Abbeleigh House
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Residential homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds41
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia
- Last inspected2019-04-17
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families talk about residents who were anxious about moving actually settling within days. People describe their relatives participating in activities again, chatting with other residents, showing glimpses of their old selves. The transition seems gentler here than many feared it would be.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth55
- Compassion & dignity55
- Cleanliness55
- Activities & engagement30
- Food quality50
- Healthcare55
- Management & leadership60
- Resident happiness55
What inspectors found
Inspected 2019-04-17
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. This covers training, care planning, healthcare access, and nutrition. The published report does not include specific detail about the content of dementia training, how frequently care plans are reviewed, or how the home arranges GP visits. No information about food quality or mealtime experience is recorded in the available text.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. This covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and whether residents are treated as individuals. The published report does not include specific inspector observations, resident quotes, or examples of how staff interact with the people who live here. No detail about preferred name use, response to distress, or privacy practices is recorded in the available text.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Requires Improvement at the March 2019 inspection. This is the only domain that did not achieve a Good rating and covers activities, individual engagement, and how well the home responds to personal preferences. The published report does not describe what specific concerns were identified or what the home was required to improve. No information about the activity programme, one-to-one engagement, or how the home tailors care to individual histories is recorded in the available text.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Good at the March 2019 inspection. The report identifies a named registered manager and a nominated individual, suggesting a defined leadership structure. No further detail about the manager's tenure, how staff are supported to raise concerns, or how the home uses feedback to improve is recorded in the available text. The improvement from the previous Requires Improvement overall rating suggests leadership was effective in driving change before the 2019 inspection.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home specialises in dementia care and supports adults over 65. They seem particularly experienced at helping residents with advanced dementia settle into their new surroundings. Several families specifically mention how well the team understands dementia's challenges. Residents who arrived confused or resistant have been helped to feel secure, with staff finding ways to engage them socially and emotionally. 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
Abbeleigh House scores 63 out of 100. Most domains were rated Good at the last inspection, which is a positive step up from the previous Requires Improvement rating, but the Responsive domain remains Requires Improvement and the published report contains very little specific detail to support confident scoring in any area.
Homes in London typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families talk about residents who were anxious about moving actually settling within days. People describe their relatives participating in activities again, chatting with other residents, showing glimpses of their old selves. The transition seems gentler here than many feared it would be.
What inspectors have recorded
The manager seems to be a visible presence, with families mentioning how accessible and supportive she is when concerns arise. Several people have praised the way staff handled those final precious days with their loved ones — providing dignity and compassion when it mattered most.
How it sits against good practice
Some concerns have been raised about care standards that you'll want to discuss when you visit.
Worth a visit
Abbeleigh House, at 67-69 Squirrels Heath Road in Romford, was rated Good overall at its inspection in March 2019, having previously been rated Requires Improvement. That improvement across most domains is a meaningful step forward. The home is registered to care for up to 41 people, including those living with dementia, and holds Good ratings in Safe, Effective, Caring, and Well-led. The main concern to raise on any visit is the Responsive domain, which remains rated Requires Improvement. This covers whether your parent will have a life at the home: activities, individuality, engagement, and how well the home responds to personal preferences. The published inspection report contains very little specific detail in any area, which makes it difficult to go beyond the domain ratings. The inspection was also carried out in March 2019, now more than five years ago, and much can change in that time including management, staffing, and culture. Ask to see the current activity schedule, speak to staff about how they get to know each person individually, and check whether the concerns that led to the Responsive rating have been addressed.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Abbeleigh House measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Abbeleigh House describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where dementia brings out the best in everyone
Abbeleigh House – Your Trusted residential home
Watching someone you love struggle with dementia is heartbreaking. At Abbeleigh House in Romford, families describe something unexpected — residents who initially resisted care settling quickly, becoming more social, even rediscovering moments of joy. It's the kind of transformation that matters when you're making this difficult decision.
Who they care for
The home specialises in dementia care and supports adults over 65. They seem particularly experienced at helping residents with advanced dementia settle into their new surroundings.
Several families specifically mention how well the team understands dementia's challenges. Residents who arrived confused or resistant have been helped to feel secure, with staff finding ways to engage them socially and emotionally.
“Some concerns have been raised about care standards that you'll want to discuss when you visit.”
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
Abbeleigh House scores 63 out of 100. Most domains were rated Good at the last inspection, which is a positive step up from the previous Requires Improvement rating, but the Responsive domain remains Requires Improvement and the published report contains very little specific detail to support confident scoring in any area.
Homes in London typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families talk about residents who were anxious about moving actually settling within days. People describe their relatives participating in activities again, chatting with other residents, showing glimpses of their old selves. The transition seems gentler here than many feared it would be.
What inspectors have recorded
The manager seems to be a visible presence, with families mentioning how accessible and supportive she is when concerns arise. Several people have praised the way staff handled those final precious days with their loved ones — providing dignity and compassion when it mattered most.
How it sits against good practice
Some concerns have been raised about care standards that you'll want to discuss when you visit.
Worth a visit
Abbeleigh House, at 67-69 Squirrels Heath Road in Romford, was rated Good overall at its inspection in March 2019, having previously been rated Requires Improvement. That improvement across most domains is a meaningful step forward. The home is registered to care for up to 41 people, including those living with dementia, and holds Good ratings in Safe, Effective, Caring, and Well-led. The main concern to raise on any visit is the Responsive domain, which remains rated Requires Improvement. This covers whether your parent will have a life at the home: activities, individuality, engagement, and how well the home responds to personal preferences. The published inspection report contains very little specific detail in any area, which makes it difficult to go beyond the domain ratings. The inspection was also carried out in March 2019, now more than five years ago, and much can change in that time including management, staffing, and culture. Ask to see the current activity schedule, speak to staff about how they get to know each person individually, and check whether the concerns that led to the Responsive rating have been addressed.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Abbeleigh House measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Abbeleigh House describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where dementia brings out the best in everyone
Abbeleigh House – Your Trusted residential home
Watching someone you love struggle with dementia is heartbreaking. At Abbeleigh House in Romford, families describe something unexpected — residents who initially resisted care settling quickly, becoming more social, even rediscovering moments of joy. It's the kind of transformation that matters when you're making this difficult decision.
Who they care for
The home specialises in dementia care and supports adults over 65. They seem particularly experienced at helping residents with advanced dementia settle into their new surroundings.
Several families specifically mention how well the team understands dementia's challenges. Residents who arrived confused or resistant have been helped to feel secure, with staff finding ways to engage them socially and emotionally.
Management & ethos
The manager seems to be a visible presence, with families mentioning how accessible and supportive she is when concerns arise. Several people have praised the way staff handled those final precious days with their loved ones — providing dignity and compassion when it mattered most.
“Some concerns have been raised about care standards that you'll want to discuss when you visit.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
