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A new setting, situated in Charlton Down near Dorchester, the home specialises in residential care, dementia care, and short-term respite care, and can accommodate up to eighty-four people.
Every corner of the home has been carefully...
Care Provided by Selwood House Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 85 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
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other 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
Get in touch with us today to arrange a free personal care assessment. This will help us provide a weekly fee tailored to your individual needs. Please note that the prices shown are only a guide — contact our Care Home for an exact quote based on your requirements. Your accommodation, food, activities, entertainment, hairdressing, chiropody, and newspapers are all included in your ‘all inclusive’ care home fee.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Selwood House Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Selwood 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
- Country Court
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Clare Twiss (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 60+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2023
Room Information
- Single Rooms (85)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (83)
Visiting
- Visitors welcome at all times, but please avoid meal times if possible.
Parking
- There is a visitor's car park on site.
Selwood House Care Home Reviews (25)
Selwood House Care Home has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.850) out of 10, based on 21 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Selwood House Care Home has 25 reviews.
I come into Selwood House twice a week as i do companionship care with one of the residents, I am impressed with all the care staff they work so hard and always have a smile on their face even when dealing with very difficult situations, also Jo + Meghan make it fun for the residents and get everyone involved in their daily activities they always look like they're having fun too everyone works so hard and all deserve a pat on the back.
Thank you for leaving a review for Selwood House. Your time and dedication to our residents are very much appreciated.
Very caring and helpful staff for my husband and myself. They have helped greatly with the transition from home to residential care.
Thank you for taking the time to write your review and your kind words. It is a pleasure to support your husband, and we are pleased you feel this too. Your comments will be shared with the team.
Found my visit to bring my mother in law into the home very calming and friendly.
Thank you so much for taking the time to review Selwood House, we love to have feedback and will share with the team.
Janice (the patient) and I (her visiting husband) were so impressed by the quality of care she received. The carers, mainly young men, were so very friendly to us both and cared for her every need, personal and intimate.
Thank you for taking the time to write this lovely review and the care Janice received, we fad back your comments to the team.
Mum has taken a little while to settle in to her new home and , as with any new situation, there have been one or two bumps in the road. However, all the staff are keen to provide a warm, caring environment for the residents and any issues or queries are dealt with promptly. Whenever I pop in to see Mum I am always greeted warmly and it is lovely to see how kind and cheerful the staff are in their interactions with her. I can honestly say that it is a pleasure to visit Mum here as there is such a welcoming atmosphere. She has made friends with a lovely group of ladies and they all look out for one another. I usually end up sat on the sofa chatting away to them all. The manager and her team go above and beyond with all their activities and have even managed to get my Mum involved from time to time.....A minor miracle. Thanks to all the team at Selwood House and kind regards to all the lovely residents.
Thank you for your review. Your experience and opinions mean so much for us to make sure we are always meeting the needs of not just our residents, but our relatives too.
I absolutely love this care home in Dorset. It feels modern, safe, clean and peaceful. The grounds are beautiful and the home always feels so welcoming and well presented. It has a sense of home and a happy, bright place to be thanks to the staff who are always so friendly, kind and caring. Exactly the kind of place you want to be cared for when needed, it certainly gives me peace of mind that my relative is being well cared for. The staff always go above and beyond to make us feel welcomed to visit and put some lovely events on which is really appreciated. Thank you for everything you do to make this process a happier time than it may have been elsewhere.
We really appreciate your time to review our lovely home. Thank you for your kind words. We really do cherish our residents and our home.
We needed somewhere for Mum to stay whilst we went on a holiday that wasn't suitable for her abilities. From the first contact to the final goodbye all the staff were kind, welcoming, enthusiastic and caring of Mum. Her birthday was celebrated in style and we were able to celebrate a family occasion with her in their special dining room before we went away. Mum regularly refers to her 'hotel stay' in the most loving of terms. Thoroughly recommend
Thank you so much for such a lovely review. We were so happy to be able to look after your mum whilst you were able to enjoy such a great holiday. We cannot wait to have her back.
I've visited my aunt on a number of occasions during the past few months and I've been so happy knowing that she is in good hands. The staff are lovely and during the Christmas period, they made a lovely effort to make the place festive and put on little events. My aunt seems very happy there and she has said it's a 5 star experience, therefore I can only recommend to others.
We are delighted to hear that you are able to have such lovely visits with your aunt whilst she is with us. Thank you for your kind review.
