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The village hub is open to the public and includes a popular licensed bistro, hair salon, therapy room and exercise studio.
Belong Atherton offers 26 self-contained apartments for independent living and six supported ‘households’ with modern en-suite bedrooms and open plan lounge and kitchen areas.
Belong...
Care Provided by Belong Atherton
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 73 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
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public 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
See key facts and pricing information on our website.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Belong Atherton for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Belong Atherton 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
- Belong Ltd
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Nicola Johnstone(General Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2011
- Last Refurbishment: 2011
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (73)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (73)
Visiting
- Belong Atherton is situated in the heart of the town, one mile away from Atherton railway station and on local bus routes. It is five miles from Bolton attractions including Bolton Steam Museum, the Octagon Theatre and Smithills Farm. Nearby parks include Blackleach Country Park in Walkden, Haigh Woodland Park in Wigan and Pennington Flash Country Park in Leigh. Belong Atherton also has close links with Salford University and the Salford Museum, which includes the recreated Lark Hill Place and has extensive reminiscence resources.
Parking
- On-site parking available.
Belong Atherton Reviews (90)
Belong Atherton has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.725) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Belong Atherton has 90 reviews.
The support staff including management, clerical staff, receptionists and kitchen staff are very friendly and efficient.
My husband is very happy and content here, I wouldn't want him anywhere else.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. Our team work really hard to ensure a friendly, homely and welcoming environment. It means a great deal to our Belong Atherton team to know that your husband is happy and this is very much appreciated.
I cannot thank the team in Belong Atherton enough. They are professional, friendly, attentive and kind. They not only make my uncle comfortable but they also ensure that his wife - my aunty - is always kept informed and is welcome every time she visits. I am very pleased that they are both being treated with great respect by the team at Belong. The team's constant kindness makes a potentially stressful situation a lot less stressful. The team also clearly takes pride in the cleanliness of the entire residence - it is a lovely place in which my uncle is looked after. Thank you very much indeed.
Thank you for taking the time to provide this lovely feedback. We are delighted to know that your uncle is happy at Belong Atherton and that the dedication of our village teams is making a difference to you all as a family.
Ashley Unit staff are so amazing. Each one of them go above and beyond. They are all caring and compassionate and treat everyone with dignity and respect. I know, asa daughter, how hard it is when your loved one is in care but Ashley staff give the reassurance that your loved one is cared for, their needs are met and that if there are any concerns you will be contacted immediately so that you can relax knowing your loved one is sage and card for.
Thank you for submitting such a kind review. We are delighted to hear your experience with Belong has been a good one. Thanks again for choosing our Belong Atherton village; it's a pleasure to have your mum with us.
It is a pleasure to see Mum being very well cared for and supported. Staff provide individualised support, prioritising Mum's dignity and well-being and encouraging her to maximise her mobility. I have peace of mind that she is in the best place possible.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback on the support provided by our team at Belong Atherton. We are delighted to hear that your mum is experiencing the vital care that she needs.
The treatments and food are brilliant.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Atherton. We are delighted you find the care and food to be excellent.
I find the staff are all very smiley and friendly, especially the experience day team. Every time I spend my days here, I always leave with a smile on my face. The girls go above and beyond for me, and I can't thank them enough.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this feedback. Our team will be most touched to read this. We are delighted that you find our team go above and beyond for you. Thank you for choosing Belong Atherton.
The carers treat my sister-in-law in a dignified and respectful way. They have even bought some special cushions or gadgets for her while out in their personal shopping. The team of staff are supportive, friendly and proud of their profession at Belong Atherton.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide us with this lovely feedback. Our team work really hard to ensure a friendly, homely and welcoming environment. It means a great deal to our village team to know that this is appreciated. We are delighted that you find everyone friendly and professional. Thank you for choosing Belong Atherton.
In 2022, Mum required additional help so we engaged Belong at Home who came in twice a day. They helped Mum with her medication, her breakfast and evening meal each day. We found this service to be excellent.
In 2023, after a short stay in hospital, Mum became terminally ill and went into Chanters Household which is part of the residential side of Belong Atherton.
The care which Mum received in the Chanters Household was excellent, she could not have received any better care. All the staff in the household were caring and loving to my mum, it was like having a second family. They helped Mum with all aspects of everyday living with kindness and respect.
I have found that everyone who works for Belong Atherton is caring, respectful and helpful to the residents and families.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this incredibly moving feedback. It was a privilege to support your mum in all areas of Belong and it is crucial to us that we make people's time with us as special and positive as possible. It will mean a great deal to our village teams to read your comments and I will ensure they are shared with everyone. Thanks again.
Since our relative became a resident here we, as a family group, have been extremely impressed and heartened at the level of care she has received. The staff within the Pretoria sector have our utmost respect and thanks. The treatment she receives, coupled with the very high standards and facilities available make us believe we could not have chosen better.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide this feedback. It means a great deal to the team here and we are so pleased to hear you are happy with Belong Atherton in particular that you are impressed with the very high standards of care your relative has received. Thank you for choosing Belong.
