
All the staff are lovely, kind, attentive, and engagingSusan F(Daughter of Resident/Service User)



All the staff are lovely, kind, attentive, and engagingSusan F(Daughter of Resident/Service User)



Cairdean House is a modern, purpose-built care home in the beautiful village of Colinton, Edinburgh. The dedicated team offers specialist nursing, residential and dementia care within a home that has been designed with the needs of people living with dementia in mind.
Cairdean House has a homely feel and has been recently refurbished to ensure a premium, contemporary and comfortable environment. There are lots of spaces where residents can relax and...
Care Provided by Cairdean House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 90 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
Facilities
- 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
of care and support required by each individual. Premium rooms normally require an additional charge.
Nursing fees include the Funded Nursing Contribution (FNC) if you are eligible.
• All care and support including a monthly review of care plans
• All meals, snacks and drinks freshly prepared every day by our chef
• In-house café with homemade cakes, and a variety of speciality teas and coffees
• Use of in-house cinema
• Access to landscaped gardens
• Activities and lifestyle programme
• All utilities and other accommodation costs
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• WiFi internet access
appointments not covered by the NHS, toiletries, newspapers or magazines, any over the counter
medications that a GP wouldn’t normally prescribe such as paracetamol and indigestion relief, and any
other privately arranged healthcare. Should you require an escort to hospital appointments, we may apply
an agreed hourly charge for this service.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Cairdean House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Cairdean House to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
Support you may be entitled to
- If you choose a care home based in Scotland, you may be eligible for the Scottish Government's Free Personal Care funding of up to £260.30 per week (if you are over the age of 65) and Free Nursing Care funding of up to £117.10 per week. This support is not reflected in this fee amount.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Care UK
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Angela Burns (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2013
- Last Refurbishment: 2013
Room Information
- Single Rooms (90)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (90)
Parking
- Parking on-site
Cairdean House Reviews (124)
Cairdean House has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.838) out of 10, based on 31 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Cairdean House has 124 reviews.
I would certainly recommend anyone looking for a care home to take a look at Cairdean House Colinton.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a lovely, heart-warming review. It was a pleasure to celebrate such a huge milestone birthday with your Mum and for her to make the BBC morning live show was the icing on the cake! We very much appreciate the kind, supportive and touching words which...
My mum has dementia and we organised a stay at Cairdean for two weeks respite. It is such a difficult thing to do but Leona and the staff made me feel like mum would be in safe hands and I had nothing to worry about. That was indeed the case and going forward I have absolutely no worries about booking her in to stay again. Everyone was so lovely and she really enjoyed the daily activities. Although she can't remember being there, whenever I remind her about it she has a happy feeling so I can't ask for more than that!
Kind regards
Leona
Customer Relations Manager.
The staff are all very friendly.
Kind regards
Leona Thomson
Customer Relations Manager
As we found, after my sister suffered a stroke, choosing a care home is a challenging task, with many perspectives to be considered. For the loved one, there is apprehension about what lies ahead, given such a major change from living in their own home or moving from hospital. Among other things, they will be looking for a welcoming, homely, and friendly atmosphere as well as comfortable accommodation, food choices, and high levels of hygiene. After visits to several care homes, we found that Cairdean ticked all our boxes. Care is of a high standard, nursing and caring staff are capable and friendly, and the range of activities, which my sister can access, is impressive and fulfilling. The café is well stocked and spacious and welcoming for visitors, and the numerous open spaces, internal and external, give helpful variety. Our initial positive impression from the first point of contact with Leona, has been fully confirmed in the 3 years my sister has so far spent in Cairdean.
Thank you once again for taking the time to leave such lovely feedback,
Kind regards
Leona Thomson
Customer Relations Manager
My Dad moved into Cairdean just over a month ago. It was a huge decision for our family and the prospect of finding somewhere for Dad was intimidating to begin with. Due to a change in family circumstances we needed to find a place quickly. We approached Cairdean initially due to geography and reviews. My husband and I were able to quickly arrange a visit and were very impressed right from the start. The staff member who showed us round was excellent. We had a follow up call from the customer relations manager and were able to bring Dad for a visit very quickly after our visit. We were treated with the utmost courtesy and respect and felt our needs were understood and individualised. Dad moved into Cairdean 3 days later. The moving in went extremely smoothly and we couldn't have wished for better. Dad is settling in well and there is regular ongoing communication and we really cannot commend the staff highly enough. We feel that Cairdean cares about our family as a whole.
Kind regards
Leona Thomson
Customer Relations Manager
Although it has taken my sister a long time to settle, with short term memory challenges and coming to terms with loss of independence and control, her mobility and general well-being has improved. She also enjoys the exercise, activities and entertainers and the recent refurbishment has contributed to the relaxing outdoor spaces.
Having said that, the many changes in staff have been difficult at times creating issues with continuity and sometimes communication can be difficult because of language barriers.
