The Poplars Care Centre

158 Tonbridge Road, Maidstone ME16 8SU
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9.3 95 Reviews
  • The Poplars Care Centre, Maidstone
Welcome to The Poplars Care Centre in Maidstone, Kent. Within easy reach of the town centre, this delightful friendly home offers 24-hour care for those over the age of 65. The home is blessed with a long-serving team of nursing and support staff that provide high-quality, person-centred care within a homely environment. They offer flexible long-term, respite and post-operative care.

The Poplars is a large detached house, comprising 56 bedrooms, 15 of which are companion bedrooms for couples who wish to share. Most of these bedrooms come equipped with an en-suite as standard. The team encourage residents to furnish their new surroundings with familiar pieces of furniture and personal possessions to make them feel truly at home. While the bedrooms provide a tranquil area to rest and relax, the light and airy dayrooms offer residents the opportunity to catch up with friends over a pot of tea, enjoy one of the guest entertainers or simply recline in front of their favourite films.

At The Poplars, they encourage residents to take part in a range of engaging activities based on their lifestyle needs and preferences. Many activities take place within the home environment and include garden parties, barbecues, flower arranging, arts/crafts and quiz nights. They empower individuals to enjoy those everyday routines they cherish, whether that’s having a salon blow-dry and manicure or keeping up to date with their favourite sports team. All are encouraged and available. As well as being encouraged to enjoy the home's magnificent landscaped gardens, residents also enjoy regular days out to Canterbury and seasonal trips to the seaside.

The professional catering team deliver nutritionally balanced meals that are appealing to residents. Their professional food suppliers specialise in delivering high-quality food designed specifically for the healthcare sector.
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Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

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

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Nursing Care
  • Dementia Nursing Care
  • For a maximum of 71 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia
  • Advanced/Complex Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke
  • Palliative / End of Life Care
  • Convalescent Care

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1600
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1600
  • Self-Funded Nursing Care: from £1600
  • Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care: from £1600
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1600
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1600
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Care: from £1850
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Nursing Dementia Care: from £1850

These prices are only a guideline, please contact The Poplars Care Centre to find out the exact price for your requirements.

Funding Types Accepted

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

Support you may be entitled to

If you chose a care home based in England, you may be eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), which helps cover the cost of nursing. This is worth £254.06 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.

Good to Know

Person in charge

  • Dorcas Mukuzwazwa (Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2007

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (41)
  • Couples/Companion Rooms (15)
  • Single Rooms with Ensuite Wet Room (4)

The Poplars Care Centre Reviews (95)

