Located in vibrant communities such as Aberdeen, Fife, Glasgow, Perth, and Irvine, our care homes in Scotland provide personalised, high-quality care for every resident. Whether you need residential care, nursing support, specialist dementia care, short-term respite, or sensitive end-of-life care, our team is here to support you and your loved ones.
Moving to a care home is a significant step, and our Home to Home Promise ensures a smooth and welcoming transition. We take the time to get to know you and your loved ones, prepare a personalised welcome, and familiarise you with our team and residents to make you feel at ease and part of our community.
Our care homes in Scotland are situated in prime locations, providing easy access to local amenities, beautiful parks, and excellent transport links. These well-connected locations make it convenient for your family to visit and allow you to enjoy the best of your local area.
Discover the perfect home for you or your loved one.
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Palliative Care
Why choose Angusfield House?
Armchair exercise classes
Regular visits to a Football Memories Club
Monthly visit to the local Church for Seniors Club
Knitting and craft sessions
Residential Care, Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Residential Dementia, Palliative Care
Why choose Benarty View?
Newly refurbished, bright, spacious lounges with patio doors
Weekly exercise to music sessions
Close to local shops, public transport and M90
Gardening activities
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Palliative Care, Intermediate Care
Why choose Burlington Court?
Monthly trips to the Gathamlock Church for high tea
Regular visits to Shettleston Church’s dementia sing-a-long cafe
Weekly pamper sessions
Friday afternoon cinema
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Respite Care, Palliative Care
Why choose Campsie View?
Cinema and gardening clubs
Walking group – walks around the local area including the canals
Trips on the canal with The Seagull Trust
Regular trips out, including Blair Drummond Safari and Kelvin Grove art gallery
Residential Care, Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Residential Dementia, Respite Care, Palliative Care
Why choose Colinton?
Weekly yoga club
Set in large landscaped grounds
Weekly knit and natter
Arts & crafts sessions
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Respite Care, Palliative Care, Intermediate Care
Why choose Craigieknowes?
Views of the city and surrounding countryside
Knitting and gardening clubs
Pet therapy
Arts and crafts
Nursing Dementia, Palliative Care
Why choose Cumbrae Lodge?
Close to town centre and public transport
Sensory sessions
Cinema evenings
Large landscaped gardens
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Palliative Care
Why choose Gilmerton?
Movement to music sessions
Visits to the Woollen Mill for afternoon tea
Group games, including giant dominoes, skittles and floor darts
Trips out and visits from entertainers
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Palliative Care, Intermediate Care
Why choose Guthrie House?
Regular trips out
Visits from entertainers
Strong links with local churches and voluntary groups
Within easy reach of the A720 and public transport
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Palliative Care
Why choose Lammermuir House?
Pet Therapy Dog, Bramble visits fortnightly
Craft and gardening sessions
Church services from Dunbar Parish Church and Belhaven Parish Church
Regular trips out
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Respite Care, Palliative Care, Intermediate Care
Why choose Lunardi Court?
Regular trips to Byre Theatre for singing and playing instruments
Weekly visits to a dementia club at Springfield Tavern for food, games and socialising
Close to town centre and public transport
Regular visits from entertainers and schoolchildren
Nursing Care, Nursing Dementia, Respite Care, Palliative Care
We have care homes across England, Scotland and Jersey. Just pop your postcode, town or care home name into the search and our closest homes will be displayed. If you need any help, please give us a call.
How our residents keep connected with their community
Our homes actively contribute and play a key role in their local area. We invite the community in and take residents out for events like coffee mornings and garden parties. It’s important to us that residents continue to be able to socialise not only with their family and friends, but also with members of the local community. Many residents wish to continue to attend meetings or clubs they loved before they moved into our home.
Visiting the local library
Why is it important to feel part of the community?
Maintaining or building local connections is incredibly important in helping residents maintain independence and for their mental wellbeing. Just because you move home doesn’t mean you lose connections or the desire to stay connected. This is an important part of our Magic Moments programme and part of getting to know you as an individual.
Whether an individual continues to feel involved in something that has been such an important part of their life for so long, or they have recently moved areas, it remains just as important to surround them with the people, amenities, and events nearby, so they feel at home in and comforted by the world around them.
Visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers
The memories and wisdom of elders are invaluable resources, and we should all learn to embrace the value of multiple generations within a community. The world we live in is a rapidly changing place, and who better to share their knowledge or give advice on making the most of our time here than somebody who has experienced so much, especially within the community where you live?
Hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning
At Four Seasons Health Care Group we regularly put on trips for our residents, as it’s always important to get some fresh air if you’re able to. Spending time with people never fails to brighten up your day, and revisiting places that hold fond memories can prompt some wonderful conversations. Not only do we go out to visit places, but we also try to have as many people and groups visiting homes as possible, from members of the church to visitors from local schools and the area Women’s Institute.
In September we host Community Coffee Mornings in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and invite our neighbours into our homes for a chat and piece of cake. This helps to raise some money for a great cause and is a brilliant event to help our residents stay connected with their community.
Additionally, many of our team members live locally to our care homes too, which means they may share a common knowledge of people, events and facilities and are able to discuss the goings-on of the community – sometimes it’s enough just hearing an update, other times it provides a lasting bond with one another.
In conclusion, contrary to popular belief, moving into a Four Seasons Health Care Group home can not only help reconnect individuals to their local area with the opportunity to discover and attend events, enjoy group visits and stay ahead of the gossip, it can eradicate loneliness and provide that sense of belonging that can often be lost when you live on your own in later life.
To find out more just search for your local home and pop in for a chat. Who knows, there may be a familiar face waiting to greet you!
We have care homes across England, Scotland and Jersey. Just pop your postcode, town or care home name into the search and our closest homes will be displayed. If you need any help, please give us a call.
Home> Care Home Advice Hub> Paying for Care> What Are Top-Up Fees?
Top-up fees are additional charges that families may need to cover when the local authority’s contribution doesn’t fully cover the cost of a care home. In such cases, the family is responsible for paying the difference, known as a ‘third party top-up agreement’, which usually requires local authority approval.
The need for a top-up fee arises after the local authority conducts a health and social care assessment and a financial means test. If the local authority determines that the individual qualifies for financial support, it will contribute to the weekly care fees. However, if this contribution falls short of the care home’s fees, a top-up may be necessary.
Usually as the resident, you are not expected to cover the cost of a top-up fee. The local authority’s assessment of your care needs and financial situation will identify if you can fund your own care. Therefore, if a top-up fee is required, it is usually the family’s responsibility to cover the difference between the local authority’s contribution and the care home’s fees.
That said, there are specific circumstances where this might not be the case:
Where you have a deferred payment scheme in place
If you have a property to sell that is in a ‘property disregard period’
A means test is the process by which a local authority evaluates a person’s financial situation to determine eligibility for weekly care contributions. Each country sets annual thresholds for this assessment, which are typically updated in April at the start of the new tax year. The means test considers your share of any joint assets but does not include your family’s finances.
The means test will look at the resident’s regular income such as earnings, benefits or a pension. Although earnings from paid work should be disregarded. It will also consider any capital and assets you have such as investments, cash savings and your property.
Given the complexity of funding care, it’s important to get professional advice on the best way to fund the cost of care. We recommend consulting a care fees expert to make sure that you have explored all the options available to you.
To make this process easier, we have contacted Symponia, a national care fees planning specialist dedicated to the financial issues of later life. In particular the payment of care fees. To learn how Symponia can support you, please download their helpful handbook.
If you have any questions about our care or services, please get in touch below.
Please note that we cannot respond to queries about application process, or current vacant positions. Please visit our careers website for information about working with us or current vacancies.
Thank you for asking us to get in touch in 6 months.
In the meantime, we encourage you to explore our Advice Hub, where you will find helpful information covering topics including, fees and funding, finding the right care home and understanding dementia.
When a loved one living with dementia needs additional care and support, we understand finding the right care can be overwhelming. Ensuring they receive the best possible care is essential, but with so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start.
This guide aims to provide you with valuable information to help you determine what is the best care for dementia patients, whom we refer to as those living with dementia.
If you are considering whether a loved one may benefit from moving into a care home, you may want to consider the following signs:
Difficulties with daily activities: Unable to manage daily activities, such as washing, dressing, cooking and cleaning.
Safety concerns: Frequent falls or habits of wandering.
Declining health: A need for more intensive care.
Carer burnout: If a family member is struggling to provide the required level of care.
Studies have found those living with dementia have a better overall wellbeing when living in a care home. Cognitive stimulating activities, social interactions and person-centred care contribute to their improved quality of life.
When moving a loved one into a care home, you want to feel confident that they are receiving the best care possible and that all their needs are being met. To help simplify what to consider when choosing a care home for dementia care, here are key factors to contemplate.
