
My husband has been a resident since May 22nd 2023. I couldn't have chosen a better place for him.Jean B(Wife of Resident/Service User)

I can not praise The Old Downs enough. The staff are brilliant with my mum.Dawn F(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


My husband has been a resident since May 22nd 2023. I couldn't have chosen a better place for him.Jean B(Wife of Resident/Service User)

I can not praise The Old Downs enough. The staff are brilliant with my mum.Dawn F(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


Situated in the pretty village of Hartley, near Dartford, The Old Downs is a residential dementia and nursing home caring for up to 41 residents. Nestled in beautiful surroundings, the character home has been at the heart of the local community since 1887.
Beautifully retained period features complement the modern facilities and the spacious home has been tastefully extended to provide a light and airy conservatory that boasts beautiful views across...
Care Provided by The Old Downs Care Centre
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 41 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
- Moderate Dementia
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- 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
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Fees do not include hairdressing, chiropody or occupational therapists.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Old Downs Care Centre for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Old Downs Care Centre 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
Group / Owner
- Nellsar Care Homes
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Nicoleta Cristescu (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2025
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (37)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (2)
Visiting
- The home maintain an open-hours visiting policy, which means relatives and friends are welcome to drop by and see loved ones at any time. Families are always welcome to join relatives for afternoon tea or lunch if booked in advance.
Parking
- Plenty of onsite parking available.
The Old Downs Care Centre Reviews (60)
The Old Downs Care Centre has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.824) out of 10, based on 21 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Old Downs Care Centre has 60 reviews.
Staff are friendly and helpful both when visiting Mum or having to make a call to the home.
The home is well kept and all the rooms are clean, you can observe that residents are well looked after.
Activities are often on the go, whilst Mum often declines to participate she is encouraged but her ultimate wish is respected.
Always need more staff as they are very busy and gives them less time to interact with residents. This is not a criticism of the staff.
Senior carers are excellent.
Thank you for your review. I am pleased that you find most of our staff excellent and would welcome any feedback where you may feel that we can improve.
My mother is in the home. If there are any problems with her the staff call me straight away. She is very well looked after and the staff are very friendly. She seems very happy there.
Dad has been here since February and I can't speak highly enough of the care he has received. It was a hard decision to move Dad to a home but has been made easier knowing how happy and settled he is here. We are always informed of events we can attend as a family and are welcomed every time we visit with a cup of tea and a biscuit or homemade cake which is delicious!
Returning early hours to home staff again made her comfortable, making tea, snacks. Thank you to all staff members doing an amazing job.
Thank you for your review. At The Old Downs, we want our residents and families to be supported whether at home or away. Going into hospital is a daunting experience for those living with dementia and for their loving family members that go with them. Anything to help.
Our experience within the home is satisfactory. Our relative seems very happy on a daily basis. Concerns that we have had have been addressed in a timely fashion. Carers seem to treat residents with dignity and when issues have arisen we have been updated. The activity supervisor meets the needs and capabilities of the residents.
My mother has been a resident for a few years now and the standard of care has remained consistently excellent. The dedicated staff are supportive and communicate effectively with family members. I would not hesitate to recommend The Old Downs as a residential care centre that puts people first.
All the staff at The Old Downs work extremely hard to maintain dignity for our residents. Thank you for recognising this in the care that your mum receives.
I have visited Dad daily, at various times of the day. On each occasion, I have been impressed with the wonderful level of care and attention he has received from all the staff. Every person has treated Dad with utmost respect and compassion, holding his hand, speaking gently with him and listening to him. This might be the lady with the tea trolley, any of the care/activities staff, whether in the lounges, the dining room, or at Reception. Dad has a sense of humour & he has clearly enjoyed the relaxed chit-chat with all the staff. Everybody knew Dad's name, and he was welcomed back on his repeat visit like a member of the family.
The staff are kind and gentle with Dad, giving him choices and suggestions to fill his time.
I am very grateful.
Very impressed with the care home. Staff give the residents dignity and respect. Food fab, never a problem to have lunch or dinner with relatives. Rooms clean and tidy, activities good and tries to engage members. Staff pleasant and facilities good.
The food was good.
The staff were very, very pleasant.
I have no complaints.
The room with a view was absolutely perfect.
It was all better than expected.
Next time I'd like brown bread, please.
It is a joy to look after respite residents and we always look forward to them coming back again. Brown bread it is!
As soon as we looked around this care home we knew it was the one for our granny. The love that the staff give to the residents is clear, nothing is too much trouble and they are always happy to be there. Our granny is so happy and contented in her new surroundings which is extremely important to us. We would recommend this home to anyone who is struggling with putting their loved one in a home - you won't regret it.
This is a lovely testament to the way the staff care for all of our residents. Thank you.
All the staff could not be more hardworking, caring and supportive. I spend a fair amount of time away from home and in the past, I have felt anxious when leaving my father. I no longer worry about that, knowing Dad is being well cared for and I was extremely grateful to them recently when they e-mailed me photos of dad enjoying an afternoon tea party for his birthday. When visiting, I am often shown photos of Dad participating in activities etc, which is lovely to see, knowing he is enjoying himself and is happy and content.
A lovely comment. Our staff all work really hard to ensure that residents are supported when family members are away. We encourage families to keep in touch if they want to. Our new phone system makes this a little easier now too.
I would say that one of the most important things about a home of any sort is "the staff". The staff at The Old Downs are hard working, patient, caring and kind. The team in the kitchen are also hard working and create lovely nourishing meals, cakes and snacks. Management and entertainment team do their best to create stimulating activities for all.
Thank you for the comment recognising the hard work and dedication of the staff here at The Old Downs. We are always looking for new ideas for activities.
I am in the most vulnerable situation imaginable living on the other side of the world. However, I feel blessed to know that my mum is being loved and cared for every day. I am always made to feel very welcome when I visit my mum in her home surrounded by professional carers and countless cups of tea!
At The Old Downs we understand how difficult it is living far away and we encourage continued communication to our residents via email and Skype/face time where possible and our kettle is never cold!
I think the quality and variety of food that is prepared for the resident is outstanding (the taste is also good since I have sampled many just to be helpful). I think the activities have greatly improved in the past two years and the staff never fail to be supportive, friendly and caring.
What a lovely review, we are improving our service all the time with feedback from our residents and relatives.
The staff in the home are fantastic, we can see how much they genuinely care for mum and just how hard they work. It would be good if there was the facility to take on more staff so that they are not so overstretched with their workloads.
One thing we would like to see more of if at all possible, would be to have more frequent outings for the residents.
Overall, we are very pleased with the level of care.
It is lovely to hear that the improvements made recently are noticeable, we are arranging more outings to local places of interest. We also acknowledge how hard our dedicated staff work.
My mother has been a resident for 17 months and has had excellent care from her first day. Her care has continually been of a very high standard and I have great confidence in all staff at all levels. I am regularly updated if there are any concerns as well as if my mother's health changes. The care home has a very friendly atmosphere at all times with cheery faces. Residents are kept as active as allows, staff work hard to make sure all the resident's needs are met at all times. There are meetings for relatives/relations periodically. All in all, a good care home, and I am pleased to have been able to get my mother a place.
Thank you for your comment. I agree, we have a friendly home, our cheery faces are caused by our residents/relatives/visitors.
One would have to go a long way to find a home to come anywhere near the excellence of Old Downs.
Thank you for this lovely comment which mirrors the way that the team at The Old Downs feels about working here.
My mother lived at the Old Downs Residential Care Centre from January 2015 until her death in March 2017. We got a good impression of the home straight away and mum settled in immediately. It provided a warm caring, friendly atmosphere and we cannot speak too highly of the staff. They were warm, friendly and caring and did everything they could to look after mum. They were magnificent in the final period when mum was on end of life care. A great big thank you to you all.
I cannot fault the care and attention given to my mother over the time she spent at The Old Downs. The staff were at all times attentive treating their charges with care and dignity and the facilities excellent.
I would not hesitate to recommend this home for anyone in need of residential dementia care.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 29 July 2024Good
- 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 (25) & Events (0)
- 25 Jun 2026
Our dance class with Berenice was a real hit here at our Care Home in Dartford recently We tried a few new songs with our residents to see how they...
- 11 Jun 2026
As part of Nellsar’s Love to Care Art Competition, residents and team members were invited to create inspirational artwork centred around the words ‘Love to Care’. Here at our Care...
- 21 May 2026
We love Pet Therapy here at our Care Home in Dartford, and we are very lucky to have lots of furry friends visit us. This time, we welcomed Charlie the...
There are no upcoming events for The Old Downs Care Centre.
Awards / Recognitions (6)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Nellsar Care Homes
- 30 Jun 2021Recipient: Nellsar Care Homes
- 28 Feb 2020Recipient: Nellsar Care Homes
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for The Old Downs Care Centre.
Meet the Team (1)