Overall, we are grateful and impressed with care given in the Scott unit, especially during her illness last year.
We would like to also thank you for your kind words regarding the care provided on Scott Unit. This will be highly...
When our aunt's condition and health deteriorated we discussed different options. One was for home carers on a daily basis to assist her. She did not feel comfortable with that. The thought of strangers attending was not a solution for her. A decision was agreed that we look into care facilities which she would feel more "at home" with. The first visit was to Cairdean House. After visiting the others my aunt said "we should have just stopped at Cairdean House as it felt like home". From our initial meeting with the customer relations manager, Leona, it just felt right. My aunt quickly settled in and has not expressed any doubts. Her health and wellbeing have also improved. From our perspective we feel that as my aunt has 24 hour care and excellent facilities we have less concerns about how safe she is. Cairdean House feels like her home and not just another care facility. We have no hesitation in recommending Cairdean House to other families who want what is best for their relative.
Kind regards
Leona
Customer Relations Manager
My mum has moderate dementia and mobility issues and was living alone with care support. Mum moved into Cairdean at Christmas 2025 and settled in over the following 3 months. Mum was unsure at first but the staff have been amazing and the unit chosen was perfect for her. Mum enjoys living at Cairdean and is especially pleased with the activities and the company of other residents.
Kind regards
Leona
Customer Relations Manager.
The facilities within Cairdean are very well designed with a large cafe/social space along with numerous quieter areas and gardens.
Another major factor that has enhanced my Mothers stay is the amount of flexibility with regards room decoration, planting the garden and also visitors and friends. This is all very geared to ensuring the residents feel this is 'their home'.
Kind regards
Leona
Customer Relations Manager
All the staff try very hard to meet the needs of the residents and when I was abroad recently visiting family they went out of their way to set up online meetings with my Mum so that we could keep in touch during this time.
On visiting the home there is an overall sense of kindness and patience with how the staff interact with both residents and visitors. The activity schedule is excellent and my Mum, although not able to join in some of the activities, thoroughly enjoys the ones she does attend, particularly those involving music.
Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Cairdean.
Kind regards
Leona Thomson
Customer Relations Manager
Dad is quite happy in the care home, sadly he doesn't want to engage too much, and sleeps most of the day. However, staff are always attendant, looking after his needs, and make an effort to try and encourage him to get up and moving.
I am extremely happy with the care received in the care home. All the staff are lovely, kind, attentive, and engaging. Some have also previously known dad whilst working as carers before employment in the care home.
Thank you so much for such a positive review. We are so happy to see Dad has settled in well with us.
Kind regards
Leona
Customer Relations Manager
Mum's life changed overnight after Dad passed away. She was no longer able to stay at home due to her early stage dementia. We visited many residential care home to find a suitable place for her to move to. The most important factor was to find a home that was happy and busy with lots of organized activities, to keep mum occupied. Cairdean stood head and shoulders above all the others we viewed. The facilities and staff were lovely, the slate of activities was interesting and varied. Mum has now been there nearly a month, and has settled in very well thanks to the caring staff. She is kept very busy, which is key as the last thing we wanted was for her to be left alone, missing Dad's company. The onboarding process, headed by Leona, was excellent and made the whole transition so much easier.
Kind regards
Leona Thomson
Customer Relations Manager
My wife's dementia was accelerating and it was becoming increasingly difficult to look after her at home, even with the help of visiting carers. So I booked her into Cairdean. I took her there in my car and was met at the front door by staff with a wheel chair. We were taken to her very well appointed room. She was given a most comfortable reclining wheelchair so it is now easy to move her around the home. The staff are so kind and caring, not only to my wife but also to me. The facilities are first rate, with a comfortable cafe where a wide range of activities is laid on. Visiting singers, a Christmas party and other entertainment. The food is exceptional, enticing menus for lunch and dinner - they even allow me to partake! I am also being given a Christmas meal with my wife on the day. It was a wrench for me to see my wife depart our home, but I am very happy she is now in the right place. Wonderful caring staff, excellent facilities, great food, lovely for my wife and for me also.
Thank you so much for this lovely feedback. We are so happy you have both settled well into the Cairdean House Family.
Kind regards
Leona
Customer Relations Manager
Mum went to Cairdean for 2 weeks respite. This was our first experience of using a care home for respite. The staff made the process really easy, from giving us information and answering any questions we had. It was really helpful to be able to visit the care home first. No obligation or pushy sales which was really appreciated. What appealed to me about Cairdean was the amount and variety of activities on offer 7 days a week, I knew that would help mum feel settled and have an enjoyable stay. The staff were exceptionally caring and very skilled in supporting someone with dementia. Cairdean's management team were very involved and supportive, they had great advice on how to prepare for respite. We all felt very supported and seen. It was particularly helpful to be able to use the onsite cafe area when visiting mum, it made our visit very relaxed and the cakes were fabulous!!! I cannot thank the Cairdean staff enough for caring for mum, would highly recommend.
