Dementia Care Homes in Darwen 5 dementia care homes · 3 rated Good by CQC
- 3 Good
- 1 Requires improvement
- 1 Not yet rated
Of the 6 CQC registered care homes in Darwen, 5 are registered for dementia care. Of those, 3 are rated Good, 1 Requires improvement, and 1 has not yet been rated. 4 of the 5 were last inspected more than three years ago.
Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.
All 5 dementia care homes in Darwen
St James House Care home in Darwen · Rated Requires improvement by CQC
CQC: requires improvement
St James' Crescent, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen BB3 0EY
Less than 0.5 miles
Weekly fees
£800 to £1,050 regional guide for the North West, ask the home
Nursing on site
No, residential
Short stays
Yes, respite
CQC rated
Mar 2020 over 6 years ago, ask what has changed
Run by
Mr Devshi Odedra And Mr Keshav Khistria
Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council · Check what you would pay
- Care Home
St James House is a residential care home in Darwen providing care for older people, including people living with dementia, people with physical disabilities, and people with loss of sight or hearing. We should be plain about our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission, which is requires improvement. We would rather tell you ourselves than leave you to find it elsewhere. We know which areas were identified and there is a clear programme of work under way, with changes already made to staff supervision and training, to how care is recorded, and to how families are involved in decisions. Please ask us about it when you come, and we will show you what has changed and what is still in hand. The daily work of the home continues as it should: careful help with washing and dressing, meals cooked here, attention to nutrition, skin and mobility, and safe management of medication. For those living with dementia we keep the routine steady and the faces familiar, and for people with sensory loss we adapt how we communicate. Respite stays are available. Please come and see us and ask whatever you need to ask.
- Older Person Care
- Dementia Care
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Respite Care
One of 3 from Crown Care Homes
Thorncliffe Residential Care Home Care home in Darwen · Rated Good by CQC
CQC: good
Thorncliffe, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen BB3 2QB
0.7 miles away
Weekly fees
£800 to £1,050 regional guide for the North West, ask the home
Nursing on site
No, residential
Short stays
Yes, respite
CQC rated
Oct 2022 over 4 years ago, ask what has changed
Run by
Crown Care Homes Ltd
Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council · Check what you would pay
- Care Home
Thorncliffe Residential Care Home is in Darwen, and we support older people who need help with daily living, including those living with dementia and those with physical disabilities. Respite stays are available as well. Most of what makes a care home good is ordinary detail rather than anything grand. Knowing which chair is somebody's. Getting the tea right. Not hurrying a person through a wash because the morning is busy. We help with personal care, dressing, medication and mobility, doing it quietly and leaving as much privacy and choice with the resident as we can. Where somebody can still manage a task themselves, that is theirs to keep. Dementia care is a significant part of our work. We keep the daily rhythm and the surroundings steady, give people time to find their words instead of finishing their sentences, and take trouble to learn about earlier life, because knowing what somebody did for a living and what they loved tells us a great deal once language becomes unreliable. Families usually hold that story and we ask for it early. For residents with physical disabilities our attention goes to equipment that fits and transfers handled safely and without embarrassment. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. Come and see us on an ordinary afternoon and ask us the awkward questions as well as the easy ones.
