Latest update for Visitors
Here at The Orders of St John Care Trust our priority is the safety and wellbeing of residents, colleagues and visitors in our services. Following Monday’s advice by the government on the vulnerability of the over 70s we have made the difficult but responsible decision to restrict access to our homes to all but the most essential visitors required to either to protect the health of our residents, or to ensure that buildings remain safe and essential supplies are delivered. For further information, click here.
A warm welcome to our home
Located on the outskirts of the historic medieval market town of Malmesbury, Athelstan House is a purpose-built home surrounded by a large landscaped garden. Athelstan House offers compassionate, individualised residential, nursing, dementia, respite, intermediate and day care for up to 80 residents in a modern, comfortable environment.
- Long Term Dementia
- Dementia Respite
- Long Term Nursing
- Nursing Respite
- Long Term Residential
- Residential Respite
- Day Care
The home is conveniently situated next to The Malmesbury Primary Care Centre part of the Priory Way complex, with its extensive GP services and Boots pharmacy.
The purpose-built home environment has been specifically designed to support the needs of older people including those with dementia, from aiding memory in day-to-day living and reminiscence therapy, to reinforcing personal identity and navigating around the home.
The light and spacious reception area which greets you as you enter Athelstan House reflects the comfortable and homely living environment throughout the home.
This delightful home features small households with 20 bedrooms. All rooms also have en-suite facilities, remote controlled colour television and a state-of-the-art nurse call system- a personal haven for each resident.
Every household has its own comfortable beautifully furnished lounge and kitchen dining area, with easy access to assisted bathrooms and cosy sitting rooms.
Residents can enjoy the daily social activities going on in the central communal areas with the hairdressing salon open during the week. The cinema/entertainment room is used partly for activities but also for individual and personal use.
Our new dementia household
This household is tastefully decorated with luxury fittings and furnishings and has applied best practice in dementia design. Carefully chosen artwork, soft furnishings and themed corridors have been selected that are of an era likely to be familiar to our residents or are of meaningful subjects such as music or crafts. All rooms have en-suite facilities, remote controlled colour television and a state-of-the-art nurse call system. The household also has a dedicated activity room, wrap-around patio and a garden room leading out to raised beds.
Services & Facilities
The team
Food
Activities
Events
Key facts
About the team
Our friendly, professionally trained team are on hand around the clock to support our residents, ensuring they spend their day how they wish and enabling them to enjoy a fulfilling and independent lifestyle.
The attentive care team focus on the individual needs of the residents, with a tailored care plan for each person. Their aim is to improve the quality of life for our residents by creating lovely, comfortable, homely surroundings and by providing care, activities and other services designed around each resident’s needs and wishes.
Meet the team
Food
The talented chef and kitchen team prepare tasty, home-cooked meals on site daily from our own kitchens. We source quality produce for our excellent breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. All-day dining is available for lighter meals and snacks and all dishes are carefully balanced to get the best nutritional value and cater for individual dietary requirements and preferences.
Seasonal produce is chosen whenever possible and of course, relatives and friends are always welcome to join us. The menus change daily, and the kettle is always on. Our chef bakes every day so there is always a fresh cake to enjoy.
Each of the households has their own small kitchen dining room where residents can take their meals if they wish. Residents are also encouraged to help prepare their own food and to make snacks whenever they choose.
Activities
Whether it’s wet or dry outside, we at OSJCT feel that activities are essential in providing the best caring environment to live in.
Hobbies don’t simply stop when living with us at Athelstan House. We have a dedicated Activities Co-ordinator who works closely with our residents to create a programme of fulfilling activities and events, tailored around each resident’s requests, hobbies and interests. The programme of events and activities provide a source of fun and laughter, to help each resident live their life to the full and make new friendships.
We are also fortunate to have the support of many volunteers of all ages from the local community, strengthening our links to this thriving market town. Here is a sample of activities on offer:
- Trips to garden centres, cafés, pubs, sporting events, National Trust parks, wildlife parks, aquariums and museums.
- Visit from Pets as Therapy Dogs
- Exercise and wellness activities, for example Seated Yoga, Zumba
- Fun activities with ‘Messy Miniatures’, the local toddler group
- Board game competitions and quizzes
- Music therapy sessions
- Gardening
- Arts and crafts
- Communal Church services
Download sample activities schedule
With so many well-being activities for body and mind on offer, we also recognise that everyone needs some personal space for relaxation and mindfulness for personal reflection. The cosy lounges offer an opportunity for some quiet time or to host family and friends.
