
We consider ourselves very fortunate to have found BirchwoodPat H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

So pleased I chose this care homeRosemary S(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


We consider ourselves very fortunate to have found BirchwoodPat H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

So pleased I chose this care homeRosemary S(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


Birchwood House provides a caring, supportive, home-from-home living environment for older people in the Speldhurst area. The home enables residents to live full and independent lives.
Care plans are personalised to each individual's needs and personal preferences and reviews are undertaken regularly, ensuring their needs are met as their requirements change. While care staff have access to a range of specialist equipment to support the delivery of safe and adequate care.
Residents...
Care Provided by Birchwood House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 38 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Fees include all care provided however, additional costs are added for the services of the chiropodist and hairdresser should you wish to avail yourself of these provisions.
An enhancment would be requested should a resident require a level of care best achieved on a one-to-one basis.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Birchwood House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Birchwood House to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good to Know
Owner
- Malvirt Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Claire Tye (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2023
- Number of floors: 4
Room Information
- Single Rooms (30)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (3)
Visiting
- There is an open visiting policy. They feel that conections with the greater community, family and friends is vital for their well being and sense of person.
Birchwood House Reviews (88)
Birchwood House has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.849) out of 10, based on 32 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Birchwood House has 88 reviews.
My mother entered this care home at the age of 97 with many health and mental problems. She was always treated with great care, respect and dignity for the entire time she was there by all the staff. Myself and all her family members and friends were welcomed always by the caring staff. Communication from staff was excellent and I cannot speak highly enough of the staff and facilities at this care home.
Thank you for taking the time to complete a review for Birchwood. I will pass the comments on to the staff. Kind regards, Helen.
Mum was taken into Birchwood at very short notice. Management promised her room would be painted and it was. She was very well looked after, the food was excellent and came in the right portions. We had no complaints whatsoever about the care all the staff gave her. Management was very attentive to her medical needs and had the forethought to make sure a doctor saw her every fortnight. Mum was 104. The conservatory was a big bonus and we were always made welcome to have tea/coffee or lunch there. Only complaint - the lift.
Thank you for taking the time to review Birchwood. I will pass on your comments to the staff. Kind regards.
The care my dad receives at Brichwood is exceptional. The staff are so kind and caring and we know he is getting the best care and all that he needs. It is really hard trying to move a loved one into a care home but the team ay Birchwood ensured the process was dealt with both support and understanding for both Dad and us. Cannot recommend highly enough. Thank you.
Thank you for your review and comments, I will pass them on to the staff.
Very homely atmosphere and very caring staff led by the manager. Excellent food, warm, bright rooms. Frist class care home.
Thank you for your review and kind words. I will pass this on to the staff.
I am very satisfied with the way my mother is treated and cared for. The staff and management are very good. Always welcoming. My mother is 100 years old.
Thank you for your review, I will pass on your comments to the staff.
Myself, my husband, my son and my daughter-in-law have all visited my mother in Birchwood House. It is a lovely place to visit. The staff always chat to us and welcome us. It is so clean and well run. My mother is a difficult person to please but is very content at Birchwood. She always says how lovely the staff are and how good the food is. We know she is safe.
Thank you for your review, I will pass on your comments to the staff.
Staff very friendly when they answer the door. They are also very helpful when there is a problem to solve.
Kind regards
It is a great relief to me and my husband that Dad has settled in so well at Birchwood. We live in Lincolnshire and it is good to know that he is being looked after so well. He is happy, is motivated into doing activities. The home is always clean and such friendly staff. He enjoys the food too which he looks forward to. Thank you, everyone.
Kind regards
My friend has been a resident at Birchwood House for the last two and a half years, during that time I have visited her regularly and observed her care and that of others in the home. I am impressed by the care given to residents of the home, they appear clean and well looked after and staff are always polite, caring and interested in the welfare of the residents. The building is old which limits some of the facilities but I would still recommend this home.
Kind regards
Although initially reluctant, Mum was encouraged from her first day to be involved in the community, both at mealtimes and for activities. This enabled her to develop relationships and maintain existing skills which was reflected in her quality of life. The support from the staff, even during their busy days and those days when Mums ailments were dominant allowed her to smile through her days as if they were new members of her extended family. On her return from hospital in her finals days, she was met with a barrage of affection and attention that endured and lifted her through to her peaceful passing.
Thank you so much for the kind, wonderful comments. I will ensure the staff know what you said.
In the last few days of his life, the staff ensured his extra comfort and personal hygiene with care and compassion. This helped us, his close friends and family, to be in the peaceful environment around his passing.
Thank you for your review and kind words. I will make sure all the staff see this.
My father and family are pleased with the way his needs and care are looked after.
We consider ourselves very fortunate to have found Birchwood when we were looking for a caring environment that would feel like ‘home’.
At my mum's end of life she had the care love and dignity.
And my dad.
I visit Birchwood care home on a regular basis in a professional capacity. I have always found the team at Birchwood to be both caring and dedicated to the residents. It is without a doubt a care home that is run for the resident. The team are both compassionate and caring and nothing seems too much for them to do. Residents well-being is very high on the agenda and the home has the correct values to ensure residents are number one.
I am very happy with the care my relative receives at Birchwood House. The staff are always cheerful and happy to help with any queries. My father-in-law has been happy here since he arrived.
I have found that the care home is a very nice, clean and hospitable place for my sister. She is being looked after in the best possible way in every aspect and is quite happy with her surroundings. The care she is getting meets every need in her state of health and her age 93 years and is really happy and content where she is at this moment in time and suffers from a bad loss of memory.
Residents seem to be well cared for.
As my father has dementia, his behaviour can be challenging at times. The staff always care and are aware of this and can handle him very well.
If sleepy, they will always make sure food is available when he is awake and encourage him to drink.
My father has been extremely happy in the year that he has been at Birchwood House. He has received an excellent standard of care and really got his confidence back. The staff are excellent and really look after him, treating him with dignity at all times.
He really enjoys the activities and trips that are organised and the company from staff and other residents. He once again looks forward to meal times and tells me the food is particularly good. There is a real family atmosphere within the home and myself and my family feel very comfortable with him being there.
The home is set in beautiful grounds and his room is very comfortable. Communal areas very good and offer different places such as a lovely conservatory for visiting times.
A big thank you to all the staff for the high level of care.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 11 September 2018Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledGood
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Birchwood House.
There are no upcoming events for Birchwood House.
Awards / Recognitions (1)
- 23 Sep 2019Recipient: Birchwood House
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Birchwood House.
Meet the Team (2)

