Carnalea

5/9 London Road, Faversham ME13 8TA
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8.9 19 Reviews
  • Carnalea, Faversham
Proudly family-owned and operated, Carnalea is committed to providing a personal touch across all their care. The team appreciates the importance of friendly faces and familiarity when it comes to senior care and upholds strong values of honesty, compassion and understanding - creating a caring, calming environment for your loved one.

In the spirit of making residents feel as at home as possible, the Carnalea team provides a varying choice of menus, offering appetising, nutritious home-cooked meals. You can rest assured that they will also cater for specialist diets and individual preferences. Also, because they understand that maintaining independence is vital when it comes to senior care, they always welcome feedback and seek suggestions to broaden the current menus.

You can enjoy the beautiful well-tended gardens and if you wish, you can make your own contribution to them.

The team is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents and crucially they actively encourage families and friends to remain involved with their relatives.

Covering permanent residential requirements, as well as respite and day care, their approach is kind and comprehensive. Ultimately, they strive to make residents feel as compatible as possible during their stay at Carnalea.
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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia
  • Mental Health Condition
  • Physical Disability
  • Visual / Hearing Impairment

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 50 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate 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)
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Lift
  • Stairlift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Residents Kitchenette
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Fees are subject to a pre-admission needs assessment which is required to fully understand the level
of care and support required by each individual.


Please note, the weekly fee does not include hairdressing, chiropody or other healthcare visits or
appointments not covered by the NHS, toiletries, newspapers or magazines, any over the counter
medications that a GP wouldn’t normally prescribe such as paracetamol and indigestion relief, and any
other privately arranged healthcare. Should you require an escort to hospital appointments, we may apply
an agreed hourly charge for this service.

Funding Types Accepted

  • Self Funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Good to Know

Owner

  • Betty F Wake

Person in charge

  • Claire Forrest (Registered Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2015
  • Number of floors: 3

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (46)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (2)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (27)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (1)

Carnalea Reviews (19)

8.9

Carnalea has a Review Score of 8.9 (8.860) out of 10, based on 5 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Carnalea has 19 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to Carnalea
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Total of 19, showing 1-19
Review from Emma H (Daughter of Resident) published on 13 August 2025 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My father was discharged from hospital and unable to care for himself at home. Was quickly seen and assessed for respite care. He was given fantastic care by all. It was during a heat wave and staff were excellent at keeping residents cool & hydrated. Meals were homecooked and of a high standard. The
home was clean and garden was beautiful. He had his laundry done regularly and all needs met. We couldn't rate this care home high enough. They welcomed all his many visitors too.
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Review from R F (Son of Resident) published on 11 April 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
When my mother moved into Carnalea in October 2023 she was welcomed with kindness and consideration which is the ethos of the home. We have been happy with her care and treatment since that time and it is apparent that her health has improved since she moved in. She enjoys good food, readily available
assistance and attempts to involve her in organised activities. My mother is frail and severely sight impaired coupled with dementia and we are happy with the level of care she is receiving. The staff know her, are friendly and are willing to bring any concerns to our attention. She has a comfortable room with bathroom facilities close by.
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Review from Julie L (Daughter of Resident) published on 10 April 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
After several trips and falls, Mum decided that it wasn't safe for her at home and needed to go into a care home. She was keen to stay in Faversham and so I visited Carnalea. I was very impressed with how well the staff integrated with the residents and how happy the residents seemed to be. The Home
Manager and carer came to Mum's flat to meet with her prior to her moving into the home. They were very engaged with Mum and made her feel reassured that it was the best thing for her to do. My mum's room is a good size with an ensuite toilet and basin. Her room overlooks the garden, which is absolutely beautiful and full of colour. It took a while for Mum to settle but she is now very happy. She has made friends and has high praise for the food she is given. I am delighted with the home and the staff are always very helpful whenever I call.
Reply from Claire Forrest, Manager at Carnalea