Level of Care Required
The first step is to understand the specific needs of your loved one. As there are many types of dementia, care requirements can vary widely. Although there are common symptoms associated to each of the various types of dementia, everyone’s needs are unique. The stage of dementia can also impact the level of care required.
Early stage: Individuals may need help with daily activities but can still manage many tasks independently.
Middle stage: Assistance required for day-to-day tasks, such as washing, dressing and eating.
Late stage: Individuals will be more dependent and reliant on care and support for medical and personal tasks.
When embarking on your journey to find the right care home, you will come across two types of dementia care. They are residential dementia care and nursing dementia care. If your loved one needs support with day-to-day tasks, then they are likely to need residential dementia care. However, if they also need 24/7 nursing care, then nursing dementia care is required.
When discussing care needs with a Home Manager, it is critical they conduct an in-depth assessment so that they not only get a firm understanding of the care requirements, but also your loved one’s interests, likes and dislikes.
By gaining this understanding, the Home Manager will be able to advise if they can accommodate the care needs, but also go through life in the home and if it is a suitable match for both you and your loved one.
When considering a care home, ensure they provide specialised dementia care, which means the team are qualified and experienced in how to care for someone living with dementia.
What to expect:
Expertise in dementia care: Teams trained in dementia care and understand the unique needs and challenges of individuals living with dementia. Training will provide team members with a wide range of skills and knowledge, ensuring they provide care that improves the individual’s quality of life.
Personalised care plans: Individualised care plans that identifies the specific needs, preferences, interests and history of each resident.
Safety and security: Enhanced safety measures within care homes providing dementia care to provide a safe and secure environment that helps to reduce confusion and prevent wandering.
Dignity and respect: A team that is committed to creating a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. Each resident is treated with respect and their dignity is preserved.
Lifestyle and facilities
Along with receiving specialised care, it’s crucial the home has a vibrant atmosphere and suitable facilities as they play a significant role in the wellbeing of residents living with dementia.
What to expect:
Structure and routine: The care home will have a consistent routine. This helps reduce anxiety and confusion for those living with dementia.
Decor: A care home’s environment can have a huge impact on the wellbeing of those living with dementia. Careful consideration is made when choosing a colour scheme and design features as this can help reduce falls, use of some medications and improve morale. Homes will avoid the use of too many colours, busy wallpaper designs and gloss paints as this can be distracting and distressing for those with dementia. Instead, the décor will provide contrast between walls, flooring and handrails. Good lighting is also used to help residents navigate and support them to remain independent.
Activities: Everchanging activities programme inspired by the interests and capabilities of residents. Activities will be a mixture of group and one-to-one sessions and are designed to maintain good mental, physical and emotional health. Activities may include sensory stimulation, music sessions and pet therapy.
Nutrition & hydration: Residents living with dementia may experience problems with eating and drinking. To prevent malnutrition or dehydration, information such as what and when they eat, preferences and dietary requirements will be tracked in their care plan to ensure actions are taken to promote good wellbeing. Teams will also assess the level of support required during mealtime and will aim to promote the individual’s independence and maintain their mealtime skills. Mealtime environment preferences are also taken into consideration. For some, mealtimes are a social occasion that offers opportunities to stimulate positive eating patterns, whereas others may find the social setting overwhelming and may prefer a single table setting.
Emotional and social support: Trained teams provide emotional support to residents and their loved ones, helping to maintain good emotional wellbeing. Group settings and interactions with team members help to prevent loneliness and promote good health.
Personalised bedrooms: Residents living with dementia need familiarity in their home environment, so teams will encourage you to bring personal items from your loved one’s home to help them feel safe and secure.
Visiting potential care homes is a crucial step in choosing the right home for your loved one. Here are some top tips to help you assess each home:
Prepare for the visit: Consider your loved one’s needs, as you will be asked many questions about them, including care requirements, interests, medication, mobility and preferences.
Observe interactions: Pay attention to how the team interact with residents and families. They should be kind, helpful, respectful and patient.
Take note of facilities and cleanliness: The home should be spotless and well-maintained. You will also want to consider what facilities are essential for you and your loved one. This could be a secure garden, easy access to public transport or the ability to cater to a specialised diet.
Activities in the home: Find out about the activities in the home and if they align with your loved one’s interests and abilities.
Talk to residents and families: If possible, speak to residents and families during your visit to get their feedback on the home.
