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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.
Clear and accurate communication of services and costs. Compassionate care and understanding of feelings of mum and relatives. Friendly, welcoming atmosphere. A culture of approachability and genuine kindness. I observed acts of kindness not relating to mum. A delicate and sympathetic approach and space when needed.
Thank you so much for this lovely review! It was a privilege to have your mum staying with us at Belong Atherton and the staff teams will be thrilled with this feedback that she enjoyed her time with us so much.
My 92-year-old aunt became a resident in Belong three weeks ago after nine weeks in the hospital. Being very frail she was unable to go back home to live alone. Classed as being residential/nursing she reluctantly became a resident in the Pretoria Household there. Initially, she found it difficult to settle however with the care of the staff she soon settled in. The kindness, patience and understanding of the staff on Pretoria has been unbelievable. The standard of care and cleanliness is top class. Everything possible is done to try and make the resident feel this is their home. We have watched her settle and become happier here. The best of the best.
Thank you so much for this lovely review! It is a privilege to have your Aunt staying with us at Belong Atherton and the staff teams will be thrilled with this feedback that she is enjoying her time with us so much. We aim to maintain high standards at Belong Atherton; we are so delighted to hear this has been your experience.
My wife needed end of life nursing care. Belong Atherton stood out from the other homes I visited. My reception was friendly and informative and I was able to view a room and see the household atmosphere. Once the place was offered I soon saw how friendly the staff were. It's fair to say that not only was my wife looked after but I felt supported too. I'd be happy to advise any friend how good they are.
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. We are delighted that you found our care service a valuable way of helping to support your wife as well as yourself. Thanks again for choosing Belong Atherton; it was a pleasure to have your wife with us.
The staff at Belong, both carers and staff are extremely helpful and caring given the diverse residents. Food is excellent.
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.
Very friendly atmosphere. Airy and well furnished. Staff are welcoming and show interest in every individual. Their care giving is very good.
Thank you for your positive feedback on the care and environment provided at Belong Atherton. We do our best to understand every customer and improve their well being.
My dad is in Astley Household. The staff are very caring and treat each patient as an individual. They act immediately on any issues and phone me if there are any problems. Health issues are taken seriously and acted upon when necessary. Very pleased with the household.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Atherton. We are pleased to hear that you are happy with the service provided.
I visit Belong everyday and the staff are really friendly and always provide me with help when I need it, which is great because I am not part of their establishment.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Atherton. We are pleased to hear that you are happy with the service provided.
My mother has been a resident at Belong Village (Atherton) since January of this year after she was discharged from hospital following a series of falls. We had looked at perhaps a dozen nursing homes prior to this, with Belong being the first and by far the very best. All others were judged on their standards and fell short. The open plan lounge and kitchen gives an open, warm and friendly feel which bustles with activities, much like a persons home. The bedrooms are a good size, each with their own en suite bathroom. The sunlight streams through the window. The standard of care and attention is excellent. The carers and nurses go above and beyond to provide loving care, which is second only to that of the family - even better in many cases.
My 92 year old mum has Alzheimer's. Six months ago we moved her from a care home where she had been for eighteen months. It was a big step to take but the decision to do so was easy as we had been very unhappy with mum's care. Now when any of us visit mum our stomachs no longer churn as we approach the home. We no longer dread what we will find or waste precious time sorting out problems to do with mum's care. She will never be happy due to the nature of her illness but we know that she is safe and well cared for and that makes all the difference. We are welcomed and put at ease. Mum has a lovely room where we can now enjoy spending time with her. The home is run efficiently and professionally and with understanding and compassion. We highly recommend Belong as a provider of care.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Atherton. We are pleased to hear that you are happy with the service you received.
My mum has been a resident of Belong for three and a half years, and nature of her condition has deteriorated during her stay. The home and the staff have been extremely proactive in adapting to her changing needs. I live over 100 miles away from Atherton, and visit my mum weekly, but the peace of mind that I have in knowing I can speak to someone 24 hours a day is also very reassuring. Even though my mum is no longer mobile she still partakes in lots of activities both on site and off, with a recent theatre trip to Manchester and another one planned are real highlights and provide a genuine boost.
Thank you for taking the time to submit your review of Belong Atherton. We are pleased to hear that you are happy with the support you/your relative receives. Kind regards.
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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