Dementia Care Home

Autumn Lodge – Dementia Rest-home

35-39 Rutland Gardens, Hove, Sussex, BN3 5PD

Residential homes

At a Glance

The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.

DCC Family Score
72/ 100
Weighted from family reviews
Dementia SpecialismConfirmed

Residential homes

Families Rate The Staff72 / 100

Staff warmth score

“Well Looked After”70%

of reviewers answered yes

Good to know

  • Registered beds38
  • SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia
  • Last inspected2022-11-17

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The Evidence

What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.

Section 01

What families say

Families often mention how settled their relatives seem here, with staff taking time to understand individual preferences and quirks. The regular entertainment programme brings variety to each week — from visiting musicians to animal therapy sessions — while seasonal parties and activities like art clubs keep residents engaged with the world around them.

The eight family priority themes

  • Staff warmth72
  • Compassion & dignity72
  • Cleanliness70
  • Activities & engagement65
  • Food quality65
  • Healthcare68
  • Management & leadership75
  • Resident happiness70
Section 02

What inspectors found

Inspected 2022-11-17

  • Is this home safe?

    Good
    Autumn Lodge was rated Good for Safety at the October 2022 inspection. This is an improvement from the previous inspection where concerns had been identified. The published summary does not include specific detail about staffing ratios, medicines management, falls processes, or infection control observations. A Good Safe rating means inspectors were broadly satisfied, but the absence of published detail makes it difficult to assess the specific quality of day-to-day safety practice.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the care effective?

    Good
    Autumn Lodge was rated Good for Effectiveness at the October 2022 inspection. The home specialises in dementia care, which suggests training and care planning should be adapted to that specialism. The published inspection text does not include specific observations about care plan quality, how often plans are reviewed, whether families are involved in reviews, or what dementia-specific training staff have completed. A Good rating implies inspectors were satisfied overall, but without published detail the evidence base here is limited.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is this home caring?

    Good
    Autumn Lodge was rated Good for Caring at the October 2022 inspection. The Caring domain covers how staff treat the people who live there, including warmth, dignity, privacy, and respect for independence. The published inspection summary does not include direct inspector observations, resident quotes, or relative feedback about how care feels in practice. A Good rating means inspectors were satisfied, but without specific published evidence it is not possible to describe what kindness looks like at Autumn Lodge from this report alone.
    Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded
  • Is the home responsive?

    Good
    Autumn Lodge was rated Good for Responsiveness at the October 2022 inspection. The Responsive domain covers how well the home tailors care to individuals, including activities, engagement, and end-of-life planning. The published inspection text does not include any specific detail about the activity programme, how activities are adapted for residents with more advanced dementia, or how end-of-life wishes are documented and honoured. A Good rating implies inspectors were broadly satisfied.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the home well-led?

    Good
    Autumn Lodge was rated Good for Well-led at the October 2022 inspection, having previously been rated Requires Improvement. The registered manager, Christian Bravery, is also the nominated individual, which means the person accountable to the regulator is also the person running the home day to day. This structure can support a consistent culture and faster decision-making. The published inspection text does not include detail about how quality is monitored, how staff are supported to raise concerns, or what governance systems are in place. The improvement from Requires Improvement is a meaningful positive signal.
    Verified by inspector
  • Source: CQC inspection report →

    Section 03

    What the evidence base says

    Autumn Lodge provides residential care for people over 65, with particular experience in dementia care. The home's approach focuses on adapting care strategies as dementia progresses, with staff learning each resident's triggers and preferences. However, the environment and staffing levels may work better for some presentations of dementia than others — particularly for those who need very close supervision or have significant mobility combined with high agitation. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.

The DCC Verdict

Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.

72/ 100

DCC Family Score

Autumn Lodge has improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five domains, which is a meaningful and positive step. However, the published inspection text provides limited specific detail, so scores reflect the confirmed rating rather than rich observational evidence.

Homes in South East typically score 68–82.