Ask questions: Prepare questions that will help you to choose a care home. This could be learning about visiting hours, how care plans are personalised, the team’s qualifications and how the home communicates with family members.
We have a comprehensive guide on tips for visiting care homes and a handy downloadable checklist.
If you feel a care home is the best option for your loved one, a Four Seasons or brighterkind home may be the perfect choice. Our research-based, award nominated approach to dementia care is delivered by teams who are committed to providing care that makes residents feel valued and support them to have a fulfilling life.
At Four Seasons Health Care Group, you can expect:
Positive, life-enhancing approach: It is our mission to support those in our care to look forward to every day.
Researched based approach: We worked with Bournemouth University to develop a dementia care approach that places the individual at the centre of everything we do.
Teams receive ongoing training: Our homes have dementia leaders, who we call Dementia Champions. These individuals complete our extensive training programme, ensuring they possess the knowledge and skills to implement and promote our dementia care approach within their home.
Award-nominated dementia care: We were finalists in The Dementia Care Awards 2024 and The National Care Awards 2023.
Activities programme: Vibrant activities, which we call Magic Moments. Our programmes are inclusive and are inspired by residents’ interests and needs. From one-to-one sessions and pet therapy to sensory activities and day trips, our Magic Moments programme is designed to stimulate the mind, body and soul.
Food & dining: Our carefully crafted menus are inspired by residents’ feedback and extensive research into nutrition. Our Chefs are trained to cater to specialist diets, including IDDSI and modified food choices.
Optician services: We offer a complimentary check-up with the country’s leading eye care specialists, who come to the home. This is particularly important for those living with dementia as they will be in a familiar and safe environment.
Partnerships with leading specialists: We are proud to partner with a wide variety of specialists, to ensure all areas of our care is the very best.
We welcome you to visit your local Four Seasons or brighterkind home to see first-hand how we make a difference to the lives of our residents and create vibrant communities.
Brodaty, H., & Cumming, A. (2010). Dementia services in Australia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25(9), 887-905.
Spector, A., Orrell, M., Davies, S., & Woods, B. (2001). Can reality orientation be rehabilitated? Development and piloting of an evidence-based programme of cognition-based therapies for people with dementia. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 11(3-4), 377-397.
Day, K., Carreon, D., & Stump, C. (2000). The therapeutic design of environments for people with dementia: A review of the empirical research. The Gerontologist, 40(4), 397-416.
Fleming, R., & Purandare, N. (2010). Long-term care for people with dementia: Environmental design guidelines. International Psychogeriatrics, 22(7), 1084-1096.
Volkert, D., Chourdakis, M., Faxen-Irving, G., Frühwald, T., Landi, F., Suominen, M. H., … & Schneider, S. M. (2015). ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in dementia. Clinical Nutrition, 34(6), 1052-1073.
Nijs, K. A., de Graaf, C., Kok, F. J., & van Staveren, W. A. (2006). Effect of family-style meals on quality of life, physical performance, and body weight of nursing home residents: Cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ, 332(7551), 1180-1184.
Home> About Us> Employee Benefits and Wellness> Learning and Development
Our approach to learning and development is centered around delivering a high-quality, engaging experience, designed to help you grow both your career and your skills. You will be supported in your first few weeks with an Induction Plan and mandatory training for your role.
After this, you will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of resources designed to help you advance your career. Whether you’re looking to build new skills or refine existing ones, we have a range of exciting courses and career pathways available. From new and improved skills-based courses, to virtual learning experiences, there’s something for everyone.
These learning opportunities are designed to be flexible, allowing you to choose the path that best aligns with your professional aspirations. Whether you prefer hands-on training, interactive eLearning modules, or pursuing formal qualifications, we are committed to providing you with the resources you need to continue your professional growth.
You can grow your skills and knowledge at Four Seasons Health Care Group through our partnership with The Skills Network. We have a range of apprenticeships available to team members working in our care homes and for those working in central support team positions. They are a great way to develop your skills and knowledge, relevant to your job role and at the same time gaining a recognised qualification. When you are ready to develop your skills, your Manager will be able to advise how you can apply for an Apprenticeship.
YourHippo
We use YourHippo as our virtual learning and development platform. It’s packed full of courses directly relevant to your new or current role and it offers opportunity to develop your skills too. Each course is fun and easy to complete. Whether you want to develop your knowledge of dementia, end of life care, medication administration, or improve your management skills…there is sure to be something for you.