And that’s not all:
We’ve had silent discos, hoe downs, Chinese banquets, Oscar parties and so much more.
Many of the activities feature Reminiscence Therapy to aid those living with Dementia to remember events, people and places using sight, touch, taste, smell and sound.
Events
As we are on the outskirts of a market town - within a vibrant community, there's never a dull moment. We run regular activities for all to join in:
- Coffee mornings
- Care Home Open Day
- Summer and Autumn fetes
- Christmas parties
View our full events calendar to see more upcoming events taking place at Athelstan House.
Key Facts
The Key Facts document has information regarding this care home which can be used in comparison with other care homes or can be printed and taken on your visit
Meet the team
The team consists of a Home Manager, Care Services Manager, Dementia Lead, Senior support Workers, Support workers, Activity Co-ordinators, Admiral Nurses, Housekeeping, Handy person, administrators and the home's Chef and catering team.
Cathy Fountain
Lucy Ponting
Louisa Wright
Gail Corby
Lorna Miller
John Ayre
Home Manager
Cathy is a qualified nurse and on completion of her training, lived and worked abroad in Australia, Saudi Arabia and the Channel Islands.
Following a short break whilst caring for her children, she returned to nursing in 1992 as a part time nurse in a care home in Salisbury. Whilst there she took on several different roles over time from Home Trainer, Senior Nurse, Matron and then Home Manager in 2006, where she led a team caring for up to 80 residents for ten years, leaving in 2016.
After this, Cathy managed a home in Marlborough where she successfully guided the home from 'Requires Improvement' to a 'Good' rating in all five categories.
Cathy believes it is a huge privilege to care for others and strives to offer the highest standards in all areas of home life from care, hospitality, the environment, quality of activity provision to name but a few.
As such she is a firm believer in developing teams where staff are happy in their work and passionate about providing the very best for those in their care.
Deputy Home Manager
Lucy has worked in the care sector from the age of 18, starting her career as a Care Assistant. From this position, Lucy developed a real passion for the care of the elderly, gaining specific qualifications and experience in residential, nursing and dementia care.
Lucy has worked for OSJCT for 14years, progressing into a Care Leader role and now is the Head of Care for Athelstan House, taking a hands-on approach and being motivated by the happiness of the residents and the team.
Lucy strives to ensure each resident is able to live their life as they choose, having the support and care that they require. Within her role as Head of Care, Lucy supports and supervises the team to continually promote a person-centred approach.
When not working, Lucy enjoys practising her photography, baking celebration cakes and spending time with her young nieces.
Day Centre Co-ordinator
Prior to starting at Athelstan House, Louisa worked at a school for disabled children in an admin and accounts role.
When Athelstan House opened, Louisa decided on a career change and she has been there ever since.
Louisa is also a registered foster carer and this is a very important part of her life.
Louisa enjoys meeting new people and being able to offer them support. The Day Care Centre offers the ideal opportunity to get a feel of what it might be like to live in a care home environment and she can quite confidently say everyone really enjoys their day and Athelstan House now has a number of regular clients who came back week after week.
Activities Co-ordinator
Before starting at Athelstan House, Gail worked with children who had special needs but when the care home opened, she decided on a career change to expand her experience in a different area of care.
She enjoys running activities that make the residents happy and helping to make them smile. There are simply not enough hours in the day!
Activities Co-ordinator
Lorna has worked as a chef for the majority of her career. She was previously landlady of the Red Bull Inn in Malmesbury for 11 years before joining the team at Athelstan House.
Her hobbies include walking, swimming and baking.
Lorna has a Pets as Therapy dog called Maisie.
Handyman
John previously worked in the computer industry for 21 years and before that served almost 13 years in the Royal Navy, latterly moving to the Ministry of Defence in Lyneham. After a sabbatical, John heard about the maintenance position at Athelstan House.
John loves the varied nature of the role; from spending time with residents ensuring they are in pleasant surroundings with everything working as it should, to making them a cup of tea and having a chat whilst he works.
Latest News
Mar 2020
The Athelstan House band show their love for the residents
Feb 2020
Lucy Ponting, previously Head of Care has a new role
Jan 2020
Athelstan delighted to be Care Home of the Month for December
Come and visit us
The best way to find out all that we can offer is to come along for a chat, look around and meet our team and residents. Contact us to make an appointment - we'll be delighted to welcome you.
Call: 01666 848000Priory Way,
Burton Hill,
Malmesbury
SN16 0FB
United Kingdom