7 of the best care homes in Derby

Derby offers a unique blend of big city life and picturesque countryside. This makes it a fantastic place for older residents that wish to escape the chaos of urban living but still want to retain an active lifestyle.   

Residents in the city can also enjoy a variety of leisure options, from cultural experiences at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery to peaceful strolls in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, which includes the Peak District, just a short drive away.   

Another major benefit of living in Derby is that it has an abundance of high-quality care homes which make it a pleasant and convenient place to retire.   

However, while there are many care homes in the city, there are some that stand out more than others for a number of reasons. In this blog, we will highlight 7 of the best care homes in Derby and provide our top tips on choosing the right one for you.

What is great about living in Derby?

Choosing a care home in Derby offers numerous benefits, both for residents and their families. The city is home to a wide range of care facilities that cater to different levels of need, from residential to nursing and specialist dementia care. With its central location and excellent transport infrastructure, Derby ensures that family members can easily visit loved ones, helping maintain important personal connections.  

Many of the care homes in the city are located in peaceful, green areas, offering residents a tranquil living environment while still being close to local amenities, parks, and healthcare services.  

Overall, Derby's balance of urban convenience and natural beauty makes it an ideal location to live.

Is there any such thing as the ‘best’ care home?

The difficulty of discussing the best care homes in Derby is that there is an abundance of equally great options to choose from. You can find them listed on the Autumna website.

However, while many care homes will offer a comfortable and reasonable standard of living, we have handpicked some of the care homes that go above and beyond the basics.

So, what criteria do we look at when highlighting the ones that stand out the most?

Overall care and living standards

When evaluating the best care homes in Derby, one of the most important things we look at is the overall living standards, which include some of the characteristics listed below. It also encompasses things such as the quality and cleanliness of the facilities, safety and security, and whether residents at the facility are treated with dignity.

The best care homes are the ones that balance high security, safety and hygiene with convenience and accessibility for care seekers and their families.

Luxurious settings

There is a difference between care homes that offer a comfortable environment and those that also provide a touch of sophistication and prestige. Luxurious features often include things such as extra spacious rooms, opulent surroundings and decor, specialist therapy rooms, on-site cinemas and spa facilities. All of these little added extras help to significantly improve the quality of life and wellbeing of residents.

Tailored, person-centred activities

Most, if not all care homes offer activities from time to time. However, for a truly enriching quality of life, the best care homes in Derby offer a packed programme of activities that are tailored to the individuals within their care. These typically include a mixture of different activities such as arts and crafts, outings, cooking classes, yoga and specialist clubs.

Compassionate care

Every care seeker expects a compassionate care team that goes the extra mile to look after their needs. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Of course, there are many care homes that have kind and experienced staff members.

However, what really helps the best care homes to stand out is they have compassionate, person-centred care teams with skills and training that specifically addresses the care needs of their residents. In these care homes, staff are highly responsive, keep both care seekers and their families updated on any changes, and go above and beyond for their residents.

Strong care home ratings

While many people rely on ratings by the Care Quality Commission to make an informed decision, one of the most reliable and comprehensive care provider ranking systems is OpenScore.

OpenScore is one of the only rating systems that analyses care providers all over the UK based on several different factors that improve quality of life. This includes hygiene, cost transparency, dining choices, live reviews, data freshness and more. Care homes with a strong OpenScore of 7 and above are the ones that provide the highest standards of care.

7 of the best care homes in Derby

Below, we have listed 7 of the best care homes in Derby, which meet the criteria listed above. Of course, it is not possible to list everything that makes these care homes exceptional, and there are many other care homes that also offer great quality of care.

However, the selection of care homes below truly sets the benchmark for care provision in the city and embodies the key features that distinguish top-tier facilities.

Sherwood Forest Residential and Nursing Home

As a care home that embraces the multicultural heritage and diversity of its staff and residents, Sherwood Forest Care Home offers bespoke care for individuals of all faiths.

