Merlin Park
Merlin Park is a residential care home in Gosport, Hampshire (PO12 2AR). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Merlin Park
Merlin Park is a residential care home in Gosport, Hampshire. We are home to older people and to younger adults, we support residents living with dementia, people managing mental health conditions, and people with a visual or hearing impairment, and we offer respite stays for those who need care for a short while. We think a care home should feel like somewhere you live rather than somewhere you have been placed. People bring their own things, keep their own routines, and decide how their day goes as far as they possibly can. Some residents want to be in the thick of everything that is going on. Others prefer their own company most of the time, and that is an equally reasonable way to spend a day. Supporting people well across such a range of needs relies on staff knowing individuals properly. For someone living with dementia that might mean recognising the early signs of a difficult afternoon and heading it off gently. For someone with sensory loss it might mean simple, consistent habits, such as saying who we are on the way into a room and keeping belongings exactly where they were left. Families are part of this. We keep in touch, we say when something has changed, and visitors are welcome without ceremony. The Care Quality Commission most recently rated us good overall. We treat that as the standard to hold rather than an achievement to display, and we are always glad to show people around.
Care provided at Merlin Park
- Older person care
- Dementia care
- Mental health care
- Sensory impairment support
- Younger adults care
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 23 October 2019
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
Common questions about Merlin Park
Where is Merlin Park located?
Merlin Park is a residential care home in Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AR. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Merlin Park provide?
Merlin Park is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Older person care, Dementia care, Mental health care, Sensory impairment support, Younger adults care, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Merlin Park's CQC rating?
Merlin Park is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 23 October 2019. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Merlin Park provide dementia care?
Yes. Merlin Park supports people living with dementia. We recommend contacting the home directly to discuss your individual situation.
Does Merlin Park offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Merlin Park offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Merlin Park
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
Yes. Merlin Park is registered for dementia care, so someone whose needs increase can usually stay rather than move.
Is there a nurse on site if health needs change?
No. Merlin Park is a residential care home without on-site nursing. District nurses and GPs visit, but someone who needs daily nursing may have to move to a nursing home.
Can they try a short stay before deciding?
Yes. Yes. Merlin Park offers respite and short stays, which is a good way to see whether the home is the right fit.
Will they support end of life care, so there is no move at the hardest time?
Ask the home. End of life care is not listed on the register. Ask the manager whether residents can remain in the home with hospice or district nurse support.
Can she bring her cat or dog?
Ask the home. The home has not told us its pet policy yet. Ask directly; some homes allow small pets in residents' rooms or welcome visiting dogs.
Can a couple stay together?
Ask the home. We do not know whether the home has rooms for couples. Ask about shared or adjoining rooms if this matters.
Will the council help pay, or is it self funded only?
Ask the home. The home has not told us which funding it accepts. Most homes take both council funded and self funded residents; ask about council rates and any top up.
Do they take younger adults as well as older people?
Yes. Yes. Merlin Park supports younger adults as well as older people.
Can I visit before deciding, and are there visiting hours?
Ask the home. Every home should welcome a visit. Call to arrange one, ideally at a mealtime or during an activity, and ask about visiting hours for family.
Typical weekly fees in the South East
Merlin Park has not published its fees yet. These are typical weekly fees for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Residential care: £1,100 to £1,450 per week per person, typical range
- Dementia care: £1,200 to £1,550 per week per person, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Merlin Park. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
More about the care at Merlin Park
Respite Care at Merlin Park
Respite stays at Merlin Park in Gosport can cover a planned break for a family carer, recovery after a hospital stay, or a trial before deciding on a permanent move. Book as early as you can, as short stay rooms go quickly around holidays. Pack clothes for the length of stay, toiletries, current medication in its original packaging, glasses, hearing aids and a few familiar items. Ask about the minimum stay and daily rate.
Dementia Care at Merlin Park
Good dementia care leans on familiar routines, staff who know each resident's history and triggers, and a layout that feels calm, well signed and safe to move around in without feeling locked down. Merlin Park is registered to support people living with dementia, and its own description talks about noticing the early signs of a difficult afternoon and easing them before they build. Worth asking on a visit is how the home responds to distress or agitation without reaching straight for medication, how they manage residents who walk with purpose or try to leave, and how care plans are adjusted as dementia progresses into later stages. Ask too how they keep families informed when something changes. Regional fees typically fall between £1100 and £1450 a week.
Residential Care at Merlin Park
Residential care covers everyday living for people who need support with personal care, medication, meals and company, but who do not need the round the clock input of a registered nurse. That is the practical difference from nursing care, where a nurse is on site at all times to manage clinical needs such as complex wounds, tube feeding or unstable long term conditions. At Merlin Park, which holds a good rating from its October 2019 CQC inspection, the registration is residential rather than nursing. Families should ask how meals are planned, what a typical afternoon looks like, and how the home works with district nurses and GPs when a resident's health changes. Weekly fees across the South East are usually somewhere between £1100 and £1450, with Hampshire's council rate closer to £800 to £950.
Older Person Care at Merlin Park
Day to day support for older people usually covers help with washing and dressing at a pace that suits the person, prompting or administering medication safely, meals and drinks through the day, and simple companionship that stops the hours feeling long. Merlin Park is registered for older person care, so families considering a move should ask how mornings and evenings are staffed, how many people are on duty overnight, and how call bells are answered after dark. It is also worth asking how staff learn a new resident's preferences, from what time they like to get up to how they take their tea. In Gosport and the wider South East, residential fees generally sit between around £1100 and £1450 a week, while Hampshire County Council typically funds somewhere between £800 and £950.
Mental Health at Merlin Park
For adults with an ongoing mental health condition, a steady rhythm to the week, privacy when it is wanted and respectful support when it is needed all matter as much as clinical input. Merlin Park is registered for this care type. Families should ask what experience staff have with conditions such as long standing depression, psychosis or bipolar, how the home works with community mental health teams, and what happens during a crisis or relapse.
Visual and Hearing Impairment at Merlin Park
Practical adaptations make a real difference with sight or hearing loss, from good even lighting and clear contrasting signage to hearing loops, and small staff habits like announcing themselves on entering a room. Merlin Park is registered to support people with sensory impairments. Ask what equipment is available, how belongings are kept in consistent places, and how staff check that hearing aids and glasses are clean, working and actually being worn each day.
Younger Adults at Merlin Park
Adults under 65 in a care home benefit from a lifestyle that fits their age, whether that is their own choice of music and television, keeping up with friends, or going out into Gosport rather than only joining activities pitched at much older residents. Merlin Park is registered for younger adults alongside older people. Ask how the home helps a younger resident keep their own routine, interests and social contacts, and whether there are others of a similar age currently living there.
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