Nursing Homes in Dorset
Very few families come to nursing homes in Dorset by choice; most arrive there after a fall, a diagnosis or a hospital stay that has made the old arrangement untenable, and they are trying to make a careful decision under pressure. Dorset Council is the body responsible for the care needs assessment behind a placement and for deciding what funded support someone qualifies for once income and capital have been assessed, which is worth setting in motion straight away. Thirty three nursing homes are registered across the area, and their published judgements are largely encouraging: three rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, twenty six rated Good, two at Requires Improvement and two awaiting a first rating. However short the time feels, the inspection report attached to each profile is worth half an hour of it, because what inspectors wrote will tell you exactly what to ask when you walk through the door.
What nursing care in Dorset involves and what to look for
The clinical difference
Nursing registration means qualified nurses are on the premises at every hour, and that is what allows these homes to take on needs a residential home cannot. Complex wounds, catheters, feeding tubes, unstable conditions requiring observation and care through the final stages of an illness all fall inside it. The ordinary elements of a home remain too, from a private room and meals to help with washing and dressing and the company of other people. Thirty three homes in Dorset hold this registration.
What to make of the ratings
Amberwood House, Abbey View and Fernhill carry the three Outstanding judgements in this listing, with twenty six homes rated Good, two at Requires Improvement and two not yet rated. Where no rating has been published it usually reflects recent registration rather than a concern, though it does leave you without a report to rely on, so expect to ask more and to be given fuller answers. For the rest, start with the inspection date, then read what was recorded about staffing, medicines and how residents spend their time.
Nursing cover and the questions that expose it
Ask how many registered nurses are rostered across the day and overnight, and how often agency staff fill those shifts rather than the home's own team. Ask how falls, pressure areas, infections and end of life care are handled, and how readily a GP will attend. Ask how long the manager has been in post and what turnover among nurses has been, since a home that cannot retain nurses will struggle with everything that depends on them.
Getting an assessment and sorting out who pays
Beginning with the assessment
An assessment of need costs nothing, is open to anyone who appears to require care and is unaffected by savings. It examines mobility, continence, medication, nutrition, memory and the clinical support required, and ends in a care and support plan that describes what a home must be able to deliver. Ask Dorset Council social care to arrange one, as it carries out assessments and agrees the funded support that follows. A relative who has been providing unpaid care can be assessed in their own right at the same time.
The three funding routes
A council financial assessment looks at income, savings and capital, and for a permanent placement the value of a property is normally included unless a partner or certain other relatives still live there. Because nursing is involved, NHS Funded Nursing Care contributes towards the nursing element and is paid straight to the home, while NHS Continuing Healthcare can cover the entire cost where needs are primarily health related rather than social. All three are assessed separately, so ask about each rather than waiting to be told.
Fees over the longer term
Ask what the weekly charge covers and what is invoiced on top, whether chiropody, hairdressing, continence products or escorted appointments. Ask how often fees are reviewed and what the last increase came to. Ask what the home does when a self funding resident's capital runs down and council support becomes necessary, because that answer determines whether another move could be forced at the worst possible time.
33 nursing homes in Dorset
- Oakdene Nursing Home · Ringwood Road, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 6RB
Nursing home · CQC Requires improvement · Nursing on site · Run by Dorset Healthcare Ltd
Oakdene Nursing Home is in Wimborne, Dorset. We provide nursing care for older people, including those living with dementia, and we take respite bookings for people who need a stay of a few weeks rather than a permanent place. Having...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care - Forest Hill House Nursing Home · Rushall Lane, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3RT
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Royal Bay Care Homes Ltd
Forest Hill House Nursing Home is near Wimborne, providing nursing care to older people, with respite stays also available. Having registered nurses on site at all hours means that health needs are recognised and managed here, by people...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care - Bymead House · Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset, DT6 6BS
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Bymead House Limited
Here at Bymead House, we provide nursing care for older people and those living with physical disabilities in the heart of Charmouth, a quietly beautiful corner of Dorset. We are proud to have received a "Good" rating from the Care Quality...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Physical Disability, Respite Care - Upton Manor · 1 Dorchester Road, Poole, Dorset, BH16 5NJ
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Waypoints (Upton) Ltd
We at Upton Manor are proud to offer specialist nursing home care in the heart of Poole, Dorset, providing a warm and welcoming home for older people, adults with dementia, and those requiring dedicated nursing support. Our setting in the...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Brook View · Riverside Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 0LQ
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Colten Care (1993) Limited
Here at Brook View, we are proud to be a trusted nursing home in the heart of Ferndown, Dorset, caring for people across a range of needs and circumstances. Our most recent Care Quality Commission rating is "good", which reflects the...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - St James' Park Care Home · Higher Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3EU
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by HC-One No.1 Limited