Selwood House Care Home is so welcoming and has such a homely feel. The staff are so friendly and helpful. There are no set visiting times and whatever time of day you go, you are always made to feel welcome. The layout has been very well thought out and the home has such a lovely garden. The whole place is always super clean and tidy. The food is amazing, we had a lovely family belated 80th birthday meal for my mum in the private dining area, made extra special by one of the staff who was the best host ever bringing us service with a smile. My mum initially went to Selwood House on respite care and left but returned shortly afterwards as a permanent resident. I will always remember how lovely the staff were when my mum returned, they all went out of their way to welcome her back which meant so much.
Thank you for such a heart felt review. We are so grateful to be able to be the supportive home and loving 'family-like' network for your mum. She is such a delight to have here at Selwood and we look forward to an exciting year of events and activities with her.
Selwood is an incredible care home, we looked in several areas close to where Mum lived and where we live but nothing quite fitted Mum's needs, requirements, and expectations. Since August Mum has become very settled and no longer is constantly wanting to go home. The Selwood staff from the admin to the carer's have been truly fantastic and are amazing with my mum. I would highly recommend Selwood to anyone.
We are so thrilled to hear such a lovely review. Your mum really is a very special part of the Selwood Family. Thank you very much. Team Selwood.
My husband has been a resident for three periods of respite and is now a permanent resident at Selwood House. The staff are professional, caring, and understanding. The home has a peaceful atmosphere where the residents are given individual care and attention.
Thank you for such a lovely review. We are so happy you love Selwood as much as we do.
The staff caring and friendly, but not always available. Personal care sometimes lacking and communication about what is needed for your loved one sadly lacking (shaving).
Good range of activities and hobbies if desired.
Thank you for your kind review. We really do appreciate your comments and continue to grow and improve daily, to make Selwood the very best care home it can be for our residents.
I have visited a friend at Selwood several times now and it's obvious that she is very well looked after . It's a beautiful home and the staff are so friendly and helpful . She enjoys all the activity days whether they are at the home or out and about . I will definitely be recommending Selwood in the future
Mother is happy, content and we'll cared for, all her needs have been met.
All the staff seem very friendly and helpful.
Although mother does not join in activities she hears them going on in the background and it's uplifting for her.
So pleased we can leave mother in safe hands.
Selwood is modern, well laid-out, clean, food appears good. The staff are welcoming, caring, and interested in the residents.
A possible thing that could be improved is the activities for dementia residents - an additional activities coordinator would be beneficial.
It's more expensive than some, but I guess you get what you pay for.
Overall, I'm very happy with Selwood.
I wanted to find somewhere really nice for my mum to recover and settle into a new routine. Selwood is such a place - somewhere where I can be confident that she is happy and safe.
More importantly, the staff are all friendly and helpful and more than capable.
Couldn't wish for a more reassuring and professional home for my loved one.
Kind regards.
A very good care home and I know they will look after Dad. It gives Mum and I peace of mind.
It is very hard to find any fault, which shows it's a very good care home. Would highly recommend Selwood House.
Fantastic home. A particular member of staff helped us secure a place here for Mum. We thought it was like a 5-star hotel. All the staff are so friendly and helpful and Mum is gradually settling in. The staff member who does the activities is great and helps encourage Mum on the trips. Other staff do a fantastic job on her hair and nails. So glad we chose Welwood House Care Home.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 28 August 2025Good
- 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 (4) & Events (0)
- 22 Jun 2026
As part of Carers Week, our team had a lovely treat day. A huge thank you to Angela Moody, Tropic Skincare Executive Leader, who generously donated her time to come...
- 22 Jun 2026
The gentlemen have really enjoyed getting stuck into this one, carefully sanding back the many layers of paint to help bring the chair back to its former glory before it...
- 16 Apr 2026
We're currently offering a special 6 week stay for the price of 4, perfect for anyone recovering from a hospital stay, needing a well-earned break, or wanting to experience care...
There are no upcoming events for Selwood House Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (13)
- 01 Jun 2026Recipient: Selwood House Care Home
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Country Court
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Country Court
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Selwood House Care Home.
Meet the Team (1)

Clare is a committed and dedicated Home Manager who is passionate about enriching the lives of our residents by delivering the highest standards in care and quality of life. She is passionate about promoting individual choice for residents, allowing them to feel empowered. Clare operates an open-door policy and welcomes families and residents to pop in any time for a chat over a cup of tea.
Frequently Asked Questions about Selwood House Care Home
What types of Care is Selwood House Care Home registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Selwood House Care Home have?
There are 85 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Selwood House Care Home?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Selwood House Care Home to the centre of Dorchester?
2.7 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Selwood House Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Selwood House Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.