About us

St Andrew’s Care Homes was established in 1988 by William and Margaret Ryan, who were both registered mental nurses. The first home was located on St Andrew’s Road in Bedford and specialised in providing residential care for elderly people with dementia. The house at St Andrew’s had been the family home of William and Margaret, but with the children having flown the nest the size of the property made it perfect to be converted into a care home.

 

In 1996 the daily management and running of the group was taken over by William and Margaret’s son Chris and his wife Judith, both of whom were also registered general nurses. Due to the high quality, professional levels of specialist residential dementia care provided at St Andrew’s, the demand for places soon outstripped supply and another care home, Elcombe House in Bedford was added to the group.

In 2005 a third home was added to the group at Westlands in Olney and in 2006 Danecroft in Wilstead, Bedfordshire, was added. Danecroft was similar to Westlands in that it provided residential dementia care as well as residential elderly care for people who simply needed more help and support.

 

Chris and Judith, together with the support of Area Manager Emily Richardson and a dedicated and qualified team, continue to make sure that St Andrew’s Care Homes develops the vision of William and Margaret by providing high quality specialist care for residents with dementia, including the highly dependent, and other elderly people.