Thank you for your kind words and review for Carnalea

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Review from T M (Son of Resident) published on 9 April 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are very pleased with the care Mum receives at the home, there are always various activities going on during the week which she enjoys, and the staff are always helpful and approachable. The home is always clean and tidy.
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Review from J M (Friend of Resident) published on 21 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A good friend of mine went into the Carnalea in February 2024. She has now been there for 4 weeks. She went from living independently to requiring residential care. She has settled very well with the help of the kind and caring staff. I visited the Carnalea with my friend's daughter. The first thing
that struck me was the high standard of cleanliness, and how efficient and organised it is. The few care homes I have visited sometimes have unpleasant odours. There is nothing like that at the Carnalea. My friend's room is a good size with an ensuite toilet and basin, with a shower room right next door. Her room overlooks the garden, which is absolutely beautiful and full of colour. One member of staff in particular is very 'hands-on'. This is lovely to see, and rare in my experience. We had one or two little issues in the beginning, but as soon as they were mentioned, they were dealt with. My friend seems very happy and relaxed, and is relieved to have no worries. The food is also excellent I'm told.
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Review from Nanette R (Daughter of Resident) published on 28 March 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We visited Carnalea Care Home, we knew at once this was the one. Beautiful gardens, the staff are very friendly and the home itself is very clean and fresh. I'm happy as my mother loves it there and is well looked after.
Reply from Claire Forrest, Manager at Carnalea

Dear Nanette, thank you for your lovely review of Carnalea.

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Review from J C (Son of Resident) published on 15 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
My dad was in this home for three weeks and, on the whole, he was well cared for. His room was spacious with an en-suite toilet. The large garden looked well cared for and would be a benefit in the nice weather.
They did however overdose his insulin daily for the entirety of his stay because they
had misread the prescription given to him by the hospital on his discharge.
Another issue I found is the visiting arrangements, you have to ring and book a visit which is only allowed between breakfast and dinner and then between dinner and tea time, you are unable to ordinarily visit after teatime.
Despite dementia being mentioned on their website as one of the conditions that they cater for, it turns out this is only for mild dementia and not moderate or severe dementia.
Reply from Claire Forrest, Manager at Carnalea

Following your review, we would like to highlight that we, as the home, followed instructions on your father's hospital discharge letter accordingly and the dose of insulin administered was as directed by the hospital. Blood monitoring levels were completed daily which showed a healthy/stable range for his condition at all times, his condition stabilised and improved whilst on respite.
Regarding visiting times for the home, we do ask friends and relatives to book prior to coming, only for us to be aware of the number of people in the home. This has been standard practice since the outbreak of Covid. People are welcome to visit Carnalea at any time, there are no restrictions but we do make people aware of our residents' meal times which is an integral part of the day for our residents.

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Review from Carol R (Daughter of Resident) published on 15 September 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Carnalea Care Home is a very comfortable and clean home with a homely feel to it. It is set in a beautiful garden that the residents can make full use of. The staff are very friendly and interact well with the residents. Visitors are always welcome and can visit in the home or garden. My mother has
been a resident for the past year and has settled in really well, she is happy and well looked after. She enjoys chatting to fellow residents and staff. Her room is comfortable and she sleeps well and is checked on regularly through the night.
Reply from Kim Saint, Manager at Carnalea

Dear Carol, thank you for your lovely review of Carnalea. We welcome all feedback to support and improve our service.