My first impression of Birchwood was that it looked huge, but once I came into the building, it was very warm and friendly.
My role involves overseeing the running of the home in the absence of the manager, to support our wonderful staff and residents, ensuring that all care delivered is of the highest possible standard. I ensure that all care plans are updated with any changes in our residents' daily living and health, as well as manage the staff rota.
The most interesting thing about working at Birchwood is the interesting people you get to meet and care for and learn about their lives and their families.
I’ve always enjoyed working in smaller homes that are not purpose-built. Working at Birchwood is more personal than other places I’ve worked.
The benefits of working here are working in lovely surroundings with a good team of people, as well as the training and support I’ve been offered to further my career.
Working in care is a rewarding career in itself, but working with the Birchwood team, who are warm, friendly and motivating, makes going to work even better.

We’ve been successful at Birchwood in ensuring our residents and staff continue to live and work in a safe and secure environment. My staff deserve my heartfelt thanks and huge credit in delivering a first class, personal service to all our residents and homecare clients.
We’ve continued safe and secure family visits for our residents too, with up to 3 visits scheduled every day in our secure meeting area. With alignment to all government and health guidelines, our residents have been able to stay in contact with their nearest and dearest. Very early on it occurred to me how integral it was for the residents’ wellbeing to maintain face to face contact. It’s certainly helped to maintain high spirits for all and we hope to do everything we can to continue these in the weeks and months ahead.
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