Elmside
Book a Visit
Elmside Walk
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG5 1HB
| Care Type | Care Home |
|---|---|
| Care Category | Residential | Dementia | Respite |
| Availability | Yes |
| Weekly Prices From | £1,456.86 |
| Regulator's Rating | Good |
 |
|
Meet The Manager
Grainne Wokes is Home Manager at Elmside.
Welcome to Elmside
Elmside is a welcoming care home in Hitchin, offering personalised residential care, specialist dementia care, and flexible short stay respite care for up to 69 older people. Conveniently located near shops, cafés, and transport links, this modern care home in Hitchin blends comfort with accessibility, helping residents stay connected to their community while receiving compassionate, round-the-clock support.
Built on land gifted by the Moss family, Elmside provides a homely, respectful environment where residents feel valued, whether you’re one of our long-standing permanent residents or with us for short term respite care. Activities like gardening, arts and crafts, music therapy, and quizzes offer meaningful engagement every day. Adjacent to Archers Court Retirement Living Apartments, this vibrant care home in Hitchin supports older people in living fulfilling lives, surrounded by warmth, dignity, and a strong sense of community.
| Care Options | We Can Provide |
|---|---|
| Support For | Companionship, Personal care. |
| Disability Support | Physical Disability, Physically Frail, Walking Frame. |
| Medication | By Mouth. |
| Type Of Dementia | Mild Dementia, Moderate Dementia. |
| Dementia Behaviour | Mild Forgetfulness. |
| Dementia Specialisms | Alzheimer's. |
| Respite Care | Yes |
Autumna has invited care providers to evidence the infection control measures they are carrying out, above and beyond those laid out by the government, in order to keep residents, staff and visitors safe.
| What we're doing to keep residents & visitors safe | ||
|---|---|---|
|
There is a programme of training for all colleagues. This commences from moment a colleague commences employment. A 2 week induction plan which supports the colleague with getting to know the service and complete a set of mandatory training. There are regular supervision sessions, competency assessments and observations completed to ensure that care delivery is of a high standard. Observations and training are then carried out on a regular and continuous basis. Regular audits are carried out to ensure that systems and processes are in place. Feedback is obtained from people living here to ensure their needs are met. |
||
| Infection Control Initiatives in place | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
Independent Assessments | We have been independently assessed in our approach to infection control. |
|
Infection Control Training | Our staff are trained to use measures which prevent and control infections. |
| Connectivity for resident testing, monitoring & communications |
|---|
|
Infection control and the safety of both residents and staff often requires quarantine measures and the isolation of care home residents. To test, monitor and allow residents to communicate with relatives, the prevalence of room-level connectivity within the home is becoming increasingly relevant. Wireless Internet access (WiFi) Yes, our care home has WiFi in all our resident’s rooms. Mobile Phone Network Coverage (mobile “signal”) Yes, our care home has mobile phone signal in all our resident’s rooms. Telephone for external calling The Care Organisation has not indicated availability |
Social media provides an up to date window on the activities within a provider's setting.
We are on Facebook| Minimum Age |
|---|
| 55 |
| LGBTQ Welcome |
|---|
| Yes |
| Our Building and Facilities |
|---|
|
Situated in the beautiful old market town of Hitchin, close to Stevenage, Elmside care home provides life-enhancing residential and dementia care for up to 69 older people. The plot of land that Elmside is built on was sold to MHA by the local Moss family, well-known in Hitchin for their grocery stores. The Moss family home was replaced by a completely new two storey building, together with an adjacent retirement living with care community, Archers Court Retirement Living apartments. Elmside care home comprises fully furnished single bedrooms that offer en suite facilities rooms for 25 people plus specialist care suites designed for couples, enabling their differing care needs to be met. |
| Is Our Home Purpose Built |
|---|
| Yes |
| The Year Our Home Was Built |
|---|
| 1 Jan 1966 |
| How Many Floors We Have |
|---|
| 2 |
| Who Owns Our Building |
|---|
| Charity |
| Communal Rooms |
|---|
| Activities Room, Coffee Shop / Café, Dining Rooms, Library, Sitting Rooms, TV Lounges. |
| What Else Do We Provide |
|---|
| Beauty Salon, Cinema, Coffee Shop, Hairdressers, Library, Lift. |
| Our Garden |
|---|
| Communal Garden, Communal Patio, Seating, Secure Garden, Wheelchair Friendly Access. |
| Brochures |
|---|
| Elmside brochure final for online.pdf |
| Description |
|---|
|
Elmside care home comprises fully furnished single bedrooms that offer en suite facilities plus specialist care suites designed for couples, enabling their differing care needs to be met. |
| About Our Rooms | |
|---|---|
| Number Of Rooms | 69 |
| Number Of Ensuite Rooms | 69 |
| We offer these types of ensuite rooms: Wet Rooms. | |
| Type Of Room |
|---|
| Apartment, Double Room, Single Room. |
| Room Features |
|---|
| Furnished, Step Free Access. |
| Room Facilities |
|---|
| Alarm, Freeview TV, Internet Access, Telephone Point, Wifi. |
| Weekly Fees Start From | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential Fees From / Price Per Week | £1,456.86 |
| Residential Dementia Fees From / Price Per Week | £1,655.09 |
| Respite Fees From / Price Per Week | £1,655.09 |
| Funding Types | |
|---|---|
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Region | East |
| We Accept Self-Funding Clients | Yes |
| We Accept Local Authority Funding | Yes |
| We Accept Local Authority funding with a Third Party Top-Up | Yes |
Choice Dining is a food-focused accreditation designed to give care-seekers like yourself the ability to consider and compare the dining experience within different care settings.