9.3

The Poplars Care Centre has a Review Score of 9.3 (9.336) out of 10, based on 38 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Poplars Care Centre has 95 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 70
  • 18
  • 2
  • 1
  • 4
Date Published
  • 95
  • 6
  • 14
  • 38
  • 57
Reviewer Connection to The Poplars Care Centre
  • 37
  • 18
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
Total of 95, showing 41-60
Review from K J (Daughter of Resident) published on 7 March 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All staff have been amazing in looking after my mum - cannot fault the care she has received. Thank you, from us all.
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Review from Veronica A (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 February 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My mother has recently arrived at The Poplars Care Centre from the hospital, she has felt very welcome. The surroundings are clean and fresh and the staff are very friendly. The dining room is just the right size and the staff make it feel homely. The nursing staff are on top of their job which I find
reassuring.
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Review from Marina P (Friend of Resident) published on 13 January 2023 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All the staff are friendly and very attentive when it comes to residents. Always welcoming from the person who does the tea, reception, care workers and all who work here.
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Review from Clare C (Stepdaughter of Resident) published on 7 December 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Staff are always welcoming, smiling and willing to help. He seems so happy where he is, the most important thing we wanted was interaction as he loves a chat and a bit of humour. He seems to enjoy the food too. My only gripe would be, staff should read clients' notes better. I've seen him have a cup
of tea delivered with no lid when they should know, and no straw. I hope this has now been corrected with all.
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Review from Anthony A (Resident) assisted by family/friend published on 18 October 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff are very friendly and helpful and although my friend has only been here a short time, he feels happy at The Poplars. He says he does not want to move anywhere else.
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Review from Jo P (Wife of Resident) published on 1 September 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The care home staff are very kind and do as much as they can to make my husband comfortable.
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Review from Lesley T (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 August 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
On arrival at the home, my mum had some serious bed sores. Due to the dedication of the nurses, the bed sores healed quickly and they have not returned. The staff are always polite and friendly and I am kept well informed. The new manager has made positive changes, including the redecoration of communal
areas, and the implementation of new food menus. Since Covid, activities and days out have increased which have helped with my mum's mental health.
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Review from Karen H (Daughter of Resident) published on 10 August 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Thank you so much for your kindness, excellent care and dignity you showed to my father during his brief stay with you. I wanted you all to know how much this meant to myself, my mum and my brother. Knowing Dad was so well cared for has made things easier for us during and after Dad’s passing.
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Review from Lawrence S (Resident) published on 18 July 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff are very efficient. Food is well prepared and cooked.
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Review from Rachel P (Resident) published on 8 June 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I came to this home as a resident, three years ago because of its excellent reputation and from knowing some staff and other residents. After a few months, the manager changed and everything deteriorated badly. A new manager came this year and all has improved again 100%. The food has improved 100%
as well, since we started new caterers. I am a RGN and have been a home manager myself.
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Review from Laurence C (Son of Resident) published on 29 April 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The staff manage Mother's various needs and unpredictable character in a kind and respectful manner. Such a relief to have peace of mind.
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Review from Stuart J (Friend of Resident) published on 29 March 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have brought someone to The Poplars who begged me never to let them go to a care home. Eventually, their health needs gave us no choice but from day one, she was made so welcome and the improvement in both her physical and mental well-being is so good to see. She seems happier now than at any stage
in the last few years. She loves the conversation and hugs from the staff and she interacts surprisingly well with the other residents. She is safe and looked after in a beautiful setting by kind, caring and competent staff. It is the staff who make the Poplars outstanding. Everyone (management, nurses, carers, cleaners, chefs, decorators etc.) pulls together and it works.
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Review from Clare P (Daughter of Resident) published on 17 January 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We originally put our mother in to Poplars for respite care but we were so impressed that we decided that she should become a permanent resident. The staff are all very friendly, warm, welcoming and caring. They all very quickly understood and catered to her needs. Her bedroom is always spotlessly
clean with fresh bed linen daily. Whilst she is not able to verbalise her own opinion, her big smile says it all! It is such a huge relief to know that she is being looked after with such amazing care, I cannot thank them enough.
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Review from Wendy F (Sister of Resident) published on 15 December 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My sister has severe mental disabilities. She has a lot of health problems and needs constant care. The staff here are very attentive and capable. I am very happy with her care.
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Review from Caroline F (Daughter of Resident) published on 9 December 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are very happy with the quality of care given to our mum; she is very well dressed and clean. Staff are very helpful and always keen to help.
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Review from C G (Husband of Resident) published on 15 November 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My wife is in The Poplars Care Centre and has been there since the 27th of July and I am extremely pleased at the way she is being cared for and I would not want her in any other home as I am well satisfied with how she is cared for.
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Review from Keith W (Husband of Resident) published on 3 March 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
This is a difficult decision for me to say, my wife had been a nurse herself for over fifty years, so I have to respect her comments. She has found it very noisy where she is. Obviously, the coronavirus hasn't helped as there couldn't be any activities, so she gets very bored stuck in her room.
Personally,
I find most of the staff very pleasant, so any problems seem to come from the dull atmosphere.
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Review from Christopher W (Son of Resident) published on 8 February 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 2.0 out of 5
I was surprised at how neglected this care home is and even more mystified as to where the “end of life care“ was.
The rooms were filthy with broken furniture, I was wrestling with a broken bed as my father lay dying in the same bed. The hallway is incredibly noisy and there is no sense of peace and
serenity for the so-called “end of life care”. The staff didn’t really seem to be too bothered and it was up to me to inform of my father’s passing upon which one nurse was very flippant making light of the moment.
Some staff do seem to care but the overall standard of decor and ambience is not appropriate to persons at the end of their life.
The home needs some money spending on it and staff need to be reminded to be quiet and compassionate rather than holding their conversations in the corridor.
Reply from Rosamunde Willis-Read, Chief Operating Officer at The Poplars Care Centre

Our commitment to residents and loved ones is the delivery of person-centred, good quality care and we regret that we were unable to address concerns at the time of their loved one’s stay at the home but did respond with clarifications once the family raised them with us. This has helped us to identify how we can learn from the issues raised to ensure this is not repeated in the future.


We have successfully utilised mutually agreeable strategies for managing noise disturbance from other residents. Our investigation found a small number of repairs necessary in the room and apologised unreservedly for this. We are in the process of a programme of redecoration and refurbishment of parts of the home, which we remain committed to completing as soon as possible.


We accept that the family had difficulty with operating the bed but found it to be in full working order and trust that our willingness to hear about any issues will help manage any misunderstandings in future.

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Review from A B (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 January 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My mum was only in The Poplars for a short period but in that time she was cared for with the utmost respect and dignity. The staff are amazing each and every one.
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Review from Lisa W (Daughter of Resident) published on 14 December 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
the nursing staff and care staff showed love, care and compassion to my Mum and looked after her when she needed it most. Always professional and acted as an extended family, exceeding the requirements. Thank you so much for looking after my Mum and our nanny.
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Current Review Score: 9.3 (9.336)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.3 (9.336) out of 10 for The Poplars Care Centre is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.3 out of 5 from 38 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 33 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 4.336 for The Poplars Care Centre is calculated as follows: ( (299 Excellents x 5) + (81 Goods x 4) + (15 Satisfactorys x 3) + (12 Poors x 2) + (37 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 444 Ratings = 4.336
  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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Poplars Care Centre is based on 33 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 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    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 71 registered maximum number of service users is 14.2, which has been reached with 33 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  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: 15 Jul 2024

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 (8)

Meet the Team (1)

Dorcas

Dorcas Dorcas

Job Title: Home Manager Joined: 2021

I have been in the Care industry for almost 20 years. I have worked in residential, nursing and dementia care homes in various capacities. My passion is to ensure that care is a positive experience for our residents and ensure they live a meaningful life. I am passionate about what l do and my outlook is to ensure that our residents create memories and the relatives get peace of mind. My team and l have a shared dedication to enhance the quality of life of our residents and ensure that they live a fulfilled life. I am dedicated to ensuring that l lead my team to be the best they can be.

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