
I know Mum is safe, cared for and loved.Nicola B(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Alderwood Care Home should be made the benchmark which all other care homes can aspire to.Claudine C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

We have become members of a very large and loving family where everybody is important.D W(Husband of Resident/Service User)

I know Mum is safe, cared for and loved.Nicola B(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Alderwood Care Home should be made the benchmark which all other care homes can aspire to.Claudine C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

We have become members of a very large and loving family where everybody is important.D W(Husband of Resident/Service User)

Alderwood Care Home provides award-winning, person-centred residential, nursing and dementia care from a skilled and passionate team. Rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission* (CQC), it is also accredited by the Gold Standards Framework for compassionate end-of-life care.
With a focus on making life meaningful, every day, residents enjoy a fun and varied schedule of activities and events designed to support their health and wellbeing. These include live performances from...
Care Provided by Alderwood Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- 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 65 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
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Smoking not permitted
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Alderwood Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Alderwood 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
- Nikki Leaney (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (65)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (65)
Visiting
- Residents' visitors are always welcome, with no restrictions as to times/days.
Parking
- Free on-site parking is available.
Alderwood Care Home Reviews (107)
Alderwood Care Home has a Review Score of 10 (10.000) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Alderwood Care Home has 107 reviews.
Staff are wonderful. Very caring and patient.
Facilities are clean and comfortable
Overall very happy with all aspects of Mum's care and day to day living.
Mum has been a resident at Alderwood Care Home for nearly a year now and is living with Alzheimer's. We can't thank the wonderful staff enough for supporting my mum after she broke her leg recently, she is now up and walking about and back to her old self with the support of everyone. The Activity staff are wonderful, events are always going on and we especially enjoyed a recent resident/family/friends BBQ. We are always made to feel welcome, thank you.
My father has been a resident in Alderwood Care Home, in the dementia ward, since 11 Feb 2021.
The care home manager has been absolutely amazing since day one when she took the time to send an email confirming his arrival and what he was doing - making pizza and being charming.
The next amazing thing for me and my family was a video meeting set up so we could see and talk to him on his birthday which was very emotional because of the Covid Pandemic I had not seen my father since November 2020 when he first went into care.
He has a lovely room overlooking beautiful gardens, his own on-suite and it is always spotless. All the staff are so friendly and happy and the food is fabulous - a major concern to me as my father has a great appetite.
Although my father's dementia is now far more progressed and he no longer knows who I am, he always gives me the biggest smile on my visits and usually has crumbs down his top from his latest snack.
The rooms, staff care and overall experience is splendid. My husband has settled in so much better than I expected. The atmosphere is delightful and the staff and management so helpful. The ability to visit at any time and it is made possible that I can have dinner or lunch with him so comforting.
We are lucky the home has a great manager, who has so much experience in caring for the residents.
Our mum has been a resident in Alderwood Care Home since June 2022. Mum has dementia and was extremely anxious at the thought of leaving her home and moving to somewhere new. The care home manager took the time to visit mum prior to the move to introduce herself and to reassure mum that she would be moving to a place where she would be well cared for. We cannot praise the staff highly enough for making the move as stress free as possible and for the continuing support they have given to both mum and us. The staff look after mum with kindness and compassion. Everything about the home is amazing - wonderful staff, lovely food, activities every day, a happy atmosphere and excellent management of mum's nursing needs. We feel that Alderwood provides the best of everything and it is a great comfort to feel that our mum is so well looked after
We had two other care homes to view when we visited Alderwood but we knew instantly this was where we wanted mum to live. The manager was so helpful and friendly and the team really cared for mum after a few days she looked like the lady we knew before her hospital stay. Everything about this home is magnificent, the bedrooms are beautifully furnished as are all the communal rooms. There is a hairdresser/nail bar/cinema/massage room. We always took a peek at the menu when we visited and the choices were excellent all home cooked by the resident chef. There is also a private family dining room for celebrations. More importantly, the care and respect they show their residents and their families is outstanding. Mum passed away in her room with no drama and all the dignity she deserved With special thanks to the Manager and her team.
Cannot fault the comfort and warmth of his new home and the opportunities he has had are beyond what I could offer myself.
Staff at the home are always responsive to the individual needs of residents and their families. Mum's care is constantly reviewed and adjusted as her condition progresses. The atmosphere is always friendly and calm. The activities are varied and frequent. I have peace of mind knowing that Mum could not be better looked after.
