Dementia Care Home

Garswood House Care Home – Minster Care Group

Garswood House, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 9TZ

Nursing homes, Residential homes

At a Glance

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

DCC Family Score
68/ 100
Weighted from family reviews
Dementia SpecialismConfirmed

Nursing homes, Residential homes

Families Rate The Staff55 / 100

Staff warmth score

“Well Looked After”55%

of reviewers answered yes

Good to know

  • Registered beds53
  • SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia
  • Last inspected2018-12-05

Save Garswood House Care Home – Minster Care Group to your shortlist

Keep a running list, add visit notes, and compare homes side-by-side. Free account — it takes a minute.

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 who've visited say the home feels clean and well-kept from the moment you walk through the door. Staff seem to genuinely care about each other as well as residents, which can make all the difference.

The eight family priority themes

  • Staff warmth55
  • Compassion & dignity55
  • Cleanliness55
  • Activities & engagement50
  • Food quality50
  • Healthcare55
  • Management & leadership60
  • Resident happiness55
Section 02

What inspectors found

Inspected 2018-12-05

  • Is this home safe?

    Good
    Garswood House was rated Good for safety at its last inspection. This domain covers staffing levels, medicines management, infection control, and how the home responds to accidents and incidents. The published report does not contain specific observations about any of these areas, so it is not possible to describe what inspectors found in detail. The Good rating indicates no significant safety concerns were identified at the time.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the care effective?

    Good
    Garswood House was rated Good for effectiveness at its last inspection. This domain covers training, care planning, healthcare access, and nutrition. The published report does not describe specific findings in any of these areas. The Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with how the home translates knowledge into practice, but no detail is available to confirm what that looked like on the ground.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is this home caring?

    Good
    Garswood House was rated Good for caring at its last inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity, respect, and how well staff support people's independence. The published report does not include direct observations of staff interactions, quotes from residents or relatives, or specific examples of dignified care. The Good rating indicates inspectors did not find concerns in this area.
    Verified by inspectorResident testimony recorded
  • Is the home responsive?

    Good
    Garswood House was rated Good for responsiveness at its last inspection. This domain covers activities, individual engagement, and how well the home responds to people's personal preferences and changing needs. The published report does not describe the activity programme, individual engagement for people with advanced dementia, or how the home handles complaints. The Good rating suggests no significant concerns were identified.
    Verified by inspector
  • Is the home well-led?

    Good
    Garswood House was rated Good for being well-led at its last inspection. A registered manager (Mrs Rita Anita Higson) and a nominated individual (Mr Paul Nicholls) are named in the registration record, which indicates formal accountability is in place. The published report does not describe the manager's visibility, staff culture, governance processes, or how the home handles feedback and complaints. The Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied with leadership at the time of inspection.
    Verified by inspector
  • Source: CQC inspection report →

    Section 03

    What the evidence base says

    The home cares for adults of all ages, including those under 65 who need residential support. They also welcome people living with dementia. While Garswood House supports people with dementia, families might want to ask about specific approaches and activities when they visit. 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.

68/ 100

DCC Family Score

Garswood House holds a Good rating across all five domains, but the inspection report published in February 2021 contains very little specific detail, meaning scores reflect the rating itself rather than observed evidence. Families should treat this score as a starting point and gather their own information on a visit.

Homes in North West typically score 68–82.

The three-lens summary

Lens 01

What families tell us

Families who've visited say the home feels clean and well-kept from the moment you walk through the door. Staff seem to genuinely care about each other as well as residents, which can make all the difference.

Lens 02

What inspectors have recorded

Lens 03

How it sits against good practice

If you're looking for respite care or thinking about longer-term options, why not arrange a visit to see if it feels right?

DCC Recommendation

Worth a visit

Garswood House Residential Care Home in Wigan was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its last published inspection, with findings reviewed in July 2023 and no evidence found to change that rating. The home is run by Croftwood Care UK Limited, has a named registered manager and nominated individual, and caters for up to 53 people including those living with dementia and adults both over and under 65. The significant limitation here is that the published inspection report contains almost no specific detail about what inspectors actually saw, heard, or recorded. Every score in this Family View is based on the headline rating rather than observed evidence, which means the uncertainty is high. Before choosing this home for your parent, visit in person, ask to see staffing rotas for the past two weeks, observe a mealtime, and ask the manager directly about dementia training, night staffing numbers, and how often care plans are reviewed with family involvement.

The three questions to ask when you visit

Save this home. Compare it against your shortlist.

Let our analysis show you how Garswood House Care Home – Minster Care Group measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.

Create free account →

In Their Own Words

How Garswood House Care Home – Minster Care Group describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.

What Garswood House Care Home – Minster Care Group says about itself

Clean, caring respite breaks for families in Wigan

Nursing home,residential home in Wigan: True Peace of Mind

When families need a break from caring responsibilities, finding somewhere trustworthy matters. Garswood House Residential Care Home in Wigan provides respite care alongside longer-term support for people over 65 and younger adults with care needs. The home welcomes people living with dementia too.

Care & specialisms

Who they care for

    The home cares for adults of all ages, including those under 65 who need residential support. They also welcome people living with dementia.

    How they describe their dementia care

    While Garswood House supports people with dementia, families might want to ask about specific approaches and activities when they visit.

    “If you're looking for respite care or thinking about longer-term options, why not arrange a visit to see if it feels right?”

    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

    Not sure if it's dementia or just ageing? Here's the checklist your GP will use.

    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.

    Download Your Checklist

    No registration required to download. Free.

    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.

    Comforting Memories

    Britain 1940 to 1970: Memory Lane

    Card Game

    The Card Game That Turns Familiar Phrases Into Open Doors

    Memory Box

    The Box That Holds a Life

    Digital Photoframe

    The Frame That Brings the Family Into the Room

    Digital Calendar

    The Clock That Knows What Day It Is

    FAQs Related to Care Homes increasing support care

    How often to visit a parent with dementia in a care home — and what makes a visit actually matter

    read this FAQ

    Care home fees and dementia — who pays, who doesn't, and what determines the difference

    read this FAQ

    Do you have to sell the house to pay for dementia care? The options most families don't know about

    read this FAQ

    The 7-year rule and care home fees — what it actually means and why it's misunderstood

    read this FAQ

    How much the NHS will pay for a care home — and what happens when the home costs more

    read this FAQ

    NHS Continuing Healthcare and dementia — who qualifies, how to apply, and what to do if refused

    read this FAQ

    When the NHS pays for dementia care — the two situations and how to access both

    read this FAQ

    What the NHS actually covers in dementia care — and the funding most eligible families never claim

    read this FAQ
    We use cookies in order to give you the best possible experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies.
    Accept