- Older Person Care
- Dementia Care
- Physical Disability
- Respite Care
One of 3 from Crown Care Homes
Oldfield Manor Care home in Darwen · Rated Good by CQC
CQC: good
14 Hawkshaw Avenue, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen BB3 1QZ
1.0 miles away
Weekly fees
£800 to £1,050 regional guide for the North West, ask the home
Nursing on site
No, residential
Short stays
Yes, respite
CQC rated
Sep 2019 over 7 years ago, ask what has changed
Run by
Crown Care Homes Ltd
Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council · Check what you would pay
- Care Home
We are Oldfield Manor in Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen. We are a residential care home supporting older people, including people living with dementia, adults with a learning disability, autistic adults, people managing mental health conditions and people with sight or hearing loss. We also offer respite stays. A home supporting that range of people only works if it takes everybody individually, so each person here has their own plan, written with them, covering how they want to be supported and what they would rather manage alone. We would sooner change an arrangement that is not working than defend it. Day to day, people choose when they get up, what they eat, where they sit and how they spend their time. Some want the company of a busy lounge and others want quiet with their own door closed, and neither is treated as a difficulty. Families are welcome throughout the day, and we would far rather hear a concern early than have it saved up. Consistency of staffing is something we plan for deliberately. Familiar faces matter to everybody and matter enormously to people who find change hard. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. We keep auditing our own practice, because a home is only as good as its last shift. If you are considering a care home in the Darwen area, please come and visit us on an ordinary day.
- Older Person Care
- Dementia Care
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Mental Health
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Respite Care
One of 3 from Crown Care Homes
Oldfield House Residential Care Home Care home in Darwen · Rated Good by CQC
CQC: good
15 Hawkshaw Avenue, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen BB3 1QZ
1.0 miles away
Weekly fees
£800 to £1,050 regional guide for the North West, ask the home
Nursing on site
No, residential
Short stays
Yes, respite
CQC rated
Feb 2023 over 3 years ago, ask what has changed
Run by
Crown Care Homes Ltd
Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council · Check what you would pay
- Care Home
Oldfield House Residential Care Home provides residential care in Darwen for older people, including people living with dementia, along with shorter respite stays. We try to keep the home domestic rather than institutional. People get up when they wake, eat what they like, and pass the day as they choose. Some are in company from breakfast onwards and some would far rather have their own room and the paper, and neither preference draws any comment from us. The care covers help with washing and dressing, prompting and administering medication, meals cooked on the premises, support with mobility, and somebody always about when a person needs them. For those living with dementia we keep the routine steady and the staff familiar, and we arrange the house so that it is easy to understand and move around in. Darwen is home for most of the people living here, and we keep those connections going with trips out, visitors from local groups, and family welcome whenever they wish to come. Our most recent rating from the Care Quality Commission is good, and you are welcome to visit.
- Older Person Care
- Dementia Care
- Respite Care
Sandybrook Care home in Darwen
Sandy Lane, Darwen, Blackburn with Darwen BB3 0PU
1.8 miles away
Weekly fees
£800 to £1,050 regional guide for the North West, ask the home
Nursing on site
No, residential
Short stays
Yes, respite
CQC rated
Not yet rated
Run by
Northwood Complex Care Ltd
Local authority: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council · Check what you would pay
- Care Home
We at Sandybrook are proud to offer residential care in the welcoming town of Darwen, nestled within the wider Blackburn with Darwen area of the North West. Our home has been thoughtfully created to provide a safe, comfortable, and homely environment where every resident is treated with the dignity and warmth they deserve. Set within the BB postcode area, our location benefits from the friendly community spirit that Darwen is known for, whilst offering the peaceful surroundings that make a real difference to daily life. Residents can enjoy the familiar rhythms of a nurturing home, with communal spaces designed for relaxation, connection, and quiet moments alike. Families visiting loved ones will find us easy to reach and always ready with a warm welcome. Our specialisms reflect the diverse needs of the individuals we support. We provide dedicated older person care and residential care, along with tailored dementia care for those living with cognitive challenges. We also welcome younger adults and offer support for people with mental health needs, physical disabilities, and visual or hearing impairments. For families needing shorter stays, our respite care provides trusted, compassionate support, whether it is to allow a family carer time to rest or to help someone recover after a hospital stay. In practice, this breadth of expertise means we take the time to understand each resident as an individual. We build personalised care plans that respect life stories, preferences, and routines, ensuring that each person feels genuinely known and valued. For families, it brings the reassurance of knowing that specialist support is available under one roof, delivered with patience, kindness, and professionalism. As our home has not yet received a CQC rating, we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the quality of our care directly to families considering us. We remain fully committed to meeting the standards expected by the Care Quality Commission and to being open about our approach, our team, and the everyday experiences of those who live with us. Choosing a care home is one of the most important decisions a family will ever make, and we understand the emotions that come with it. If you are exploring options for a loved one in Darwen or the surrounding area, we warmly invite you to get in touch with us at Sandybrook. We would be delighted to answer your questions, arrange a visit, and help you feel confident about the next step.
