Summerhill Care Home
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds71
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2018-03-06
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
What strikes families most is how staff here seem to understand what relatives go through too. They've watched their loved ones shift from aggressive and unhappy to settled and comfortable, something they credit to the staff's patient approach. There's a resident cat who provides companionship, and activities run regularly for those who want to join in.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth75
- Compassion & dignity75
- Cleanliness65
- Activities & engagement65
- Food quality65
- Healthcare55
- Management & leadership75
- Resident happiness70
What inspectors found
Inspected 2018-03-06
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
Effective was rated Good at the April 2025 inspection. This domain covers training, care planning, healthcare access, and food. Dementia is listed as a specialism, which means the home should have dementia-specific training and care approaches in place. The published summary does not include specific detail on what inspectors observed or reviewed in this domain. The Good rating is a positive indicator but the lack of published detail means families should seek specifics directly.Is this home caring?
Caring was rated Good at the April 2025 inspection. This covers how staff treat residents, whether dignity and privacy are respected, and whether people are supported to maintain independence. The published summary does not include direct inspector observations or resident and relative quotes for this domain. A Good rating suggests inspectors were satisfied with what they saw, but families should look for the specific behaviours that signal genuine warmth when they visit.Is the home responsive?
Responsive was rated Good at the April 2025 inspection. This domain covers whether the home tailors activities and daily life to individual preferences, how it responds to complaints, and whether end-of-life care is planned. The published summary does not include specific observations about the activity programme, individual engagement, or complaint handling. With a mixed population of over and under 65s, dementia, and physical disabilities, individual responsiveness requires careful attention.Is the home well-led?
Well-led was rated Good at the April 2025 inspection. The home is run by HC-One No.1 Limited and has a named Registered Manager, Mrs Rebecca Margaret Whitehead, and a Nominated Individual, Ms Anna Gretchen Selby. A Good rating for Well-led means inspectors were satisfied that governance, culture, and accountability met the required standard. The published summary does not include specific observations about management visibility, staff culture, or how the home handles feedback.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home cares for people with dementia and physical disabilities, welcoming both younger adults under 65 and older residents. They've developed particular experience in supporting people whose dementia causes behavioral challenges. Families describe seeing remarkable changes in residents with dementia who arrived distressed or aggressive. The staff's patient approach seems to help people settle and find contentment, even those who struggled significantly before moving in. 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.
DCC Family Score
Summerhill Care Home scores 72 out of 100 on the Family Score. Four domains were rated Good at the April 2025 inspection, but Safe was rated Requires Improvement, which pulls the score down and means there are specific safety questions you should ask before making a decision.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
What strikes families most is how staff here seem to understand what relatives go through too. They've watched their loved ones shift from aggressive and unhappy to settled and comfortable, something they credit to the staff's patient approach. There's a resident cat who provides companionship, and activities run regularly for those who want to join in.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here show real compassion, particularly during difficult times. Several families have been grateful for the dignified care their relatives received in their final years. While most staff are caring and attentive, some speak too quietly for residents who struggle with hearing — something worth checking if your loved one has hearing difficulties.
How it sits against good practice
If you're worried about how your loved one might adjust to care, especially with challenging dementia symptoms, Summerhill's track record of helping residents find peace might reassure you.
Worth a visit
Summerhill Care Home in Kendal was assessed in April 2025 and the report was published in June 2025. The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. It is a 71-bed nursing home run by HC-One No.1 Limited, with an identified Registered Manager, and it cares for adults over and under 65 with dementia and physical disabilities. The main concern is a Requires Improvement rating for Safe, which is the domain that covers staffing levels, medicines management, and how the home responds to risks. The published inspection summary is brief, so many specific details about daily life, staff interactions, and the dementia environment are not available in the report. Before visiting, prepare questions about night staffing ratios, agency staff use, and how the home logs and learns from falls or incidents. On your visit, spend time in a communal area and watch how staff interact with residents without prompting.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Summerhill Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Summerhill Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where distressed residents find their calm again in Kendal
Nursing home in Kendal: True Peace of Mind
Families watching loved ones struggle with dementia know the weight of finding somewhere that genuinely helps. Summerhill Care Home in Kendal has become that place for several families who've seen their relatives transform from distressed to content. Set on a hilltop with views across the town, this home supports people with dementia, physical disabilities, and both younger and older adults who need care.
