England

Elcombe HouseBedford

Illustrative image. Photographs of this home have not yet been added.

Rated:OutstandingResidential

Elcombe House

61 De Parys Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 2TR

01234266010

Care Type

Residential Care

Inspection date

15 February 2022

Provider

St Andrews Care Homes Ltd

Beds

23 beds

How this home compares nearby

Of 29 care homes for older people within 5 miles, none are rated higher by CQC, 1 is the same and 28 are lower.

21 of these nearby homes have been inspected more recently than this one.

Based on CQC ratings, updated 22 October 2026. How we compare homes | See the nearby homes

Rating history

GoodAug 2015
GoodMay 2017
OutstandingDec 2019

Improved from Good to Outstanding in 2019.

Source: CQC inspection reports. Contains CQC data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Costs and who runs this home

Run by St Andrews Care Homes Ltd, which runs 2 care homes in England: 2 rated Outstanding.

Average care home fees in the East of England: £1,034 a week for residential care and £1,411 for nursing care (2024-25 averages). Self-funders usually pay more. See our care home costs guide.

This home lists dementia care, which usually costs more than standard residential care. See dementia care home costs. NHS Continuing Healthcare may apply where someone's needs are primarily health needs.
How to pay for a care home explains the council means test, what counts as capital and the funding you can ask to be assessed for.

About Elcombe House

Elcombe House is a residential care home in Bedford, providing personal care to older people, including those living with dementia or physical disabilities. Details of the CQC's most recent findings on the service are set out below.

Elcombe House supports up to 23 residents with personal care, predominantly people living with dementia or physical disabilities. The home offers individual bedrooms with some en-suite facilities, alongside shared lounges, dining areas, bathrooms and a garden.

The service has established robust visiting protocols to ensure safe access. All visitors provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test, complete a COVID-19 questionnaire and have their temperature taken. Healthcare professionals visiting residents follow the same screening procedures before entering the home.

Source: CQC inspection report, 1 March 2022

Specialist Care

DementiaOlder peoplePhysical disabilitiesYounger adults

Facilities & Amenities

HairdresserActivities ProgrammeDining Room

Practical details from the provider

The home has 23 bedrooms, most with an en-suite toilet and sink.
Shared spaces include an open-plan lounge and dining room, a garden room, a further lounge and an accessible landscaped garden.

Published on the provider's website, checked 20 September 2026. Confirm arrangements with the home before deciding.

Fees and availability

We have not verified a current weekly fee for this home. Ask for a written quote based on the room and care needed, including any extra charges.

Check current vacancies, the admission assessment and visiting arrangements directly with the home.

Care and inspection details

Checked against the CQC register on 20 September 2026. This is a check of published information, not a visit to the home.

Registered service: Care home service without nursing
Registered capacity: 23 places — this is not a vacancy count
Registration checked: Registered · MK40 2TR

Registered care categories

Caring for adults over 65 yrs; Caring for adults under 65 yrs; Dementia; Physical disabilities.

These describe the registration. The home must assess whether it can meet the individual person's needs and whether a place is available.

CQC ratings in more detail

Overall rating shown by CQC: Outstanding.

Rating report published 11 December 2019. Latest inspection date recorded: 15 February 2022.

Safe: Good
Effective: Outstanding
Caring: Outstanding
Responsive: Outstanding
Well-led: Outstanding

Read Elcombe House's CQC record and reports.

Contains Care Quality Commission information under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Ratings and registration details can change after the date checked.

5 Questions to Ask on Your Visit

When visiting Elcombe House, consider asking...

1.What specific dementia training do staff receive and how recently?
2.How do you support a resident who becomes distressed or confused?
3.How does the home keep a record of a resident's life history and personal preferences?
4.How do you involve families as dementia progresses and communication becomes harder?
5.What happens when a resident's dementia reaches an advanced stage?

5 Things to Look For on Your Visit

When you visit Elcombe House, look out for...

1.Is the environment calm, uncluttered and easy to navigate?
2.Do staff speak to residents with patience and dignity, even if they repeat themselves?
3.Are there memory cues around the home -- photos, familiar objects, clear signage?
4.Do residents seem settled and safe, or agitated and unsupervised?
5.Is there meaningful activity happening, or are residents just sitting quietly with nothing to do?

Could the NHS fund Elcombe House's fees?

The average nursing home costs £1,535 per week. That's £79,820 a year. NHS Continuing Healthcare could cover all of it. No means test, no contribution from you.

Find out if the NHS could fund these fees