With devoted care and nursing staff available around-the-clock, we can support residents with a variety of complex health conditions, providing nursing, dementia, palliative and end of life care, as well as short stay respite care breaks. These can be planned respite, for example if you are a caregiver looking after an elderly parent and need a break, for convalescence following a spell in hospital or emergency respite.

With wonderful activities, excellent home-cooking and our own minibus for outings, Watlington is a wonderful home. We also have our GP service right on our doorstep at The Chiltern Surgery.

Our Outstanding-rated Oxfordshire nursing home

We are so proud of our Outstanding Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating at Watlington, which is testament to our amazing staff. Julie has been managing the home for 16 years, with Deputy Manager, nurse Josie by her side.

One of the CQC report’s many glowing comments from our residents, their family and friends, included: “I am in awe of the kindness and friendliness of the staff. Nothing is too much trouble".

Another highlight was the praise for Julie, who was described as being a “driving force to all staff which demonstrates how they are happy to go beyond the call of duty.”

A stunning dementia nursing home in a beautiful location

In the picturesque spot in South Oxfordshire, Watlington overlooks the Chiltern Hills, with breath-taking sights of red kites flying overhead. With rolling lawns, a water feature, peaceful walkways and seating areas, the gardens are beautiful. The Orangery is a magnificent extension to the nursing home, where our residents enjoy afternoon tea and activities.

Enriching activities

Our glorious gardens are perfect for our green-fingered residents during the summer. We have raised planters which are ideal for our residents with increasing needs.

We also have a Magic Table – an amazing piece of technology designed in the Netherlands which was donated by the Watlington Hospital Charitable Trust. It features interactive light games, designed for older people who live with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia or memory loss.

Our team love to get involved in anything involving singing or dancing, and we often welcome live entertainers along. There are games and flower arranging and our weekly ‘Watlington Bake-Off’. We also have a hairdressing salon, where a mobile hairdresser visits us, along with other nursing homes in Oxfordshire, for regular appointments.

Trips outside our nursing home in Oxfordshire

With our own minibus, our residents enjoy trips into Abingdon, Thame, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and beyond. A popular spot is the Age Concern café on Watlington's High Street and even Blenheim Palace. There are shopping and cinema visits to High Wycombe and Oxford, as well as Notcutts Oxford Garden Centre.

Care to meet complex and increasing needs

Our nursing team is highly qualified and experienced in caring for older people with a range of complex health conditions and increasing needs. Providing nursing, palliative and end of life care, some of our residents have complex nursing requirements following a stroke, cancer, diagnosis of Parkinson’s or heart disease. We have residents with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia and memory loss.

We also offer short-stay and longer-term planned respite care breaks, which are ideal for carer breaks if someone supports an elderly relative at home and needs some relief care, enabling them to recharge their batteries. They are also emergency respite stays in the event of something unexpected. Respite is also perfect if you are considering transitioning into care and would like a flavour of what life at Watlington has to offer.

For information about life at Watlington or indeed any of our other nursing homes in Oxfordshire, please fill out our online webform below or speak to our Enquiry Support Team on 0800 917 0478.

Pricing information

It is usual for residents in care homes to contribute to the cost of their own care. Some people have the resources to pay for their care in full, whilst others make means-tested contributions. Our weekly fees are individual to each of our residents and are subject to a pre-admission assessment, which is required to truly understand the level of care and support needed.

Our 2022 weekly care fees for residential care start from £1,599 but may be in the region of 20% more*. This depends on your care needs and the type of bedroom that is right for you, from our standard rooms to our premium bedroom options.

*If you require more specialist care such as 1-2-1 support, your weekly fee could be higher.