The three-lens summary

Lens 01

What families tell us

Families often mention how settled their relatives seem here, with staff taking time to understand individual preferences and quirks. The regular entertainment programme brings variety to each week — from visiting musicians to animal therapy sessions — while seasonal parties and activities like art clubs keep residents engaged with the world around them.

Lens 02

What inspectors have recorded

What stands out here is how staff handle the challenging moments that come with dementia progression. Families have watched the team manage difficult behaviours with patience and calm responses, maintaining dignity even when residents are struggling. Some staff have been here over 15 years, bringing that invaluable experience of knowing how to adapt as conditions change.

Lens 03

How it sits against good practice

If you're considering Autumn Lodge, it's worth discussing your loved one's specific needs during your visit to ensure the right fit.

DCC Recommendation

Worth a visit

Autumn Lodge in Hove was rated Good at its inspection in October 2022, with all five domains, covering safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership, rated Good. This represents a significant improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement, which is a genuinely encouraging sign that the home has addressed earlier concerns and stabilised. The home specialises in dementia care for adults over 65 and has 38 beds. The registered manager, Christian Bravery, is also the nominated individual, indicating owner-led management rather than a remote corporate structure. The main limitation here is that the published inspection report contains very little specific detail about what inspectors actually observed inside the home. That means scores in this report reflect the confirmed rating rather than rich first-hand evidence, and there is much that the published text simply does not address. Before choosing Autumn Lodge for your mum or dad, a face-to-face visit is especially important. Ask to see last week's actual staffing rota (not just the template), ask how many staff are on after 10pm, ask to sit with your parent in the lounge during an activity, and taste the food. The improvement from Requires Improvement is promising, but only a visit will tell you whether the warmth and detail of daily life match the rating.

The three questions to ask when you visit

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In Their Own Words

How Autumn Lodge – Dementia Rest-home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.

What Autumn Lodge – Dementia Rest-home says about itself

Where patient staff adapt to each resident's unique journey

Residential home in Hove: True Peace of Mind

Some care homes talk about person-centred care, but at Autumn Lodge in Hove, families describe something deeper — staff who genuinely learn what makes each resident tick. Whether that's remembering someone's favourite songs or knowing exactly how they like their morning routine, the team here builds those vital connections that help people feel understood.

Care & specialisms

Who they care for

    Autumn Lodge provides residential care for people over 65, with particular experience in dementia care.

    How they describe their dementia care

    The home's approach focuses on adapting care strategies as dementia progresses, with staff learning each resident's triggers and preferences. However, the environment and staffing levels may work better for some presentations of dementia than others — particularly for those who need very close supervision or have significant mobility combined with high agitation.

    “If you're considering Autumn Lodge, it's worth discussing your loved one's specific needs during your visit to ensure the right fit.”

    DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.

    Free download – Dementia Stage 4

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    Twelve signs to observe. A simple scoring framework. A printable, one-page record you can take to your next GP appointment, so you go in with specifics, not anxiety.

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    Related:

    What Real Families Say About Dementia Care Homes: The Eight Things That Matter Most

    A Which? Report for Care Homes: Real Family Reviews, Not Just Official Inspections

    Step-by-Step Guide to Finding a Care Home for Your Mum in the UK

    What Does 'Dementia Specialist' Actually Mean? How to Tell If a Care Home Really Is One

    Best UK Website for Comparing Dementia Care Homes (Beyond CQC Ratings)

    Dementia care gifts that help

    The Thoughtful Gift That Makes a Difficult Day Easier

    The things that make the greatest difference to someone living with dementia are rarely the most obvious ones. They are the things that ease the day — that give a carer a moment to breathe, or give the person they care for a moment of calm or quiet joy. Every item here was chosen because it works, and because it reduces stress for everyone in the room.

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    Card Game

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    Memory Box

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    Digital Photoframe

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    Digital Calendar

    The Clock That Knows What Day It Is

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