I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, including completing my Level 5 in Management in Adult and Social Care and being honoured with the Queen's Nurse award in 2023. These milestones reflect my deep commitment to delivering high-quality care and continually striving to improve the experiences of our residents.
But even with the recognition, I have always believed that the true heart of care lies in the relationships we build with those we serve, and the team members who make that care possible.
This belief has guided me to an exciting new chapter at The Old Downs, a stunning, character-filled period building from 1887. From the moment I stepped into the Home, I felt its warmth and charm, and it immediately captured my heart. I experienced a sense of belonging not just in the building, but in the welcoming, family-like atmosphere fostered by our team members. It was this spirit that inspired me to take on this new challenge in a Residential Care setting.
While I’m no stranger to Nursing Homes, transitioning to The Old Downs feels like a fresh and exciting opportunity to build upon my experience. My goal is clear – to make The Old Downs the community's finest care provider, delivering exceptional living experiences for our residents while providing their loved ones with full peace of mind.
Our team at The Old Downs is truly something special. Every team member is dedicated to making a difference to the lives of our residents, and part of my role is to help keep that passion and commitment alive. Together, we can continue to improve our practices, adapt to new needs, and create a truly unique, nurturing environment for everyone here.
Ultimately, I want our residents to feel like part of a family and for their loved ones to know that their care is in the best hands possible. This is the heart of our mission – delivering care that goes above and beyond while focusing on each person’s individuality while upholding the values we hold dear.
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