We offer webinars and face-to-face courses on a range of topics to help develop our team. Topics include, Essential Leadership, Mentoring Skills, Supervisor and Manager, First Aider and more. You can access these through the bookings section of YourHippo.
Care Home Assistant Practitioners (CHAPs)
Care Home Assistant Practitioners can carry out aspects of care delegated by the Registered Nurse in the home. This is a great career pathway for individuals wanting to take on more clinical responsibility. Our Home Managers identify where and when we might need a CHAP in a home and will recruit on this basis. As part of this career pathway, we offer a 12-week CHAP programme, which includes training and workbooks across a range of topics. There is also a re-validation which takes place 3 years after your qualification or earlier if needed.
Progressing your career
We actively encourage individuals to progress in their role and to go for advertised positions within our business. We have Home Managers who started as Care Assistants and worked their way up to become a Home Manager. If you want to progress, we can support you with learning and development.
If you have any questions about our care or services, please get in touch below.
Please note that we cannot respond to queries about application process, or current vacant positions. Please visit our careers website for information about working with us or current vacancies.
For care workers struggling to fall asleep, implementing targeted strategies can make a significant difference. Begin by ensuring your sleep environment is conducive to relaxation—keep the room dark and quiet, and invest in comfortable bedding.
Pre-sleep routine
Engaging in a consistent pre-sleep routine can signal your body that it’s time to wind down. This routine might include gentle games, listening to soothing music or practicing deep breathing exercises.
How caffeine impacts sleep
A potentially radical solution is to remove caffeine from your diet altogether. Studies show that this can reduce the likelihood of you wanting to get up in the night to go to the loo, plus it can reduce the instances of urinary tract infections – a bonus.
If this is a step too far, limiting caffeine and nicotine intake in the afternoon and evening can also promote easier sleep. Typically avoiding cups of tea or coffee after 2pm in the afternoon (it takes around 10 hours for caffeine to work through your system) will mean that you are more likely to get off to sleep easily.
Reduce stimulating activities
Try to avoid stimulating activities, such as watching TV or using electronic devices, at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Instead, focus on calming activities that reduce stress and anxiety. This could be a simple board game, reading or listening to a book, chatting with your family or listening to music. If you find yourself unable to fall asleep after 20 minutes, get up and do a quiet activity until you feel sleepy again.
National Pet Day this year reminded our homes of the invaluable presence our furry friends can bring. The day was celebrated with nursing home pet therapy sessions and our team and resident’s loved ones bringing in their pets for a visit. Our homes cherish the positive impact animals have on the well-being of our residents.
Before coming to stay with us, many of our residents had a cherished pet companion back at home that they miss dearly. To bring that bit of comfort and companionship back into our resident’s hearts laps, many of our homes organise pet therapy and specialist animal visits. Residents said that National Pet Day allowed them to ‘reminisce about when we had pets of our own’.
About us
Four Seasons Health Care Group is one of the UK’s largest independent health care providers with care homes across the UK providing long-term and respite, residential, nursing and dementia care for older people. Find a care home near you.
Residents at Kingston Care Home had a visit from their favourite dog, Lucky! He came on a walk around the home to meet lots of our dog loving residents who couldn’t help but smile once this bundle of joy came trotting up to them!
Residents at Headington Care Home played ‘Rate that pet’ where the local community sent in pictures of their pets. Residents loved picking which pet they thought was the best and reminisced about when they had pets of their own.
Granby Rose Care Home’s residents baked homemade dog treats for the very special arrival of Pepper and Freddie!
St Catherine’s Care Home’s residents were thrilled with the visit from the Alpacas and the local nursery came along to join in on the fun!
The Laurels Care Home’s residents celebrated the day with a visit from Bambam the puppy French Bulldog!
Residents at Cumbrae Lodge Care Home had a very special visit from Canine Concern who brought along Brodie the registered therapy dog!
Maple Lodge Care Home’s residents had a special visit from Bella who received plenty of treats and belly rubs! The residents also loved learning about Bella’s needs and upkeep.
Residents at Pennine Lodge Care Home enjoyed a visit from Ellie the Dachshund along with some guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets.
St Catherine’s Care Home’s residents also got a visit from the home managers granddaughter and her two pet tortoises. All of the residents loved hearing the talk she did about them.
For more information about Four Seasons Health Care or brighterkind care homes please get in touch. Our friendly team are on hand to help.
Visiting the local library
Visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers
Advice Hub
Find a home
Enquire now