Kind regards
Leona
CRM
But it doesn't stop there: the period leading up to Dad being admitted to Cairdean was unsettling for the family, particularly Mum, who was going through all the emotions of guilt, of sadness, of feeling that she had let Dad down. It was a difficult time, but the staff have been very mindful of the impact on loved ones, and Mum has settled into her new way of life too with the support and encouragement of staff. Cairdean has enabled Mum to be a wife again, rather than being a carer for Dad, and you can't put a value on that!
I can't recommend Cairdean highly enough.
Thank you very much for such a positive review and we really appreciate such lovely feedback! We always look to support all involved with the move, not just the resident, so it is wonderful to read your amazing comment with regards to your Mum. Thank you very much and we are so glad to have your Dad with us.
Kind regards
Leona
Customer Relations Manager
We looked at a number of homes and Cairdean was different class. It is very relaxed, and extremely friendly. The way they deal with the stress and anxiety (for all parties) of moving into a home is first class. They could not do enough to make my Mother feel that this is her residence, and she has so much freedom to do as much or as little as she wants. The culture in Cairdean is just so relaxed and caring, and the schedule of activities is extensive. Management are always visible and very approachable and will do everything possible to ensure residents are genuinely happy. It is a lovely environment with access to several gardens and huge sunny lounges and cafes. My Mother has so many visitors who are made very welcome and love to visit her there.
Kind regards
There were lots of activities at Cairdean House but my Aunt has very poor sight so couldn't attend any without being escorted by staff. She was therefore reluctant to participate as she didn't want to bother the staff. Perhaps a wee bit more encouragement from staff might have helped but not a criticism.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts regarding Cairdean House. Your kind words regarding our staff are immensely appreciated. In regard to the issues you encountered regarding medication, we are glad to hear that Cairdean managed to resolve this for you. Our team are always dedicated to assisting...
The staff were compassionate, professional, and genuinely cared for her well-being. It gave me a much-needed break, allowing me to recharge and come back to caregiving with renewed energy and patience. The peace of mind knowing she's was in good hands was invaluable. I highly recommend their respite services to anyone in need of support.
My mum really didn't want to leave!
Kind regards
Leona
I visited a number of care homes around the Edinburgh area before selecting Cairdean House. It was easily my first choice.
The 'feeling' that I had from the various visits I made prior to making the decision to move my husband into the home, went a long way to giving me comfort that I had made the right decision.
All of the staff that I have encountered both during the initial visits and since my husband became a resident have been extremely professional and friendly. A particular member of staff made the whole process streamless and easy, and was always available to answer any questions that I had from the outset.
My husband has settled in so well, and the way that he has adapted to his new home is comforting to us as a family.
I can't recommend Cairdean House enough.
Kind regards
Customer Relations Manager
A thank you to the full team Cairdean (activities, nurses, carers, catering, facilities, management) who put on the VE day party yesterday - everything was thought off and it was clearly appreciated by all who took part, which is also timely with regard to the very appropriate staff appreciation notices and events last week.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience and views on our latest event. We really love to see our residents, families and visitors enjoy the events. Kind regards
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (42) & Events (0)
- 29 May 2026
Care UK’s commitment to supporting residents has been nationally recognised, as the organisation took home the large care provider of the year accolade at the 2026 Care Home Awards. At...
- 29 May 2026
Residents in Care UK homes love getting out and about in nature where they can and, for one Dorset-based home, they’re celebrating World Bee Day with a buzz! Wimborne-based home,...
- 29 May 2026
Colleagues across Care UK are celebrating after being shortlisted in eleven categories at the Stars of Social Care Awards, the most the company has ever been shortlisted in at the...
There are no upcoming events for Cairdean House.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Cairdean House.
Meet the Team (1)

I’m proud to be the home manager at Cairdean House care home. I’ve been a qualified nurse for over 40 years and have managed care homes for the past 18 years. Along the way, I’ve completed my SVQ 4 in management, all mandatory training and hold certificates in working with children with special needs and in inclusion skills.
I chose to work at Care UK because of its strong reputation as a good company. In my role, it’s important to be open, honest, organised, and to have a good sense of humour. Having strong listening skills and responding to issues in a timely manner is essential.
My favourite part of the day is walking around the home, chatting with staff, residents and relatives, and looking for ways to continue improving our environment. One of my proudest achievements was commissioning a care home from a building site into a luxury care setting.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see residents enjoying some well-deserved self-care, feeling happy and getting involved in activities. It’s also great to receive good ratings from external and internal inspections.
Outside of work, I enjoy music, singing and spending time with my granddaughter.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cairdean House
What types of Care is Cairdean House registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Cairdean House have?
There are 90 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Cairdean House?
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 Cairdean House to the centre of Edinburgh?
3.4 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 Cairdean House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Cairdean House has an Enhanced Service -more info.