
we have found staff to always be kind, compassionate and hardworking with everyone.Paula T(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

The standards of cleanliness are high. We would thoroughly recommend this care home.Karen H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


we have found staff to always be kind, compassionate and hardworking with everyone.Paula T(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

The standards of cleanliness are high. We would thoroughly recommend this care home.Karen H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


Amherst Court provides a welcoming atmosphere in which residents enjoy activities, go on outings and make friends with other residents and staff. At the heart of the home is the Philosophy of Care, the Eden Alternative, where residents are encouraged to interact, engage and work towards the eradication of loneliness and boredom.
The home provides 24-hour care and support for people living with dementia, where the team of qualified and attentive staff focus on the individual needs of the residents.
Care Provided by Amherst Court
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 112 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
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Introductory Offer from £1,200 per week for new Self-Funded Residential Care/Dementia care residents. Ends 30th September*
The fee covers all dietary and hydration requirements: breakfast, lunch/dinner and evening meal with snacks and drinks offered throughout the day; laundry; medication administration/assistance; entertainment/companionship; personal care, cleaning and some outings. Hairdressing is not included although hair washing and drying is provided under personal care. Newspapers and some outings are also not included. Top up fees are considered.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Amherst Court for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Amherst Court 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
- Avante Care & Support
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Nicola Bundock(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 60+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2010
Room Information
- Single Rooms (112)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (112)
Visiting
- Residents may have visitors at any time, although it is requested that meal times are avoided if possible as it is aimed to make this a relaxing and positive experience
Parking
- Parking spaces for visitors and also parking on the road adjacent to the home
Amherst Court Reviews (84)
Amherst Court has a Review Score of 9.2 (9.245) out of 10, based on 16 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Amherst Court has 84 reviews.
My mum has been a resident for over a year and from the very first visits as respite she has been well looked after. All the staff are really friendly and many of them put in extra effort to make sure that my mum is as happy and relaxed as is possible. The staff at Amherst Court are its greatest asset. That includes every department not just the carers. Everyone says hello and smiles when I visit.
The care our father gets is excellent. Any issues, you always get a telephone call or email to keep you informed. The cleanliness of the home is superb, and the turnaround of all the laundry is very quick.
Very pleased and happy with Amherst Court. It's taken the resident a wee while to settle however we did expect this. Staff are so helpful, kind, caring and respectful. Showing concern for his welfare and with empathy. A sincere 'Thank You' to all staff, from reception cleaners, kitchen and ward staff.
Excellent reception. Superb staff. Worded wonders in the short time with Brenda.
It is not easy having to visit a parent in a home but this experience could really have been a lot worse, so thank you.
My father-in-law has been reluctant to move from his bed during the hot weather we have been experiencing, hence his food and liquid intake hasn't been good. We expressed concern to the senior on the ward, and later in the day, she emailed to say he had been encouraged out of bed and had eaten and drunk as well. We really appreciated her taking the time to do this as it eased our mind on his wellness. We appreciate all the staff do for him, not only on the ward but reception, admin, canteen, domestics and hairdressing.
Thank you for taking the time to share such a lovely review. We completely understand how worrying it can be when a loved one is reluctant to get out of bed, especially during the hot weather, so we are incredibly glad we could help ease your mind.
I will be sure to pass on your wonderful...
Selecting a care home is a difficult decision and in Amherst, we feel that we have made an excellent choice. From the outset, the staff that we have met at all levels have displayed a professional and very welcoming attitude with a ready willingness to help in any way they can.
My husband and I have visited our Mum to see how she is settling in and we have found staff to always be kind, compassionate and hardworking with everyone. We arrived one afternoon when the activity was Karaoke which was lovely as our Mum loves music and it was age appropriate and she was tapping away and smiling/singing. The staff were enthusiastic too and creating a lovely atmosphere. We love her room and overall feel happy with the care provided by their friendly staff.
Have always found my mother to be well cared for and all her needs attended to whether they be medical or general i.e. cleanliness, feeding and clothing. Although her dementia is slowly taking more of a hold over her I still see her jovial spark and that she gets on with everyone. I can only thank the dedicated team for the care and attention they give her of which she so rightly deserves.
