
Little touches like daffodils on St Davids' day showed how much staff listened and understoodKeith B(Son of Resident/Service User)

We know our mum is safe, cared for, happy and in her ever after home. Thank you.J C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff are kind, helpful and jolly, which makes the place homely.Sandy E(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Little touches like daffodils on St Davids' day showed how much staff listened and understoodKeith B(Son of Resident/Service User)

We know our mum is safe, cared for, happy and in her ever after home. Thank you.J C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff are kind, helpful and jolly, which makes the place homely.Sandy E(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Gainsborough Care Home offers a home for life in Swanage, providing affordable residential, respite and dementia care. Gainsborough is set in a picturesque Purbeck seaside town, just a stone’s throw from Dorset’s stunning Jurassic Coast.
After being completely refurbished to a very high standard Gainsborough is fully equipped to deal with a range of needs and requirements. Gainsborough has three comfortable lounges and the dining room mean there is plenty of...
Care Provided by Gainsborough Care Home
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
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 48 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
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
- Meals
- Activities
- Designated care advisor
- Support with funding
- 24-hour care updates via our app
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- And more.
In fact, we have NO HIDDEN FEES and will never ask you to pay more than your agreed weekly fee.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Gainsborough Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Gainsborough 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
- Agincare Homes Holdings Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Vicky Boursnell-Brooks (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2014
Room Information
- Single Rooms (48)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (48)
Visiting
- Visitors welcome anytime
Parking
- Ample parking
Gainsborough Care Home Reviews (60)
Gainsborough Care Home has a Review Score of 9.5 (9.492) out of 10, based on 14 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Gainsborough Care Home has 60 reviews.
I feel very blessed that mum is safe, clean and content there.
Thank you all for making a difficult time as smooth as possible for us.
Hi Naomi, thank you so much for your lovely words. The team will be delighted to see this review. I will ensure that this is passed on to all of the team on your behalf.
I have a peaceful room with a view of the garden.
I have made new friend and I feel at home.
It is hard to move into a care home, but the staff have made it easier for me. Catherine and all the staff are brilliant.
Thank you very much for your lovely comments. The team will be delighted to see this review.
I have peace of mind that Dad is safe and being looked after.
I have not rated value for money as I have nothing to compare it to.
Thank you very much for your kind words and feedback, I will be sure to pass this on to the team.
Lovely, clean and spacious. Staff was very friendly but also hard working. Very polite. So good with the residents. All seemed good during our visit, and well run.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We will be sure to pass this onto the Gainsborough team.
Since then dad has been cared for and become well know by all of the staff and particularly by two or three members. It has very recently come to our attention that a member of staff purchased/ obtained a book relating to our family's history within motorcycle racing . Namely mums brother , dad's brother in law . This just does go to show how much you take in when listening to personal life stories of individuals, they are not just a body or resident, they are someone who you do care about.
Thank you
From Dad and Mum's family
Thank you for you kind feedback. I am pleased to see the impact the book has made to your father and how our teams are supporting our residents in such a person-centred way. I will be sure to pass your feedback to the team.
Every single member of staff is compassionate and shows great empathy to my father and all the residents. They are always smiling and happy which reflects in the residents. Nothing is too much for them. I often hear laughter between residents and staff in the corridors. They show true concern and care for me as well as my father. It has been a difficult journey for my father and our family and at last, with such wonderful care, we can visit dad knowing he is peaceful at last. Thank you.
Thank you for your positive feedback. We are pleased that your father has been able to settle well at Gainsborough and that you have found the staff team compassionate and empathetic. I will be sure to pass on your feedback to the team, who will be delighted to hear this.
On every visit, the staff are always friendly and welcoming. My mums room is kept clean and tidy. Mum is very happy with the care she is receiving. She is check on at regular intervals and has everything she needs. Mum needs assistance with eating and feeding. Help is given readily by the staff. Overall we are very happy with the care she is receiving.
We are so pleased that you are finding your mothers experience at Gainsborough such a positive one and you are happy with the care provision and the environment. I will be sure to pass on your comments to the team.
The staff are lovely but always short-staffed. The laundry service is dreadful. Numerous lost items and ruined clothing. Very poorly staffed member of staff does her best but is also a cleaner!! The food is excellent.
We are sorry to read your views of Gainsborough. We take all feedback received very seriously and will be sure to review the concerns raised and ensure these are managed where improvements can be made to improve the service offered. I am pleased to read you found the food excellent and will be sure to pass this feedback onto the kitchen team also.
Mum feels settled, happy and very well cared for and this is down to you and all at Gainsborough - we can't thank you enough
It has been very stressful for all the families and residents of the care home that closed and we have been glad that we were able to help. Gainsborough tried to do all it could to help the transition go as smoothly as possible, and I'm very happy to read this review that confirms we did actually achieve this.
The manager & all the staff are extremely kind & helpful & always do all they can to make my friend feel happy & contented.After her initial distress on moving into a care home, she definitely now feels that Gainsborough is her home. Thank you Gainsborough Care Home.
This is really lovely to read, thank you. We do our best to try to ensure that all residents are happy and content. Our team is wonderful and are caring and kind and they do pay attention to detail.