We at St James' Park Care Home are proud to offer dedicated nursing care in the welcoming market town of Bridport, Dorset. Our home provides a calm, supportive environment where residents requiring nursing, dementia, and older person care...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Castle View · Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2NH
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Colten Care (1993) Limited
Castle View is a nursing home in Dorchester in Dorset, providing nursing care for older people and for younger adults whose health needs mean qualified nurses should be on hand at any time of day or night. We also welcome people for...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Whitecliffe House · White Cliff Mill Street, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7BQ
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Colten Care (2009) Limited
We at Whitecliffe House are proud to offer dedicated nursing care in the heart of Blandford Forum, a peaceful market town nestled in the beautiful Dorset countryside. Our home provides a warm, welcoming environment where older people and...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Casterbridge Lodge · Winterbourne Steepleton, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 9LG
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Pebblestones Limited
Casterbridge Lodge is a nursing home in Dorchester. We care for older people who need qualified nursing alongside help with everyday living, and we also care for some younger adults whose health needs require nursing support. Having nurses...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Fairfield House · 41 Putton Lane, Chickerell, Dorset, DT3 4AJ
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Fairfield Care (West Dorset) Limited
Fairfield House is a nursing home in Chickerell, Dorset, caring for adults who need qualified nursing support as well as help with daily living. Registered nurses are on duty at all hours, which means clinical care happens here rather than...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Manor · 110 Golf Links Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 8DA
Nursing home · Nursing on site · Run by Care UK Care Services Limited
Ferndown Manor is a nursing home in Ferndown, Dorset. We care for adults who need qualified nursing support alongside help with everyday living, with registered nurses on duty at all hours so that clinical needs can be met in familiar...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Anning House · Cross Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9QX
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by WT UK Opco 4 Limited
Anning House is a nursing home in Weymouth, Dorset. We provide nursing care for older people and for younger adults, including specialist support for those living with dementia, for people with a physical disability, and for residents with...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - The Queen Charlotte · 432 Chickerell Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4DQ
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Althea Healthcare Properties Limited
The Queen Charlotte is a nursing home in Weymouth. We care for older people and younger adults whose needs include nursing, including many living with dementia and people managing mental health conditions. Respite stays are part of what we...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Nursing Home · 9 Dudsbury Crescent, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 8JG
Nursing home · CQC Requires improvement · Nursing on site · Run by Kenmore Ferndown Limited
Ferndown Nursing Home is in Ferndown, Dorset, and we care for older people who need registered nursing alongside help with daily life. Nursing cover at every hour of the day and night is the practical reason most people come to us. It...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Respite Care - Fern Brook Lodge · Fern Brook Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4QD
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Care South
Fern Brook Lodge is a nursing home in Gillingham, Dorset, caring for people who need qualified nursing support alongside help with daily living. We care for older people and younger adults, support residents living with dementia, and offer...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Moors Manor Care Home · 243 Ringwood Road, Ringwood, Dorset, BH24 2DW
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited
Moors Manor is a nursing home in Ringwood, Dorset, caring for people whose health needs require nursing as well as everyday support. Having qualified nurses on the team alongside our care staff means that residents do not have to move on...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Fernhill · 122 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AW
Nursing home · CQC Outstanding · Nursing on site · Run by Colten Care (2009) Limited
Fernhill is a nursing home in Ferndown in Dorset, providing nursing care for older people and for younger adults, including people living with dementia. We also welcome respite guests. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - St. Ives Country House Care · Horton Road, Ringwood, Dorset, BH24 2EE
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Care South
We are St Ives Country House, a nursing home near Ringwood. We care for older people who need qualified nursing alongside support with daily living, including people living with dementia, people with physical disabilities and people with a...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care - Abbey View · Fairfield, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4HG
Nursing home · CQC Outstanding · Nursing on site · Run by Colten Care (1993) Limited
We are Abbey View, a nursing home in Sherborne, Dorset. We care for older people who need qualified nursing as well as support with daily living, and we also look after younger adults with nursing needs. Respite stays are available. Our...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - House Care Home · 42-44 Ringwood Road, Verwood, Dorset, BH31 7AH
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Waypoints (Verwood) Limited
Here at Verwood House Care Home, we provide nursing care for people living in and around Verwood, Dorset, and we take real pride in the community we have built within our walls. Our most recent Care Quality Commission inspection rated us...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Casterbridge Manor · Acreman Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7AL
