Welcome to Sanford House Nursing Home Dereham, Norfolk
Sanford House Nursing Home is a modern purpose-built care home in Dereham, providing the highest standard of nursing care and nursing dementia care for up to 40 elderly people. All rooms and services are laid out over the ground floor and the home is arranged in a quadrangle around an attractive sensory courtyard garden. Many rooms feature patio doors accessing into the courtyard area.
Latest guidance reviews the need for isolation for non-Hospital admissions
The Government has announced that admissions are of less risk if a person has been appropriately vaccinated and the person is being admitted from their own Home and not from another Care Home or Hospital setting.
Residents may be admitted to a care home from the community without needing to complete a 14-day self-isolation period, if they satisfy the requirements. Ask for details.

Making memories this summer at Sanford House

Book a respite stay for peace of mind
Our all-inclusive short stays offer something for everyone and can be pre-booked to suit your future plans. Enjoy afternoon tea with family or time outdoors in our gardens, while making new friends. So whether you need a short break or permanent care, we take time to get to know you and understand your individual needs with the added reassurance of discreet help when you need it.
Residents may be admitted to a care home from the community without needing to complete a 14-day self-isolation period, if they satisfy the requirements. Please ask for details.
Independent Reviews
Families we’re helping
Daily life

Keeping things personal
At Sanford House Nursing Home
The welcoming surroundings at Sanford House Nursing Home are matched by the standard of care our team brings residents. We love learning as much as we can about the people we care for, so your loved one’s time is tailored to their individual needs, interests and preferences. This can be as small as knowing when they like to wake up, to how they like their tea, and everything in between.
We give as much independence as possible, letting individuals choose how to run the home and if they prefer dinner in front of the TV, or even dusting their own room, we’ll make it happen. Just as putting their own stamp on their bedroom, we’ll help them to personalise it with the things they love.
Every need catered for
Mealtimes are an important part of daily life at Sanford House Nursing Home. We know eating well and the social experience of dining are key to health and wellbeing. Our chefs select a different menu each day, creating lots of home-cooked dishes with fresh ingredients to choose from. Using their in-depth knowledge of nutrition, they cater for any special diets and needs.
Keep doing what you love
At Sanford House Nursing Home, there’s something to tickle everyone’s fancy – from arts and crafts to relaxation, our packed schedule of events and activities, to picnics in the garden. And if residents prefer to spend one-on-one time with a member of the team, they can read the paper, pop to the shops or have a pint in the local pub. We have strong connections with the Dereham community, many of our residents invite them to join in our activities or even run their own here.
Joan Auton
As Home Manager of Sanford House, I lead my professional and compassionate Care Team in delivering the highest standards of nursing and specialist dementia care for up to 40 elderly people.
I have a wealth of experience and qualifications across a wide range of specialist areas – having worked in healthcare since the age of 16 – including mental health, dementia and palliative care. I started work as a nurse in 1971 and worked as a staff nurse for seven years on medical wards. I then moved into elderly care, working initially in the Health service as a ward sister and then in the private sector at both management and regional management level.
I completed my Registered Manager’s Award in 2005 and, keen to move to a large and reputable organisation, joined Caring Homes in 2010 as a peripatetic manager. I took over as Manager of Sanford House in April 2012.
Within my role, I’m passionate about working with people and improving quality of life for those around me. This is reflected in my ongoing commitment to charity fundraising, helping to raise thousands of pounds in recent years for charities including the Alzheimer’s Society, Marie Curie, Help for Heroes and Breast Cancer Awareness.
Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family and taking advantage of the many places of interest in and around East Anglia.
Things you need to know
The types of care we provide
Living well with Dementia
We are proud to be the only care home group to have our own unique award-winning dementia training ‘My World’ which is accredited by City and Guilds. It highlights the importance of meaningful activities and a stimulating environment for people living with dementia, in addition to addressing clinical aspects of care.
Nearby Caring Homes
We offer a number of care homes in the Norfolk area. Please click here for more options.