My mum passed away peacefully on 5th June at Gainsborough, with family around her, after a happy two and a half months as a resident there. Suffering from Alzheimer's, she had become increasingly anxious and unhappy at her previous care home, but the move to the area lifted both her spirits and ours (her three sons and our families) - it's clear to me this was down purely to the lovely attentive and cheerful staff and a better environment - a nice room with a view of the pretty garden. My heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to the team led by one member of staff in particular, who made her final months a peaceful and relaxed one - we will be forever in your debt for that, thank you. Xxx
Our dedicated team do everything they can to make the lives of our residents better, especially when they are at the end of their journey. Mum was a very special lady, and we are all very sad at her passing. However, we are all so very proud to have been apart of her life. We are very lucky to...
My mother who has vascular dementia has been at the Gainsborough Care Home since February 2025. She is so happy there, which I never thought I would be able to say! The staff have been excellent at helping her make the difficult transition from home to care home. I cannot speak highly enough of the staff from admin to catering. The caters are wonderful and mum loves them all. From being confused and anxious she is now relaxed and feels safe. Her room is beautiful and she is able to have her own belongings there to make it more homely. Visitors are always welcome at any time.
This is a really wonderful review, thank you. Gainsborough is a really lovely home and we are very lucky to have a team which is really supportive and responsive to our residents and their families. As a team we have always been dedicated to ensuring that all our residents feel safe and their general health and well being is paramount.
My mother recently came to live at the Gainsborough after two and a half years in a different home, who after a less than happy time there they eventually admitted they were "unable to meet her needs". Since mum came to the Gainsborough she has become much happier, far less anxious and regained her old sense of humour. The nice surroundings (choice of lounges, lots of light coming in, garden etc.) have contributed greatly, but so has the interaction with staff and the community feeling from relatives of other residents, which is generated by an overall feeling of a happy home and led by good management.
We are very lucky to have a wonderful variety of absolutely amazing residents. They are all wonderful to be around and are all part of the Gainsborough family. We do our very best to give all our residents the attention they need and we try to encourage everyone to be part of social interactions....
I would like to thank all the staff for the kindness shown to my husband. He has recently had several visitors who have all commented of the high standard of care that he receives. Personally I feel that the staff have also been very supportive and helpful towards me. A big thank you to you all.
This is a very lovely read. The staff at Gainsborough have always been very responsive, and we have always done our best to ensure our residents receive the highest standard of care, encouragement and support.
They made a big fuss of my mum on her birthday. She loves visits from Blue the dog.
The friendly banter with staff makes a big difference.
This is a very reflective review as all staff make the effort to get to know our residents and their families and we all get involved with residents birthdays to make the day special.
My experience is one of good care for my sister. Whenever I visit her she is comfortable and clean, the staff are very friendly and know her by name. The management listens to any concerns I have about her which is extremely important to me. They answer all my questions regarding my sister and put my mind at rest so that I can enjoy my visits with her. She is so much better now than when she first arrived from hospital, she interacts and has a better quality of life. Many thanks to all those at Gainsborough.
Thank you for this wonderful review which is very reflective of our staff and care home.
Very pleased with service to/for resident mother and very consistent communication and care provision information with myself. Have very much had a positive experience with staff (both management and frontline).
This is a lovely, positive review and very reflective on the care and devotion we give to our residents.
I am happy for my wife to be a resident and be looked after.
We are happy to be able to take care of all her needs and are glad she is staying with us here at Gainsborough Care Home.
A very friendly and helpful home. The staff not only look after the residents but also family and friends. Since my mother moved into the home, she is looking better and is very well looked after.
This review is really reflective of how much we really care about the residents, their families and friends and the staff. We really put a lot of effort into ensuring everybody's general well-being whilst in the home and really appreciate this being recognised by family members. Thank you.
Dad has put on weight as the food is very good and he is well-fed. I can say that I am very happy with the care that Dad receives at Gainsborough.
We really appreciate feedback like this as the team do a wonderful job of caring for our residents. We do have a lot of laughter with our residents and the team interactions are second to none.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 21 May 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 (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Gainsborough Care Home.
There are no upcoming events for Gainsborough Care Home.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Gainsborough Care Home.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Gainsborough Care Home.
Meet the Team (1)

Juliet has been working at Gainsborough Care Home since 2017 as an Administrator. During this time, Juliet has grown with the home and has been a valued team member, understanding the needs of the home and the residents.
In 2022 Dawn Hand became the new Registered Manager and appointed Juliet as her Deputy reinforcing the Management Team, new ideas and structure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gainsborough Care Home
What types of Care is Gainsborough Care Home registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Gainsborough Care Home have?
There are 48 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Gainsborough Care Home?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Gainsborough Care Home to the centre of Swanage?
0.8 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 Gainsborough Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Gainsborough Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.