Residents benefit from delicious home cooked meals that feature everything from traditional English roast dinners to homemade curries and daal dishes. The chef spends time with residents to help shape the menu. As a member of Sanctuary Care Ltd, Sherwood Forest provides a combination of residential, dementia, nursing and palliative care.

It also has a lively programme of activities for residents to enjoy, such as baking, pamper sessions, animal visits, manicures and more. In addition to a communal garden and visitor lounges, the facility is also home to hairdressers, a beauty salon, physiotherapy and a communal garden.

Middleton Lodge Care Home

This welcoming and supportive care home offers outstanding comfort and quality and places a strong emphasis on helping people to live life to the fullest. Nestled close to the picturesque Peak District, Middleton Lodge Care Home offers high levels of peace and tailored care where every resident is treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

As an upstanding member of the Avery care home brand, the facility offers light, spacious ensuite bedrooms, stunningly decorated interiors, holistic care programmes and activities. The care home also includes an onsite hair salon, cinema room, library and companion suites that are tailor-made for couples, siblings, or close friends.

Kiwi House

As a family-run care home, Kiwi House offers award-winning, luxury and high-quality residential and dementia care. As a member of the Adept Care Homes brand, it includes lounges, lifestyle kitchens, large, ensuite bedrooms, hair salon, cinema and spa bathrooms.

Its well-trained compassionate care team tailors their services to the needs of the individual and encourages residents to lead independent and enriched lives. The care home also offers a packed programme of activities which includes day trips, hobby clubs and entertainment.

Its high-quality dementia care also features sensory areas, reminiscence activities and memory boxes to support the residents within its care.

Heatherton House

As an exceptional member of the Danforth Care brand, Heatherton House provides luxury, residential care that is tailored to the unique needs of its residents. Its compassionate and experienced team provides outstanding care in a safe and luxurious atmosphere.

Its facilities include various outdoor spaces, library, a beauty salon and cinema to help residents keep up with their hobbies and interests. The care home regularly hosts pop-up-themed restaurants, cookery classes, and more to provide varied and nutritious meals.

Cadley Hill View

This state-of-the-art care home is part of the Ideal Care Homes brand and features 24-hour residential and dementia care in luxurious settings. Nestled in the peaceful, residential area of Swadlincote, Cadley Hill View delivers person-centred care to promote independence and provide aspirational choices.

The care home regularly hosts a variety of entertainment, including large holiday-themed parties, live entertainment and social activities. Its facilities include a TV lounge, activities room, library, cafe and more.

Heanor Park

As a purpose-built care home, Heanor Park delivers outstanding residential, respite and dementia care. It is a member of the Ashmere Derbyshire Limited brand and equipped with state-of-the-art technology to enhance the standard of living for its residents.

Situated in the community of Heanor on the edge of Heanor Memorial Park, the care home has fantastic views of the nearby woodlands around it and features a large, secluded and secure garden to the rear of the property. Its luxurious facilities include a spa, relaxing care home, cinema, shop, activity room, library and more.

Mount Pleasant Care Home

At Mount Pleasant care home, residents enjoy a tranquil and peaceful environment in the backdrop of the picturesque countryside. It offers residents light and atmospheric bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. As a member of Aria Care, the facility offers outstanding residential and dementia care for up to 50 elderly residents.

It also features a packed programme of mental, physical, and social activities including board games, live entertainment, shopping, visits to National Trust sites, and seaside trips. The care home includes a range of facilities, such as a cafe, television lounge, hair salon, landscaped gardens, conservatory and more.

Looking for a care home in Derby?

If you are looking for a care home for yourself or a loved one, our directory can help you find suitable facilities. Our extensive listings means that there are loads of great options to choose from and this can make it a challenge to narrow down. Autumna can help with this too.

All you have to do is answer a few quick questions on our FREE Shortlisting tool. We’ll then provide you with a tailored list of care homes that match your needs. Our welcoming and friendly care team are also available on 01892 335 330 to help you further.