Enter and view: Wealstone Care Home

Healthwatch Cheshire West undertook an announced enter and view visit to Wealstone Care Home on 20 October 2025.

Wealstone Care Home is a purpose‑built, single‑storey residential care home providing residential, dementia and respite care for older people. The environment was found to be clean, well maintained, welcoming and easy to navigate, with accessible corridors, clear signage, homely décor and secure entry procedures. Communal areas were calm and comfortable, and residents’ bedrooms were personalised, with all residents reporting they were able to make their rooms feel like home.

Overall, residents reported very positive experiences of living at Wealstone. All residents who responded to the survey said they felt safe, and the majority felt cared for, respected, treated with dignity and given privacy. Residents frequently described staff as friendly, kind and supportive, and interactions observed during the visit were respectful and person‑centred. Staff were seen responding promptly to call bells and engaging warmly with residents.

Healthwatch found that residents’ relationships with staff were strong, with 100% of survey respondents saying they had a good relationship with staff. Families and friends also spoke positively about communication and care, particularly noting improvements since the arrival of the current manager. The manager was described as visible, approachable and committed to open communication, with an open‑door policy for residents and families.

The home demonstrated strong links with healthcare professionals, including regular GP and advanced nurse practitioner visits, and access to a wide range of specialist services such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics, continence and falls teams. Oral health care plans were in place for all residents, and hairdressing, chiropody and optician services were provided regularly.

Activities at the home were generally well received, with most residents feeling informed about and involved in weekly activities. A wide range of group and one‑to‑one activities were offered, both within the home and in the community, and residents were encouraged to influence activity planning through meetings. However, a small number of residents reported lower satisfaction, suggesting room for further development.

Food and dining experiences were mostly positive, with meals freshly prepared on site and residents able to choose their meals daily. Residents were generally happy with snacks and portion sizes, but views on variety and choice were mixed. Some issues were identified with menu accuracy and accessibility, particularly for residents living with dementia, and residents expressed a desire for more menu options and condiments.

The report identified mixed awareness among residents regarding care planning. While care plans were reviewed regularly and managed digitally, over half of surveyed residents were not aware that they had a care plan, indicating a need for clearer communication and greater involvement.