Who they care for
The home cares for people with dementia and physical disabilities, welcoming both younger adults under 65 and older residents. They've developed particular experience in supporting people whose dementia causes behavioral challenges.
Families describe seeing remarkable changes in residents with dementia who arrived distressed or aggressive. The staff's patient approach seems to help people settle and find contentment, even those who struggled significantly before moving in.
“If you're worried about how your loved one might adjust to care, especially with challenging dementia symptoms, Summerhill's track record of helping residents find peace might reassure you.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
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.
DCC Family Score
Summerhill Care Home scores 72 out of 100 on the Family Score. Four domains were rated Good at the April 2025 inspection, but Safe was rated Requires Improvement, which pulls the score down and means there are specific safety questions you should ask before making a decision.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
What strikes families most is how staff here seem to understand what relatives go through too. They've watched their loved ones shift from aggressive and unhappy to settled and comfortable, something they credit to the staff's patient approach. There's a resident cat who provides companionship, and activities run regularly for those who want to join in.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff here show real compassion, particularly during difficult times. Several families have been grateful for the dignified care their relatives received in their final years. While most staff are caring and attentive, some speak too quietly for residents who struggle with hearing — something worth checking if your loved one has hearing difficulties.
How it sits against good practice
If you're worried about how your loved one might adjust to care, especially with challenging dementia symptoms, Summerhill's track record of helping residents find peace might reassure you.
Worth a visit
Summerhill Care Home in Kendal was assessed in April 2025 and the report was published in June 2025. The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led. It is a 71-bed nursing home run by HC-One No.1 Limited, with an identified Registered Manager, and it cares for adults over and under 65 with dementia and physical disabilities. The main concern is a Requires Improvement rating for Safe, which is the domain that covers staffing levels, medicines management, and how the home responds to risks. The published inspection summary is brief, so many specific details about daily life, staff interactions, and the dementia environment are not available in the report. Before visiting, prepare questions about night staffing ratios, agency staff use, and how the home logs and learns from falls or incidents. On your visit, spend time in a communal area and watch how staff interact with residents without prompting.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Summerhill Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Summerhill Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where distressed residents find their calm again in Kendal
Nursing home in Kendal: True Peace of Mind
Families watching loved ones struggle with dementia know the weight of finding somewhere that genuinely helps. Summerhill Care Home in Kendal has become that place for several families who've seen their relatives transform from distressed to content. Set on a hilltop with views across the town, this home supports people with dementia, physical disabilities, and both younger and older adults who need care.
Who they care for
The home cares for people with dementia and physical disabilities, welcoming both younger adults under 65 and older residents. They've developed particular experience in supporting people whose dementia causes behavioral challenges.
Families describe seeing remarkable changes in residents with dementia who arrived distressed or aggressive. The staff's patient approach seems to help people settle and find contentment, even those who struggled significantly before moving in.
Management & ethos
Staff here show real compassion, particularly during difficult times. Several families have been grateful for the dignified care their relatives received in their final years. While most staff are caring and attentive, some speak too quietly for residents who struggle with hearing — something worth checking if your loved one has hearing difficulties.
The home & environment
The home keeps everything clean and well-maintained, creating a calm atmosphere throughout. While the hilltop setting offers lovely views, it does mean wheelchair users need transport to get into town independently. The gardens provide accessible outdoor space for residents to enjoy fresh air.
“If you're worried about how your loved one might adjust to care, especially with challenging dementia symptoms, Summerhill's track record of helping residents find peace might reassure you.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