25th August my mother was not washed or dressed until 12:30.
26th August 16 residents to 3 members of staff. Unicorn unit is supposed to be "nursing unit" which requires 2 members of care staff to hoist every resident out of bed. My mother had to wait 1 1/1 hrs to get into her wheelchair.
Residents regularly call for help and are ignored. Expected to eat their meals in their own mess as the staff are too busy or on their break to change them, this can take up to 1 1/2 hrs.
None of this is the staff's fault, they love residents and want to do better for them, it's the total lack of resources. It's evident to the families that profit is more important than care.
Call buttons not working all weekend, maintenance not available to repair until monday morning.
Only one hoist working for 16 residents.
Rooms very depressing, needs to be redecorated and brighten up. Communal rooms look like a doctor's waiting room.
The chairs the residents have to sit in are extremely uncomfortable, I don't know how they spend all day in them, that's if they have enough staff to get them out of bed! No activities in the unit, just sat in front of TV all day.
A very kind member of staff has done a sponsored parachute jump to pay for the garden to be revamped, as it's so depressing, this should be paid for by you.
I am disappointed to read this feedback. I take all comments or concerns seriously and Im actively working with the family and team at Amherst Court to address the concerns raised.
My husband, having been hospitalised after a fall at a previous care home / in hospital for 3 months, has settled in extremly well at Amherst Court. Myself and family are very impressed with the quality of care provided and the efficiency and friendliness of the staff, very good!
Thank you for taking the time to complete such a lovely response, and for your kind words for the Home and Staff team. It is wonderful to hear Your Husband has settled in well and you are very happy with the care quality at Amherst Court.We appreciate your valued feedback.
My mum who has dementia has been a resident for 15 months now. We are very happy with the care she receives. Staff are always smiling and friendly despite having to deal with some challenging behaviour. The standards of cleanliness are high. We would thoroughly recommend this care home.
Mum is well looked after. The place is clean and tidy. Mum is happy and there is a good choice of food.
Keep up the great work. Thanks for looking after my friend and the other residents.
The only slight improvement is I wish the staff would encourage Dad to drink a bit more and to encourage participation more although he does love his sleep. The place is always clean and well-presented, I feel Dad is safe and well-looked after. I would highly recommend.
We went to our friend's lovely celebration for 50 years in parish council, there was a lovely cake table with a fantastic spread or range of cakes, the lovely homemade cakes and immaculate service by the staff made the event go well and everyone feel included.
The staff were superb and the building, entrance area and grounds impressive. I do think that some improvement could be made in the area of noise reduction. The flooring (and walls) act as an echo chamber and would benefit from some acoustic absorbent treatment. Sounds like health worker's conversations and trolley movements reverberate significantly disturbing those who need peace and quiet
My dad has been in Amherst one year now, he is 96 in a few weeks time. He has dementia. Dad really likes it here and has been very well treated by very caring staff. I have no complaints, neither has he. The coffee cafe helps a great deal. The staff member who runs this always makes my dad feel special. All the staff seem happy which makes a huge difference. I'm happy in my mind that he is well looked after and I know staff will ring me if there is a problem... perfect!
Dear Gillian, the team are indeed grateful for the opportunity to provide excellent care to our residents and glad Dad is doing very well at Amherst. Your kind words with be shared with the team. Kind regards.
I would recommend it to anyone.
Thank you very much for your feedback in your short stay with us. It means a lot to the team. We strive to listen to our patrons and have taken on board what you have told us. Best wishes.
This review refers to my late mother's residency for 9 months from the time she was discharged from NHS care until her passing. The overall experience of her care was fantastic and we felt so supported as a family. The care staff did exactly what Mum asked for and the office staff were always welcoming and did everything we asked of them. All our family highly recommend Amherst Court for anyone seeking residential, respite or dementia care for a loved one; you and they will not be disappointed.
Thank you for your feedback. Your compliments will be shared with the team. Best wishes.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 07 October 2020Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveOutstanding
- 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 Amherst Court.
There are no upcoming events for Amherst Court.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Amherst Court.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Amherst Court.
Meet the Team (1)

Nicola Bundock is the Registered Home Manager at Amherst Court.
Frequently Asked Questions about Amherst Court
What types of Care is Amherst Court 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 Amherst Court have?
There are 112 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Amherst Court?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Amherst Court to the centre of Chatham?
1.1 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 Amherst Court to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Amherst Court has an Enhanced Service -more info.