Avenue House Nursing & 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 beds49
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Dementia
- Last inspected2020-10-27
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STAGE 4 — RESEARCHING CARE HOMES
Visit homes. Compare them side by side. Choose with confidence.
Most of us will view care homes the way we view houses, impression, atmosphere, the feeling in the corridor. We go home, try to remember what we saw, and make a permanent decision from a blurred memory.
The DCC shortlist gives every home you visit a structured record: the same twelve questions, answered the same way, every time. When you’re ready to choose, pull any two homes side by side and compare them directly. Same criteria, same evidence, your notes and your scores.
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Visitors often mention how staff greet them with genuine warmth, making difficult transitions feel less overwhelming. The daily activities programme keeps residents engaged through creative projects, games and social gatherings that bring structure and enjoyment to each day.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness65
- Activities & engagement60
- Food quality58
- Healthcare65
- Management & leadership42
- Resident happiness65
What inspectors found
Inspected 2020-10-27
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the December 2020 inspection. This domain covers how well the home translates care plans into practice, including training, dementia-specific support, healthcare coordination, and nutrition. The published summary does not include specific detail about care plan content, GP access arrangements, or training records. A Good rating indicates inspectors were broadly satisfied with the home's approach to effective care at the time of the visit. The home's registration includes dementia as a specialism, which means inspectors would have considered whether dementia-specific practices were in place.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the December 2020 inspection. This domain is the closest to what families report mattering most, covering staff warmth, dignity, respect, and whether residents are treated as individuals. The published summary does not include direct quotes from residents or relatives, nor specific inspector observations about staff interactions. A Good rating indicates inspectors found the home's approach to caring broadly satisfactory at the time of the visit. No concerns about dignity or respect were flagged in the available text.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Good at the December 2020 inspection. This domain covers whether the home adapts to individual needs and preferences, including activities, meaningful engagement, and end-of-life care. The published summary does not include specific detail about the activity programme, individual engagement for residents with advanced dementia, or end-of-life planning practices. A Good rating suggests inspectors were broadly satisfied that the home was responsive to individual circumstances at the time of the visit.Is the home well-led?
The Well-Led domain was rated Requires Improvement at the December 2020 inspection. This is the only domain where inspectors identified concerns significant enough to fall below Good. Well-Led covers management visibility, staff culture, governance, and whether the home identifies and acts on problems. The published summary does not detail the specific reasons for the Requires Improvement rating. The registered manager at the time of the inspection was Mrs Samantha Hoare-Wilkinson, with Mr Christopher Clark as the nominated individual for the provider, Jasmine Healthcare Limited. A review of available information in July 2023 did not find evidence requiring a reassessment of the rating.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
The home cares for adults over 65, with particular experience in dementia support. Residents with dementia benefit from the structured daily activities and the calm environment of the gardens. The team understands the importance of routine and gentle engagement for those living with memory challenges. 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
Avenue House scores reasonably well on the themes families care most about, particularly staff warmth and dignity, but the Requires Improvement rating in Well-Led pulls the overall score down and means leadership and governance deserve close scrutiny on any visit.
Homes in East Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors often mention how staff greet them with genuine warmth, making difficult transitions feel less overwhelming. The daily activities programme keeps residents engaged through creative projects, games and social gatherings that bring structure and enjoyment to each day.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real kindness during visits, with many families noting how approachable and emotionally present the team feels. Some families have experienced gaps in communication about care plans and important updates, which the home continues to address.
How it sits against good practice
Finding the right balance of care, comfort and communication matters deeply when choosing a care home.