All staff have been so kind and caring towards my father and all our family. Nothing is too much trouble and he has blossomed during his short stay. A lovely place that feels like home.
Thank you for your positive feedback on the support provided at Belong Atherton. We do our best to understand every customer and it is a pleasure to have your father living with us. We are delighted you find Belong feels like home.
My 81-year-old sister has been at Belong Atherton for almost 8 months now. I cannot thank the wonderful carers and nursing team enough for the fantastic care and support they are giving to my sister. She sees Belong as her home now, and to know she's safe, settled, secure, and beautifully cared for means so much to me. I honestly believe she wouldn't be here today had she not gone to Belong, when she did. When I visit I feel it's like an extension of my family. Thank you Belong so much.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this incredibly moving feedback. It is a privilege to support your sister and it is crucial to us that we make people's time with us as special and positive as possible. It will mean a great deal to our village teams to read your comments and I will ensure they are shared with everyone. Thanks again.
My dad has been a resident at Belong for 14 months. He settled in really quickly and enjoys using the facilities. Staff and care/support are extremely polite and caring towards Dad. He enjoys going to the gym. There is a Bistro where we can eat together. I would highly recommend this care home.
Thank you for taking the time to complete a review of Belong Atherton. The team will be pleased to hear about your experience and work very hard to ensure the village is a happy place for residents. We are particularly delighted that your dad has settled in quickly and enjoying the facilities and that you find everyone polite and caring. Thank you for choosing Belong Atherton.
The atmosphere in the household is evident as soon as you enter. Staff are welcoming, friendly and always on hand to answer any query and always with a smile.
After a rather gruelling night in A&E with my husband, we returned to Belong in the early hours of the morning and were greeted with a smile and a cup of tea, wonderful, can't praise the staff enough.
Nothing is too much trouble and the awareness of staff is commendable.
I am so grateful that my husband is receiving such excellent care and the peace of mind this gives me is incalculable. Thank you.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post this incredibly moving feedback. It is a privilege to support you and your husband and it is crucial to us that we make people's time with us as special and positive as possible. It will mean a great deal to our village and household teams to read your comments and I will ensure they are shared with everyone. Thanks again.
We have been more than happy with the care our friend has received ever since we move him to Belong Atherton from his previous care home. Belong has certainly been a step up with his level of care. The management, receptionists and staff are all to be congratulated. His room and all the facilities on offer are excellent. We feel that some things could still be improved but overall Belong is in my opinion a wonderful place to spend your later years.
Thank you for leaving such a kind review of Belong Atherton. We are so happy to hear that your friend is enjoying their time here, we aim to make their time with us as comfortable as possible. Thank you for choosing Belong Atherton.
Ever since we brought my friend to Belong Atherton we have been impressed, his room is so much better than his previous care home and all the facilities including the Bistro are superb. We have nothing but praise for the management team including reception, everyone is so helpful and we can thank them enough. The staff are brilliant at looking after vulnerable people and are appreciated by friends and family. We find the monthly fees quite high but wouldn't want our friend to live anywhere else other than Belong. He gets the best care possible.
Thank you for your positive feedback on the support provided at Belong Atherton. We do our best to understand every customer and it is a pleasure to have your friend living with us. Thank you for choosing Belong Atherton.
Very friendly staff, always going the extra mile. Supportive to family. Fantastic environment and atmosphere and always made to feel welcome.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. We aim to maintain high standards at Belong Atherton; we are so delighted to hear this has been your experience. Thank you for choosing Belong.
Tyldesley House, where my sister resides, are a caring, competent team. They treat my sister with dignity, respect and love. They also go over and above what they need to do. Family and friends who visit are greeted in a warm and friendly way and express surprise how the staff are. Thank you so much.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. We aim to maintain high standards at Belong Atherton; we are so delighted to hear this has been your experience. Thank you for choosing Belong.
Mum goes to daycare service twice a week. Staff very supportive and encouraging. All respond to her and her needs.
Thank you so much for this lovely review! It will mean a great deal to our village and experience day teams to read your comments especially that you find our team supportive and encouraging. I will ensure your feedback is shared with everyone. Thanks again.
My mother transferred to Belong in October from a care home where her needs were not being met. The difference in the standard of care between Belong and the previous home is huge, with my mother requiring and now receiving the relatively intensive care her age and medical condition necessitate. I had high hopes of Belong from personal recommendations, and those hopes have, if anything, been surpassed. The care is excellent, as is the compassion displayed by the staff at Belong.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Atherton. We are so touched by your kind words and that you find the compassion and care from our team to be excellent. We will aim to keep our services to such high standards. Thank you for choosing Belong Atherton.