My mum moved to Alderwood shortly after the death of her husband when she was 99. She has dementia and unfortunately can be aggressive and challenging. But the team at Alderwood have worked wonders. My mum is now calm, smiling and sociable, and she really enjoys all the activities. I find the staff so kind and thoughtful and am relieved to have found a home where she is safe and so well looked after.
A really amazing, special place. We are very lucky to have found Alderwood to look after our Mum. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff who are some of the happiest, kindest people I have ever met. Lots of fun days out, lots of entertainment and activities throughout the day - mum is totally stimulated, never bored and looked after fantastically well. Thank you, Alderwood!
My mother came to Alderwood in March 2021 and she was severely depressed and giving up on life. The Home Manager and Nursing team have been truly wonderful in giving mum her life back, which is the best life she has had in years. Mum does so many fun activities, going out on outings all of which she loves, and is now interacting well with everyone, smiling and laughing which we haven't seen her do for a long time before she came to Alderwood. We now get to enjoy our happy mum when we come to visit and really can't thank Alderwood enough for this.
The culture of care is excellent - the staff are very well trained, empathic and importantly staff levels are appropriate. The facilities and range of activities are broad and my mum thoroughly enjoys all the activities on offer leading a busy and stimulating life. Mum has made many friends amongst both residents and staff and it is clear that Alderwood Care Home is very much her home. Catering makes me jealous. We entrust mum to the care of Alderwood Care Home and do so knowing that she is very well cared for.
The care my mom has received at Alderwood for three years has been excellent. She has dementia and other health problems. All the staff are friendly kind and understanding of us as a family, as we all live quite a distance away. Most importantly the staff treat my mom with loving kindness which has brought the best out in her. Couldn’t ask for more and I do have quite a bit of experience of care homes. There was a jubilee party at the weekend at Alderwood and the atmosphere was lovely, with whole families visiting which included lots of children and even dogs. Thank you, Alderwood and all the staff who truly go above and beyond.
The manager and her team are excellent - they go above and beyond. I am very grateful for the care and support they provide my mother. It is a relief for us to know that she is safe and well looked after.
The home is excellent from the manager down to all support staff. Every member of staff has been lovely caring and helpful, the activities offered are varied and enjoyable. I cannot thank the staff enough. Alderwood is a wonderful place.
We feel Mum is living her best life with dementia at Alderwood Care Home. She is safe, extremely well cared for, occupied and most importantly, loved. Alderwood Care Home is welcoming to all, light and clean with a good flow of energy and humour.
Mum is so happy here and we really don't have to worry about her anymore. The staff are so caring and supportive of her needs whilst giving her the dignity she needs. This place is really exceptional and whilst it is not cheap I am reassured that Mum is being well cared for and that is priceless.
I am so grateful for the care that Mum is receiving in Alderwood Care Home. I love the amount of effort that is put into bringing joy to the residents, with all the activities and entertainment, great food, lovely garden and indoor spaces, and warmth and affection of staff. I spend a bit of time in Alderwood Care Home every week, I can pop in any time, there are a few family members who are often there. I find it a pleasant place to be, a peaceful, kind community, made possible by the excellent staff. I am particularly glad to have chosen Alderwood Care Home because they always see Mum as a person. There was a period when the Alzheimers' made Mum agitated and her behaviour challenging. The manager and staff worked really hard to help her through that, (with the mental health team). She needed a lot of support for a few weeks, but they were so patient and persistent, they didn't give up on her. Now Mum is content again, and the sociable side of her personality is back. An excellent care home!
Mum has been cared for at Alderwood Care Home for the past 5 years. They keep her safe and well which is most important, as due to her advanced dementia she has no ability to care for herself independently now. All the staff seem kind and caring and keep me up to date with mum's condition. My only reason for scoring 'value for money' as 4 stars is that mum is no longer able to enjoy as many of the activities as she did when she was more able. Otherwise, I am really pleased that we chose Alderwood as her home.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 19 May 2018Outstanding
- CaringOutstanding
- EffectiveGood
- 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 (9) & Events (0)
- 07 Aug 2026
A Colchester care home organised a surprise visit from a majestic shire horse for resident Sue, who has loved horses since she was a small child, followed by a special...
- 10 Jun 2026
The sounds of a brass band brought back a lifetime of treasured memories for Jenny Watton, aged 89, whose deep-rooted connection to the Salvation Army inspired a special surprise organised...
- 09 Apr 2026
An Essex care home’s partnership with a day nursery is bringing generations together through shared activities and music, creating lasting benefits for both residents and children. The three and four-year-olds...
There are no upcoming events for Alderwood Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (23)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Carebase
- 31 Jul 2025Recipient: Alderwood Care Home
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Carebase
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Alderwood Care Home.
Meet the Team (1)

Nikki has been qualified as a nurse for over 30 years, with 23 years of experience in specialised care for the elderly in the private sector.
“Every day I feel lucky to be in a profession that I truly love and to be part of so many people’s lives. I’ve had so many heart-warming and humbling experiences over the years with some truly amazing rewards.”
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