Worth a visit
Avenue House Nursing and Care Home in Rushden was rated Good overall at its last inspection in December 2020, with Good ratings in Safe, Effective, Caring, and Responsive. The home specialises in nursing care and dementia support for adults over 65, with 49 beds. Inspectors found enough evidence across four of the five domains to award Good, suggesting broadly acceptable standards in safety, care planning, staff conduct, and responsiveness to individual needs at the time of inspection. The significant caveat is the Requires Improvement rating in Well-Led, which covers management, governance, and how the home responds to problems. This is the domain most likely to affect everything else over time, because a home with weak leadership can slip in other areas between inspections. The inspection took place in October 2020 during a period of significant pressure on care homes, and the last published rating now dates from January 2021, which is some time ago. On your visit, ask to speak with the registered manager directly, ask what has changed since the last inspection in the Well-Led domain, and request to see evidence of how the home has acted on the concerns raised.
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In Their Own Words
How Avenue House Nursing & Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where residents find gentle days and garden moments in Rushden
Nursing home in Rushden: True Peace of Mind
For families seeking thoughtful dementia care, Avenue House Nursing and Care Home in Rushden offers structured days filled with creative activities and quiet garden time. The recently extended home creates light, airy spaces where residents can enjoy both social moments and peaceful corners. While the team works to strengthen their communication with families, many visitors speak warmly of the welcome they receive.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults over 65, with particular experience in dementia support.
Residents with dementia benefit from the structured daily activities and the calm environment of the gardens. The team understands the importance of routine and gentle engagement for those living with memory challenges.
“Finding the right balance of care, comfort and communication matters deeply when choosing a care home.”
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
Avenue House scores reasonably well on the themes families care most about, particularly staff warmth and dignity, but the Requires Improvement rating in Well-Led pulls the overall score down and means leadership and governance deserve close scrutiny on any visit.
Homes in East Midlands typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Visitors often mention how staff greet them with genuine warmth, making difficult transitions feel less overwhelming. The daily activities programme keeps residents engaged through creative projects, games and social gatherings that bring structure and enjoyment to each day.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show real kindness during visits, with many families noting how approachable and emotionally present the team feels. Some families have experienced gaps in communication about care plans and important updates, which the home continues to address.
How it sits against good practice
Finding the right balance of care, comfort and communication matters deeply when choosing a care home.
Worth a visit
Avenue House Nursing and Care Home in Rushden was rated Good overall at its last inspection in December 2020, with Good ratings in Safe, Effective, Caring, and Responsive. The home specialises in nursing care and dementia support for adults over 65, with 49 beds. Inspectors found enough evidence across four of the five domains to award Good, suggesting broadly acceptable standards in safety, care planning, staff conduct, and responsiveness to individual needs at the time of inspection. The significant caveat is the Requires Improvement rating in Well-Led, which covers management, governance, and how the home responds to problems. This is the domain most likely to affect everything else over time, because a home with weak leadership can slip in other areas between inspections. The inspection took place in October 2020 during a period of significant pressure on care homes, and the last published rating now dates from January 2021, which is some time ago. On your visit, ask to speak with the registered manager directly, ask what has changed since the last inspection in the Well-Led domain, and request to see evidence of how the home has acted on the concerns raised.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Avenue House Nursing & Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Avenue House Nursing & Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where residents find gentle days and garden moments in Rushden
Nursing home in Rushden: True Peace of Mind
For families seeking thoughtful dementia care, Avenue House Nursing and Care Home in Rushden offers structured days filled with creative activities and quiet garden time. The recently extended home creates light, airy spaces where residents can enjoy both social moments and peaceful corners. While the team works to strengthen their communication with families, many visitors speak warmly of the welcome they receive.
Who they care for
The home cares for adults over 65, with particular experience in dementia support.
Residents with dementia benefit from the structured daily activities and the calm environment of the gardens. The team understands the importance of routine and gentle engagement for those living with memory challenges.
Management & ethos
Staff show real kindness during visits, with many families noting how approachable and emotionally present the team feels. Some families have experienced gaps in communication about care plans and important updates, which the home continues to address.
The home & environment
The home's accessible gardens provide residents with outdoor space to enjoy throughout the seasons. Inside, the recent extension has created bright, comfortable areas for both quiet relaxation and group activities.
“Finding the right balance of care, comfort and communication matters deeply when choosing a care home.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