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Pebblestones Limited
Casterbridge Manor is a nursing home in Dorchester, caring for older people whose health needs have gone beyond what can be managed comfortably at home. Having qualified nurses here at every hour means changes in somebody's condition are...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Respite Care - Manor · Radipole Lane, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 0TX
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Kingsley Healthcare (Birmingham) Limited
Weymouth Manor provides nursing and personal care for older people and younger adults, including those living with dementia, people with a physical disability and people with sight or hearing loss. Registered nurses are on duty here at all...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - The Mellowes Care Home · Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4RE
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Park Healthcare Limited
The Mellowes Care Home is a nursing home in Gillingham, Dorset. We provide nursing care for older people and younger adults, including people living with dementia, and we offer respite stays. Having registered nurses on the team means we...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Newstone House · Station Road, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1BD
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Colten Care (1993) Limited
Newstone House is a nursing home in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, caring for older people and younger adults who need qualified nursing as well as support with daily life. Having registered nurses on the team means we can look after people...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Signature House · 2 Maumbury Gardens, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1GR
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Amica Care Trust
At Signature House, we provide nursing home care for people in Dorchester, Dorset, and we take genuine pride in the environment we have built here. Our team works hard every day to make sure that everyone who lives with us feels safe,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Amberwood House · 418-424 Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9AX
Nursing home · CQC Outstanding · Nursing on site · Run by Colten Care (1693) Limited
We at Amberwood House are proud to offer dedicated nursing home care in the peaceful town of Ferndown, Dorset. Nestled within the leafy surrounds of the BH postcode area, our home provides a welcoming and supportive environment for older...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Blandford Grange Care Home · Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, Dorset, DT11 7DE
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Healthcare Homes (LSC) Limited
Blandford Grange is a nursing home in Blandford Forum, Dorset. We care for older people and younger adults whose needs include nursing, including many living with dementia, and we offer respite stays. Because nursing is provided here,...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Care Home · 21 Glendinning Avenue, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7QF
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Altogether Care LLP
Weymouth Care Home is a nursing home in Weymouth, Dorset. Having qualified nurses on duty means we can care for people whose health needs go beyond what a residential home can safely manage, and it usually means somebody can stay with us...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Somerleigh Court · Somerleigh Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1AQ
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Somerleigh Court Ltd
Somerleigh Court is a nursing home in Dorchester. We provide nursing care for older people, we support people living with dementia, and we offer respite stays alongside permanent places. With nurses on duty at every hour, medication, skin...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care - Manor · Wimborne Manor, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2GA
Nursing home · Nursing on site · Run by Simply Care Group UK Ltd
Wimborne Manor is a nursing home in Wimborne. We care for older people and younger adults with nursing needs, including people living with dementia, people managing mental health conditions, people with physical disabilities and people...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Mental Health, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Pine Martin Grange · Sandford Road, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7AJ
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Dormy Care Communities South Ltd
Pine Martin Grange is a nursing home in Wareham, Dorset. We care for older people and younger adults whose needs include nursing, including many living with dementia, people with physical disabilities and people living with sight or...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - The Cedars Nursing Home · 7 Angel Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8DF
Nursing home · CQC Good · Nursing on site · Run by Park Healthcare Limited
The Cedars Nursing Home is in Shaftesbury, Dorset. Qualified nurses are on duty here at every hour rather than visiting, and that is usually why families come to us instead of to a residential home. Most of the people living with us are...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care - Care Home with Nursing · 14 Pound Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3HX
Nursing home · CQC Requires improvement · Nursing on site · Run by Lyme Regis Care Home Limited
We are a care home with nursing in Lyme Regis, Dorset. We provide nursing care for older people, including those living with dementia, people with a physical disability and people with sight or hearing loss, and we also support some...
Specialisms: Older Person Care, Dementia Care, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Younger Adults, Respite Care
What care costs in South West, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care Middle half of prices from 52 South West homes. Median £1,549. | Varies by council | £1,400 to £1,650 |
| Nursing care Middle half of prices from 16 South West homes. Median £1,810. | Varies by council | £1,599 to £1,983 |
| Residential dementia care Middle half of prices from 19 South West homes. Median £1,665. | Not published separately | £1,450 to £1,813 |
| Nursing dementia care England figure, because too few South 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.