
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.
We viewed quite a few care homes, both in Edinburgh and Mum's hometown, Cairdean was by far the one that was the most welcoming, offered most activities and gave us a feeling that, although a large care home, they had done their upmost to make it feel homely, warm and welcoming. The ratio of staff to residents is by far the best we have seen.
We are delighted and relieved that, after a few weeks, Mum is starting to settle in. She says she has made some new friends and always says when we visit 'the staff are so caring and kind here', completely unprompted by us.
The genuine, friendly atmosphere in Cairdean is much appreciated by us.
The only problem we have experienced is with some of the communication around the finances, not from anyone at Cairdean, but from the central financial offices/department of Care UK. It was a little stressful, with wrong amounts being billed, and we needed to follow up and clarify things, but it seems ok now.
In summary, we are thankful for Dad being in Cairdean during this season of his life when he needs so much care and attention. Many thanks for your care and support of Dad and our family.
We are very pleased to hear you have been so well supported by the team at Cairdean House during your father’s move into the home and that you are delighted with the friendly and genuine atmosphere there. As a team, we ensure relatives are communicated with at every stage of the process and on an...
Initially, we were happy with the care being provided for my mother, but it has become apparent that there are several issues with the staff management, the knowledge and experience of the staff caring for people with a lived experience of Dementia. There was a serious incident with my mother, she called stating she had been assaulted by a member of staff. When we arrived there was an injury to my mother's leg. It has been reported to the care inspectorate and an internal investigation is ongoing. It was explained that this carer will not work with my mother again, but is still at work, which even if it is still being investigated and an allegation, surely the member of staff would have no clinical contact with fellow residents until the process is completed. We have been given no further information from the manager, so not involved in the process, disgusting behaviour by all involved. We are in the process of moving our mother on, please don't allow your family member to stay here.
We are tremendously disappointed to hear of your mother’s experience at Cairdean House. At Care UK, we take reported incidents such as these extremely seriously and cooperate with regulators to ensure they are investigated thoroughly. Whilst this complaint was promptly raised to the appropriate...
Moving Mum in was something I felt quite anxious about, however, the team helped and were readily available to help with questions. Of note, was the medical assistance the team offered in transferring the GP Mum was using, including how they have understood Mum's needs.
Mum has settled in very quickly and I can see just how stimulated she is, smiling and laughing again. I even get told by Mum that she is too busy to speak with me just now. Such a transition from the loneliness and isolation Mum was experiencing beforehand.
I feel very fortunate that this is Mum's new home and she in safe and good hands.
At Cairdean House Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks, the Care UK team.
There are so many activities going on that Mum can choose where she can go to.
There is a lovely atmosphere there, the staff are all so friendly and welcoming. The customer relations manager, in particular, has helped Mum with the transition and with all the family members. I live in Kent but my two sisters live closer by.
At Cairdean House Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one. Thank you for your time and we look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks, the Care UK team.
The customer relations manager was very helpful during the application process and accommodated our need to move Dad in on her day off. We did feel that Dad's room wasn't quite ready for him when he moved in. It was minor issues that were easily fixed but it did affect the way we felt at what was already a very difficult time. This was a shame as it was avoidable however, the staff were able to sort out these minor issues quickly and since then we have been very happy.
We are pleased to hear your father has had a positive experience in moving to Cairdean House, with a warm reception from the team and a full activities schedule for him, and all, to enjoy! At Cairdean House, our catering team work hard to ensure the meals provided are nutritious, made with fresh...
Cairdean House Care Home has been transformational for my dad. It is an exceptionally welcoming and friendly place where all staff always greet residents by name. The nursing care and activity programmes are comforting and stimulating. The facilities are beautifully maintained with exceptional attention to detail. The meals are nutritious. Dad’s regained lost weight. The hospitality to residents’ visitors is very welcome, especially the cakes! After his hospital stay, my dad really appreciates that staff always come to help quickly when he needs to use his buzzer. Cairdean is a highly nurturing and professional setting that we can’t thank enough for their care and support of Dad.
My father recently moved into Cairdean House Care Home following an extended stay in hospital. From the outset, his level of care had been outstanding. Staff are incredibly engaging and caring and have made the transition very easy for my dad. The home is very well-appointed and maintained to a high standard. The facilities and activities ensure that Dad's day is filled with engaging and interesting opportunities and he is a willing participant. It is comforting to see that staff are constantly assessing residents and encouraging them to participate in activities that best suit their own, and other residents', needs. Since arriving at Cairdean my dad's physical and mental health have improved dramatically and I have no doubt that much of that improvement has come around through the individual attention and support he has received from staff. The level of communication we receive is first-class and it is a huge comfort to know that he is in safe hands and being so well looked after.
My lovely mum has only been a resident for three weeks and the staff have been absolutely fantastic at settling her in. They really go out of their way to ensure both residents and relatives are fully supported.
The cafe on the first floor is second to none and a lovely place to have some 'mother and daughter' time to chat over a coffee and a cake.
The weekly timetable of activities is very encouraging to see with a great spread of different activities.
As a new resident, it will take some time for Mum to adjust but I couldn't have chosen a better home for her which provides enormous comfort to me, so all I can say is a great big thank you to all at Cairdean!
At Cairdean House Care Home - Care UK we set a high standard for ourselves, so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.
Many thanks, the Care UK team.
Mum moved into Cairdean House in March. With family members, I visited other care homes, but always came back to Cairdean House. There was always a warm welcome from everyone and always a positive and active vibe, making a very tough decision easier. I wanted somewhere that was near to me for easy visiting, allowed dogs, was modern, bright and had a garden. The timetable of activities on offer had to be suitable to my mum and 'doable'. I found that Cairdean met the brief, along with recommendations from friends.