- Older Person Care
- Dementia Care
- Mental Health
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Younger Adults
- Respite Care
Page 1 of 1, showing 1 to 5 of 5 dementia care homes
What dementia care homes cost in Darwen, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care Middle half of prices from 20 North West homes. Median £1,409. | Varies by council | £1,249 to £1,514 |
| Nursing care England figure, because too few North West homes publish this price. 140 homes. Median £1,916. | Varies by council | £1,600 to £2,071 |
| Residential dementia care Most relevant to this page Middle half of prices from 17 North West homes. Median £1,533. | Not published separately | £1,372 to £1,648 |
| Nursing dementia care Most relevant to this page England figure, because too few North West homes publish this price. 75 homes. Median £2,050. | Not published separately | £1,890 to £2,221 |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. What a council pays differs from council to council. Ask the home for its own price. Powered by Orrery Intelligence.
CQC inspection dates for dementia care homes in Darwen
Inspected most recently
- Oldfield House Residential Care Home 17 February 2023, Good
- Thorncliffe Residential Care Home 5 October 2022, Good
- St James House 28 March 2020, Requires improvement
Longest since a CQC report
- Oldfield Manor 3 September 2019, Good
- St James House 28 March 2020, Requires improvement
- Thorncliffe Residential Care Home 5 October 2022, Good
Arranging and funding a dementia care home place in Darwen
There is a particular trap in arranging dementia care, which is leaving the funding conversation until after a home has been chosen and a room offered. By then the choice has narrowed to whatever the budget happens to allow. Both assessments are better started well before a shortlist exists.
Assessments and local authority support
A care needs assessment is free, carries no means test, and may be requested by the person needing care or by a relative acting with their agreement. It records what someone can still manage, where the risks have grown serious, and whether residential dementia care is now the appropriate level of support. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is responsible for that assessment and for the financial assessment that follows it. Ask for both outcomes in writing, since each home here will want to know what was concluded before discussing a placement.
What the fees involve
Payment follows the financial assessment rather than the severity of need. Where capital and income fall below the national threshold the council contributes at the rate it sets for a residential placement, and above the threshold the home is funded privately. Weekly charges differ between these five according to the room and the level of support, so ask each for a written schedule separating the fee from extras. Settle the position on top up payments, on how often fees are reviewed, and on what happens to the room during a hospital stay.
Choosing between dementia care homes in Darwen
Reading the record across these homes
Oldfield Manor, Thorncliffe Residential Care Home and Oldfield House Residential Care Home are each rated Good. St James House has been told it requires improvement, and Sandybrook carries no rating yet, which generally reflects recent registration rather than any adverse finding. Where no rating exists there is simply nothing published to weigh, so the usual checks on training, supervision and how long the management team has been in place matter considerably more.
What distinguishes good dementia support
Ask how many staff on each shift have completed dementia training and whether a named person leads that practice, since a clear lead usually means the approach is reviewed rather than assumed. Ask what happens when a resident becomes distressed in the late afternoon, and listen for an answer about knowing the person rather than about medication. Look at whether bedroom doors, bathrooms and corridors are easy to tell apart, whether residents can walk about without being steered back, and whether there is somewhere outdoors they can reach unaccompanied. Then visit unannounced at a mealtime.
Frequently asked questions about dementia care homes in Darwen
How many dementia care homes are there in Darwen?