To be awarded the Choice Dining badge, a care home will have committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences with a strong focus on preference, individuality, hygiene and the environment. You can explore the specifics of all participating homes in the tab below to learn more about the food on offer, how it is served and presented and what they’re doing to cater for your personal taste. Find out more about Choice Dining.
| Styles of Food |
 Gluten-free
Halal
Kosher
Vegan
Vegetarian
|
|---|---|
| Dining Locations |
Bedroom Dining
Bistro
Café
Lounge/Diner
|
| Dining Styles |
Hot Trolley
Room Service
|
| Hospitality |
Guests are welcome for dinner (Covid permitting)
|
The preparation, nutritional value and presentation of food.
Attractive drinks and adaptive cups/glasses are available and accessible where needed.
Individual dietary needs are person centred.
Meals reflect the nutritional needs of the residents.
Our menu has been verified by a registered nutritional therapist or dietitian.
Our menu is balanced.
Sweet and savoury foods are provided between meals (this does not just include cakes and biscuits).
Hot Trolley
Room Service
A critical component for good health.
4 Star Rated by UK Food Standards. Hand hygiene for both residents and staff.
We are following best practice including NICE guidelines as a standard.
We are conducting internal and/or 3rd party food safety audits.
We have allergen management policies in place.
A freedom to eat the food you want, when you want it.
A Private Dining room is bookable for residents and their families.
Families are invited for meals [Covid permitting].
Residents dining in their own room have the same food options as elsewhere.
Residents have access to a Bistro.
Residents have access to Dining Room.
Residents have the option of dining in their own room.
Staff also dine themselves with the residents they support.
Staff sit with the residents they support when they dine.
Residents can order food not on the menu, or have access to an ‘evergreen menu’.
Residents have access to a flexible meal service beyond defined times.
More than one option is available at mealtimes for all residents, including those with special and theraputic diets.
Residents with dementia are shown food or visual menus to help them decide.
There is a weekly menu.
We offer catering for special events.
Residents are involved in the creation of the menu.
Understanding the wants and requirements of every individual be it cultural, religious or dietary.
Halal food can be served.
Kosher food can be served.
Gluten-free food can be served.
Vegan food can be served.
Vegetarian food can be served.
We can support people with Diabetes.
Delivering a respectful and quality service.
Residents are given appropriate and dignified crockery / glassware and cutlery.
Staff are hospitality trained to present / serve meals.
Tables are well laid.
We have food theme days/nights.
Staff understand and pre-empt potential meal-time behaviours which can impact nutritional intake.
Staff always use appropriate and dignified language (e.g. it is an ‘apron’ not a ‘bib’).
We promote an inclusive dining experience.
There are no unnecessary disruptions during mealtimes.
Being environmentally and socially responsible and thoughtful.
We grow some food and/or ingredients on site.
| Activities Are So Important |
|---|
|
The Activity Coordinator(s) will plan regular activities, events and trips. These will vary by week and will cater for differing needs and abilities as far as possible. Regular activities (no extra cost) include: • Animal visits • Armchair exercises • Arts and crafts • Baking/cooking • Bible studies • Bingo • Church services • Flower arranging • Gardening • Knitting • Quizzes • Regular external entertainers • Regular trips out (additional costs may apply, e.g. for theatre tickets) • Themed events |
| Activities At Home |
|---|
| 1 to 1 Activities, Animal Petting, Bingo, Birthday Celebrations, Board Games, Card Games, Cooking, Crafts, Crosswords, Dancing, Excursions, Exercise Class, Flower Arranging, Gardening, Knitting / Embroidery, Music Entertainment, Music Therapy, Painting, Pet Therapy, Quiz Games, Religious Services, Reminiscence, Residents' Committee, Singing, Themed Events, Visiting Entertainment, Word Games. |
| Activities Outside Our Home |
|---|
| Garden Centre, Local Tourist Attractions, Park, Pub, Shopping, Shopping Centre. |
Elmside Walk
Hitchin
Hertfordshire
SG5 1HB
Regulator: CQC
| Current Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Safe | Good |
| Well Led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
| Inspection Reports | |
| Assessment Date | 7th January 2026 |
| Published Date | 3rd March 2026 |
| Current Report | |
| Historic Reports | |
| Registration Date | 22nd December 2010 |
| Service Provider | Methodist Homes, DE1 2EQ |
Elmside Care Home - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
| Transport |
|---|
| Bus Stop nearby, Car Park, Car Park on-site, Train Station nearby. |
| Places of Worship |
|---|
| Anglican Church, Methodist Church. |
| Nearby Services |
|---|
| Hospital, Park, Pub, Restaurant, Shops. |
Frequently asked questions about Elmside
The UK's largest & most detailed directory of elderly care and retirement living options
10,272
Care Homes
11,448
Home Care Services
1,684
Live-in Care Services
1,731
Retirement Living Developments
Autumna is the UK's largest and most comprehensive later-life living & elderly care directory. Our detailed search facility and team of expert advisors can help you find the best care homes, nursing homes, retirement homes, retirement villages, home care, and live-in care services for you or your loved one's needs. Our website is free to use, we are proudly independent, and we never take referral fees.
