnade Zoo. The lifestyle team...
- 19 Mar 2026
Passionate skier Craig Coverman thought he would never ski again after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 12 years ago. Thanks to his care home, Craig hit the slopes with some...
- 05 Feb 2026
A care home in Hemel Hempstead is looking for new recruits for its free weekly exercise class aimed at those aged 50 and older. Social Steadies takes place at Water...
There are no upcoming events for Water Mill House Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (20)
- 02 Jul 2026Recipient: Water Mill House Care Home
- 09 Mar 2026Recipient: Water Mill House Care Home
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Carebase
Meet the Team (1)
Victoria qualified as a registered nurse in 1993 and has worked in social care for 30 years, always driven by a passion for making a difference in people's lives.
Her journey began with the NHS in Lancashire, where she quickly advanced to Ward Manager. Seeking new challenges, Victoria moved south to embrace her first role as Deputy Manager in the care home sector and found her true calling.
With extensive experience in managing and commissioning care services, Victoria has successfully led both large, privately-run care homes and smaller, family-owned homes.
Drawn to Water Mill House for its warm, family atmosphere and commitment to making every day joyful and meaningful, Victoria has built strong, caring relationships with our residents and team.
When she’s not at work, Victoria cherishes family time with her husband Richard, son Harry, and Bichon Friese, Lily. She also loves to bake!
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