My mother entered Belong in March 2021 following a series of falls in her own home. She lived on Ena household until her death in September. The decision of choosing a care home was difficult and made more so with the Covid restrictions, however, we need not have worried as the care my mum received from the outset was excellent in all respects. Any care home can only be judged by the people themselves and at Belong we soon discovered a sensitive and professional management team and highly trained, compassionate carers. Belong really is a 'family', we were always made welcome whenever we visited, nothing was too much trouble, and I was supported emotionally at all stages of mum's time there. My mum was treated with the utmost kindness, dignity and respect, the level of care was above and beyond our expectations, especially at the end of her life. Thank you all so very much.
Please accept our condolences; it was a privilege to care for your mother and we are pleased to know she was happy and treated with the utmost kindness, dignity and respect during her time here. Thank you for your lovely review and we are so pleased you felt part of the 'Belong family' and made...
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 24 May 2018Outstanding
- CaringOutstanding
- EffectiveOutstanding
- ResponsiveOutstanding
- SafeGood
- Well-ledOutstanding
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 (25) & Events (0)
- 29 Jul 2026
Belong at Home, the dementia specialist home care service from Belong Villages, has retained its crown as the UK’s only not-for-profit operator to be named in the top 20 home...
- 21 Jul 2026
Belong Care Villages has been named as one of the UK’s top 10 small provider care homes by leading care comparison website Lottie. Our Wigan, Atherton and Macclesfield villages were...
- 20 Jul 2026
Colleagues across Belong villages are celebrating recognition at the prestigious Palliative and End of Life Care Awards 2026. Organised by Care Talk magazine, the awards recognise the individuals and teams...
There are no upcoming events for Belong Atherton.
Awards / Recognitions (25)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Belong Ltd
- 30 Jun 2022Recipient: Belong Atherton
- 30 Jun 2022Recipient: Belong Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Belong Atherton.
Meet the Team (4)

Award-winning former lead nurse, and support manager, Nicola Johnstone, was promoted to the role of general manager in November 2023.
Starting her career in the care sector in 2003, working for the former CLS group as a domestic assistant, Nicola completed qualifications in health and social care to enable progression to care assistant, senior carer and care team leader roles. Following completion of her BSc in adult nursing at Salford University in 2008, she joined Belong’s newly-opened Atherton village as one of its first nurses; gaining promotion to lead nurse just a year later. In 2014 she also attained a degree in leadership and management with West Cheshire College, which led eventually to her taking on her new role as support manager.
As a leading example of frontline nurses in social care, in 2018, Nicola was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet Prince Charles. She has subsequently helped to guide the Belong Atherton team to achieve platinum status in the Gold Standard Framework, to go with the village’s ‘outstanding’ rating awarded by the CQC.
She is a former ‘Nurse of the Year’ winner at the Wigan and Leigh Hospice Awards, and also a recipient of the ‘End of Life Care Award’ in the Great North West Care Awards.

Gill has worked in the care industry for the over 23 years, starting her career with CLS Care Services, as a Domestic Assistant at Golborne House. Whilst there, Gill progressed to the role of Care Assistant, and then made the move to another CLS Home, Sherwood House, as a Care Team Leader.
Gill then supported the Management Team at Belong Macclesfield for 12 months when it opened in 2007, before moving back to Sherwood House, when her career took a change of direction and she took on the role of Administrator at Belong Wigan when the village opened. Gill enjoyed this role for two years before being promoted to the Front of House Manager role at Belong Atherton, and is now a valuable member of the village management team.

Paul Woodcock is a highly skilled Village Nurse Manager and has won multiple nursing awards, including Social Care Nurse of the Year at the Great North West Care Awards 2025 and at the Wigan Borough Palliative and End of Life Care Awards 2025. In the same year, he also became an RCNI workforce development champion. With a focus on upskilling and continuous improvement, he leads by example and supports his team to deliver the highest standard of clinical care to Belong’s customers. He has a particular passion for end-of-life care and for developing the next generation of the workforce by supporting student nurses and newly qualified colleagues to grow into their full potential.
Paul’s passion for nursing was sparked during his early career as a support worker with Belong, when he was supported to complete an Access to Higher Education course, followed by a nursing degree at the University of Chester.
After qualifying, he took up a position on the Acute Medical Unit at Warrington Hospital, where he developed a broad range of clinical skills and gained valuable experience caring for acutely unwell people. He remained on Belong’s bank, working night shifts alongside his hospital role and after ten months, returned to Belong full-time as a Night Nurse, helping to strengthen the integration between night and day teams and providing care throughout the Covid 19 pandemic.He continues to positively influence the support teams in Belong Atherton and was part of the team which won the prestigious Chief Nurse Adult Social Care team Award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Care in 2025.

Lesley has an extensive career history in social care which began in a residential home in Salford, and later as a care assistant for social services for 9 years, before leaving to live in Holland and later Portugal.
On returning to England in 2004, Lesley returned to social care, working at Cornwall Care as a community carer, before progressing within the company and becoming an area manager for two areas of domiciliary care in the area of St Ives and in Falmouth.
Lesley returned back to Manchester, to be nearer to her parents in 2008, and managed a small residential home for people with mental illness before joining Belong, as the Registered Manager for the Belong at Home service in Atherton, in April 2019.
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