Darwen has 5 CQC registered care homes that are registered for dementia care, out of 6 CQC registered care homes in Darwen: 3 Good, 1 Requires improvement, 1 not yet rated. Counts come from the CQC register and are kept up to date as ratings change.
Which dementia care homes in Darwen were inspected most recently?
Oldfield House Residential Care Home (17 February 2023), Thorncliffe Residential Care Home (5 October 2022) and St James House (28 March 2020) have the most recent CQC reports.
Can Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council fund a dementia care home placement?
It can, where a care needs assessment confirms that residential dementia care is appropriate and a financial assessment shows capital and income below the national threshold. The council then contributes towards the fees at the rate it sets for that kind of placement. Should a family prefer a home charging more than that rate, a third party top up payment may be needed, and the arrangement ought to be documented before the move. Anyone funding the place privately can still request an assessment, which is usually worth having for the advice.
How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Darwen?
Contact Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council adult social care and ask for an assessment, either for yourself or for a relative who has agreed to it. The assessment is free and is not means tested, and it considers daily tasks, risks at home and whether residential dementia care has become appropriate. A financial assessment normally follows in order to establish who pays. Ask for the outcome in writing, because the homes listed here will want to know what it concluded.
How far in advance should we start looking at dementia care homes?
Earlier than most families expect, since the care needs assessment, the financial assessment and any waiting list can each add weeks. With only five homes covering Darwen, availability narrows the choice quickly, so an early start genuinely widens your options. Beginning while the present arrangement still holds allows more than one visit. If a hospital discharge is setting the pace, say so when you contact the council, as those cases are handled on a shorter timescale.
Which providers in Darwen offer dementia care?
Five residential care homes registered to support people living with dementia cover Darwen, and all of them appear on this page. Oldfield Manor, Thorncliffe Residential Care Home and Oldfield House Residential Care Home each hold a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission. St James House has been rated as requiring improvement, and Sandybrook has not yet been rated. Each profile links through to whatever has been published about that home.
What should I ask when visiting a dementia care home in Darwen?
Ask how many staff on each shift have completed dementia specific training and who leads that practice within the home. Ask how the team responds when a resident becomes distressed or restless, and whether relatives help write and review the care plan. Ask about staff turnover, what fills an ordinary weekday afternoon, and how food and drink reach someone who no longer asks for them. Where a home has no published rating, ask how long the management team has been in post.
What is the difference between a dementia care home and a dementia nursing home?
A dementia care home provides accommodation, personal care and supervision, calling on district nurses and general practitioners when clinical input is needed. A dementia nursing home keeps registered nurses on duty throughout the day and night, which suits someone with continuing medical needs such as complex medication or feeding support. All five providers on this page are registered as residential care homes rather than nursing homes. Where an assessment identifies nursing needs, the search would need to widen to nursing registered homes.
Other types of care in Darwen
Dementia care homes near Darwen
Search for dementia dementia care homes in towns near Darwen.
Local authority support in Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council arranges and funds adult social care in this area. Use these official council links to check funding, request an assessment and get support.
Adult social care website Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Guides for choosing a dementia care home
Plain-English advice on choosing and paying for dementia care homes.
- Dementia Care Specialists, Explained in Plain English 12 min read
- What Is a Care Home? A Plain English Guide for Families 8 min read
- Residential Care Homes: Costs, Eligibility, Types and How to Choose the Right Care Home 13 min read
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), Explained in Plain English 12 min read
Free care planning tools
Tools to help you understand your options, check funding eligibility, and plan ahead.
- Personalised Assistant Answer a few questions and get a tailored list of suitable care homes.
- Concierge Answer 13 questions about care needs, location, and preferences to receive a personalised shortlist of matched homes.
- Funding Calculator Estimate how much care will cost and what financial support may be available.
- CHC Assessment Check whether your relative may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding.
- CHC DST Assessment Complete the Decision Support Tool used in NHS CHC funding assessments.
- Map Explorer Browse care homes near you on an interactive map.
Provider information is sourced from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), last updated October 2026.