Old Gates Care Home
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds90
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities
- Last inspected2023-03-23
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STAGE 4 — RESEARCHING CARE HOMES
Visit homes. Compare them side by side. Choose with confidence.
Most of us will view care homes the way we view houses, impression, atmosphere, the feeling in the corridor. We go home, try to remember what we saw, and make a permanent decision from a blurred memory.
The DCC shortlist gives every home you visit a structured record: the same twelve questions, answered the same way, every time. When you’re ready to choose, pull any two homes side by side and compare them directly. Same criteria, same evidence, your notes and your scores.
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families describe finding staff who are approachable and engaged during visits, taking time to interact with residents throughout the day. The home maintains an inclusive feel, with regular visits from entertainers and community groups that bring fresh energy to the environment.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness70
- Activities & engagement65
- Food quality65
- Healthcare70
- Management & leadership75
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2023-03-23
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The effective domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This covers training, care planning, healthcare access, and nutrition. As with the other domains, the published text does not include specific detail: there are no examples of care plan content, no information about GP access arrangements, and no mention of dementia training standards. The home caters for adults with dementia, physical disabilities, and nursing needs, which requires a broad and well-maintained skills base across the staff team.Is this home caring?
The caring domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This domain examines how staff treat residents, including dignity, respect, privacy, and independence. The published text includes no direct inspector observations of staff interactions, no quotes from residents or relatives about their experience, and no specific examples of how the team demonstrates kindness or responds to distress. The Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied, but the evidence available to families is limited to that headline.Is the home responsive?
The responsive domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. This covers how well the home tailors its care to individual needs, including activities, engagement, and end-of-life planning. The home supports people with dementia, physical disabilities, and nursing needs across 90 beds, which creates a wide range of individual requirements for activities and meaningful engagement. The published report does not describe the activities programme, name any specific activities, or explain how the home supports residents who cannot join group sessions.Is the home well-led?
The well-led domain was rated Good at the February 2023 inspection. A named registered manager is recorded as in post, and a nominated individual is also identified. The home is operated by Priory Court Developments Limited. The improvement from a previous Requires Improvement rating to Good across all domains suggests that leadership took the earlier findings seriously and made measurable changes. The published report does not describe how the manager is perceived by staff or residents, what governance systems are in place, or how the home handles complaints.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
Old Gates provides specialist care for adults both under and over 65, including those living with dementia or physical disabilities. The home's experience spans different age groups and care needs. For residents living with dementia, the home offers structured activities that allow participation at each person's comfort level. Staff work to maintain residents' sense of choice and autonomy within their daily routines. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Old Gates Care Home scores 73 out of 100, reflecting a genuine and encouraging improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating to Good across all five inspection domains. The score is held back by limited specific detail in the published report: inspectors confirmed Good across the board, but the available text does not include direct observations, resident quotes, or specific examples that would push individual theme scores higher.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe finding staff who are approachable and engaged during visits, taking time to interact with residents throughout the day. The home maintains an inclusive feel, with regular visits from entertainers and community groups that bring fresh energy to the environment.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show attentiveness to residents' needs and create opportunities for meaningful engagement. The team accommodates family visits flexibly and maintains communication with relatives about their loved ones' wellbeing.
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Old Gates for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.
Worth a visit
Old Gates Care Home, on Livesey Branch Road in Blackburn, was rated Good at its most recent inspection in February 2023, with the report published in March 2023. Crucially, this represents a step up from a previous Requires Improvement rating, meaning inspectors found the home had addressed earlier concerns across all five domains: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. A July 2023 review found no new evidence to change that rating. The main limitation for any family reading this is that the publicly available inspection text is thin on specific detail. There are no direct inspector observations, no quoted conversations with residents or relatives, and no named examples of good practice. That does not mean the care is poor, but it does mean you should do your own detective work on a visit. The questions below will help you test whether the Good rating reflects day-to-day reality for your parent.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
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In Their Own Words
How Old Gates Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where cultural events and resident choice shape daily life in Blackburn
Old Gates Care Home – Your Trusted nursing home
At Old Gates Care Home in Blackburn, residents explore different cultures through themed activities while keeping control over how they spend their days. This North West home creates an atmosphere where visitors feel welcomed, pets are part of the community, and external groups bring variety to resident life.
Who they care for
Old Gates provides specialist care for adults both under and over 65, including those living with dementia or physical disabilities. The home's experience spans different age groups and care needs.
For residents living with dementia, the home offers structured activities that allow participation at each person's comfort level. Staff work to maintain residents' sense of choice and autonomy within their daily routines.
“If you're considering Old Gates for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Old Gates Care Home scores 73 out of 100, reflecting a genuine and encouraging improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating to Good across all five inspection domains. The score is held back by limited specific detail in the published report: inspectors confirmed Good across the board, but the available text does not include direct observations, resident quotes, or specific examples that would push individual theme scores higher.
Homes in North West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe finding staff who are approachable and engaged during visits, taking time to interact with residents throughout the day. The home maintains an inclusive feel, with regular visits from entertainers and community groups that bring fresh energy to the environment.
What inspectors have recorded
Staff show attentiveness to residents' needs and create opportunities for meaningful engagement. The team accommodates family visits flexibly and maintains communication with relatives about their loved ones' wellbeing.
How it sits against good practice
If you're considering Old Gates for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.
Worth a visit
Old Gates Care Home, on Livesey Branch Road in Blackburn, was rated Good at its most recent inspection in February 2023, with the report published in March 2023. Crucially, this represents a step up from a previous Requires Improvement rating, meaning inspectors found the home had addressed earlier concerns across all five domains: safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. A July 2023 review found no new evidence to change that rating. The main limitation for any family reading this is that the publicly available inspection text is thin on specific detail. There are no direct inspector observations, no quoted conversations with residents or relatives, and no named examples of good practice. That does not mean the care is poor, but it does mean you should do your own detective work on a visit. The questions below will help you test whether the Good rating reflects day-to-day reality for your parent.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Old Gates Care Home measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Old Gates Care Home describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where cultural events and resident choice shape daily life in Blackburn
Old Gates Care Home – Your Trusted nursing home
At Old Gates Care Home in Blackburn, residents explore different cultures through themed activities while keeping control over how they spend their days. This North West home creates an atmosphere where visitors feel welcomed, pets are part of the community, and external groups bring variety to resident life.
Who they care for
Old Gates provides specialist care for adults both under and over 65, including those living with dementia or physical disabilities. The home's experience spans different age groups and care needs.
For residents living with dementia, the home offers structured activities that allow participation at each person's comfort level. Staff work to maintain residents' sense of choice and autonomy within their daily routines.
Management & ethos
Staff show attentiveness to residents' needs and create opportunities for meaningful engagement. The team accommodates family visits flexibly and maintains communication with relatives about their loved ones' wellbeing.
The home & environment
The home offers clean, comfortable spaces with well-maintained gardens for residents to enjoy. An on-site salon provides hair and nail services, while meals receive positive mentions from visitors. The environment includes both quiet spaces and areas for group activities.
“If you're considering Old Gates for someone you love, visiting will give you the clearest picture of whether it feels right for your family.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