The staff are fantastic, who can't do enough for the residents; and relatives too! There is a good choice of food and snacks available when required. There are plenty of communal areas to sit in including a cafe on the first floor.
If Mum is not too chipper, I help with the garden and chat to other residents which is a joy. What a laugh we have.
It will take time for Mum to adjust, but she is safe, I am happy to leave her and I have the support that I need.
We've always been impressed with the warmth of reception at Cairdean. The staff are welcoming and friendly (especially those who now know my mum well) and very thorough in their assessment of care needs. Comprehensive detail is efficiently recorded for medication, physical ability and aids, dietary requirements, details of any preferences, etc.
The carers in Mum's suite are very attentive; they've been quick to learn her routines and what she needs assistance with. She's always pleased to see me for some company, but she also clearly enjoys the banter that she's developed with a few of them.
We're well used to the excellent facilities at Cairdean and my Mum always picks out various activities from the weekly programmes to make full use of them. She's more entertained there than at home!
At Cairdean House Care Home - Care UK, we set a high standard for ourselves so we are very pleased to hear that your experience with us has been a positive one.
Thank you for your time and we look forward to hearing from you.
Many thanks, the Care UK team.
The building is modern, clean and fresh with large windows to allow residents to see into the gardens. There are a number of places to sit with relatives with tea/coffee facilities readily available.
There was always a good choice of food at mealtimes and snacks available when required - even birthday cake!
There’s a regular timetable of activities in place to keep the residents engaged and stimulated and Mum was gently encouraged to take part. She particularly liked balloon tennis and the bands which played in the upstairs cafe.
The most reassuring thing for us though was undoubtedly the staff. Everyone involved in Mum’s care was professional while at the same time very caring and we were very happy leaving Mum in their care and it did feel like a home from home for her.
We were well briefed by the customer relations manager on the facilities, staff, activities, and on what to expect to happen for a new resident. My mother was made very welcome on arrival and the staff are very professional, caring, and looked out for her by encouraging her to get involved in activities, etc.
Excellent facilities, supportive and caring staff and team towards residents and family. Great variety of activities and good social interaction. Fantastic and nutritious variety of food and drinks available all day. Improvement - need to step up general housekeeping within rooms and toilets and increase hygiene protocols in ensuites.
Thanks for rating your overall experience with Cairdean House 4 stars. We appreciate you taking the time out to review us and share your feedback. It’s great to hear that you find our facilities excellent and are happy with the activities programme and the dining menu/ experience. We are always...
My mother especially loves birds, great having a feeder outside her window but getting to it is not easy and don’t want to bother busy staff. Having someone stocking it up every few days would be great but appreciate time is limited.
Finally, having a phone in each unit that relatives could phone directly would be great and save staff e.g. in the evening from having to take the phone up from reception.
Thank you for all you do, it’s great having peace of mind knowing my mum is safe and well cared for. So very much appreciated.
We are delighted to hear you are happy with the care your mum is receiving and with your comments about our team.
Thank you for taking the time out to review us and for sharing your feedback, we are always looking at ways we...
My mother moved into Cairdean House in February and the staff have all been really great with her since her arrival. They made sure she settled in well and quickly and give us regular updates on her progress.
The home offers a wide range of activities and my mother is much more mentally stimulated as a result. She is always encouraged to take part which means she is doing things that she won't otherwise have considered.
The home is modern, clean, and has a nice cafe area upstairs where visitors can sit with the residents. This makes it feel much less like a traditional home.
The food is varied and the resident chief made a fantastic birthday cake to celebrate my mum's 90th birthday.
We are really pleased with the home and grateful to the super staff who do a great job looking after the residents. Thank you
Thank you so much to the entire team at Cairdean House Care Home for the excellent care given to my brother since he moved in last year. Knowing that he is in a fully supported environment is very reassuring and appreciated by our family. Particular thanks and appreciation to the customer relations manager whose gentle, professional manner has been greatly valued.
Since my aunt entered the home in October 2021 she has been very contented, she comments very favourably on the food, how friendly the staff are and that she is being very well looked after. My wife and I have been able to visit a few times and all our contact with staff on reception, the customer relations manager and in the suite has been very positive. The home is modern, clean and Covid precautions are taken very seriously. A good choice.
We chose Cairndean as it was local for our Mum and always looked like a nice place whenever I drove past. The time had come quite urgently for my Mum to find a home to support her needs and it was a very stressful time finding somewhere quickly. Cairndean their Customer Care Manager were absolutely fantastic and understanding. The ‘on boarding’ paperwork process for Mum was quick and simple and they kept in touch and always phoned when they said they would. The confidence in dealing with them made the whole process less stressful. And we knew that Mum would be well looked after as the staff were so engaged, professional and involved. Six months on and Mum has settled in and seems to have a new lease of life. The activities are fantastic and you can pop in whenever and are treated like one of the family when you do. The staff are amazing and the care standard is great. It gives us all peace of mind knowing that Mum is being looked after so well.
My father had been in Cairdean House Care Home when he died and we had been impressed by their sympathetic support and deeply caring approach. The helpful staff made the decision to move Mum to Cairdean very easy. She now is in an environment with caring staff and friendly residents. She now participates in organised activities with other residents and joins them in the lounge areas. We are confident she has access to the social and medical care she needs now.
With the area she is in getting busier, she sometimes finds getting attention from staff takes too long.
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.
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