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Review from T R (Daughter of Resident) published on 30 October 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My mother was in Carnalea for 2 1/2 years to her death this month. The staff were kind and patient with her and as he dementia progressed they fed her even though it took a long time each meal. They kept her to the end, which was important as a change when one is at end-stage dementia would have been
stressful for all concerned. The home is clean, well kept and the rooms are nice. There is no 'old people' smell!
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Review from Richard M (Son of Resident) published on 9 September 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mum suffers from Alzheimer's Dementia and moved to Carnalea in August 2019 following two falls and several weeks in hospital. She has made excellent progress since being in Carnalea - she can now walk well with a frame and it is clear from her appearance that she is eating well. The staff at Carnalea
have a genuine interest in the residents - always addressing them by their preferred name and this is a reflection of the owner and the manager who take an active part in the resident's day-to-day care needs as well as the running of the home. The building is clean and smells good throughout and there is a beautiful garden at the rear, that the residents can access, with plenty of seating and our first impression was of an organisation that genuinely and holistically cared - and we have not been disappointed. I have since been involved in reviewing Mum's care plan, etc., but most important of all - her long-lost smile has returned - surely one of the biggest achievements. Well done.
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Review from M K (Son of Resident) published on 27 August 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mum has now been in Carnalea for just over one year. She has made remarkable progress, considering her state of health before going into Carnalea.
She is once again lively and chatty and interested, back to being my old Mum.
She has said to me recently; 'It is the best thing I have done, moving to
Carnalea.'
She has made a number of new friends and has a very good relationship with the staff.
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Review from Janet W (Cousin of Resident) published on 1 August 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Home is well run, very much home from home, cleaning is of a very high standard, care is of a very high standard also. I have visited many homes visiting other relatives and this home is by far the better, staff care is excellent.
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Review from Grace G (Resident) published on 11 June 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
Good to find myself in a 'care' home where there is always help around, and in safety and comfort. Content that I shall be here for the rest of my life and any other issues will be made on my behalf.
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Review from A H (Daughter of Resident) published on 1 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
Most staff are very kind and caring.
Sometimes things get overlooked such as nails, and when a person has run out of pads (incontinence) it would be helpful for someone to let me know.
The garden is lovely to sit in.
I have found that my mother's bedroom was always clean and tidy.
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Review from Pamela S (Wife of Resident) published on 31 May 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
At a very stressful time, when decisions have to be made about full-time care for a much loved family member, staff were extremely helpful and caring. Obviously, we had great anxiety about choosing a suitable home and whether we had made the right choice, but from the start, we were all comforted knowing
that all residents are well looked after with great care and compassion by dedicated staff.
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Review from Nick (Son of Resident) published on 28 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
Care staff, with one exception: good social skills, cheerful and helpful. Home very clean, no unpleasant smells.


Lovely garden.


After death: good, about the removal of her belongings. Only two days payment was due: very fair.


Sadly visitors not allowed into lounges: the management claimed

residents wanted that.


The guidance says visitors, dogs and kids are beneficial to all residents. After a while, I was allowed to go through the lounge. but not sit there.
Poor little "dinette" where you were meant to visit.


They did not often reply to emails.
You could not join residents for a meal which is unacceptable.


Bad layout meant poor access: you could not go through sitting rooms. Difficult step from the car park which they refused to improve.


The owner - you could never call her by her first name and the manager had poor social skills and did not like a discussion about issues. Not welcoming.


A very unhappy experience for that sort of money. I did not like being treated like that.

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Review from Janet W (Daughter of Resident) published on 5 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We would not hesitate to recommend Carnalea and have done already to friends. The staff are very caring and look after my Mum extremely well. Hygiene standards are excellent and there are always activities going on to keep residents stimulated and engaged.
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Review from Caroline B (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 20 October 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I can not speak highly enough of this wonderful care home. The staff are caring and kind and go out of their way to make everyone welcome. It has a wonderful warm feel and my grandma couldn't be anywhere better. Management are always on hand to discuss any issues and are again brilliant. It's home
from home. Thank you.
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Review from Ann C (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 September 2015 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our lovely Mum went to Carnalea after finding it difficult to live on her own any longer.
The love and care that our Mum, and us her children, received was wonderful.
The Staff were all kind and considerate, and very caring.
Nothing was to much trouble for them.
The home is immaculate, her room
was kept spotless.
The home felt very homely and always a lovely smell of home cooking.
We have no hesitation recommending Carnalea
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Current Review Score: 8.9 (8.860)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.9 (8.860) out of 10 for Carnalea is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 5 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.0 out of 5 from 5 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.860 for Carnalea is calculated as follows: ( (49 Excellents x 5) + (8 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 57 Ratings = 4.86
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 4 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Carnalea is based on 5 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.5
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 50 registered maximum number of service users is 10. 5 Positive Reviews ÷ 10 = 0.5
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 2 May 2025

Overall Good

  • Caring Good
  • Effective Good
  • Responsive Good
  • Safe Good
  • Well-led Good
Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England. View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (0)

There are no team members posted.

Frequently Asked Questions about Carnalea

What types of Care is Carnalea registered for?

Older Person Care, Dementia, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability & Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.

How many Rooms does Carnalea have?

There are 46 Single Rooms and 2 Couples/Companion Rooms.

What are the Facilities & Services at Carnalea?

Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Stairlift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room & Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.

How far is Carnalea to the centre of Faversham?

0.6 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Carnalea to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Carnalea has an Enhanced Service - more info.