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Fern Brook Lodge

Fern Brook Lane, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4QD
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The staff and facilities are some of the best I’ve seen in a care homeRoger S(Friend of Resident/Service User)
Fern Brook Lodge, Gillingham
There is only one word to describe Fern Brook Lodge... OutstandingA B(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
Fern Brook Lodge, Gillingham
The carers who look after Mums are always cheerful, friendly and patientA H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
Fern Brook Lodge, Gillingham

Fern Brook Lodge in Gillingham, Dorset is a friendly, warm and welcoming residential home, where residents living with dementia are treated with dignity and respect. Individuals enjoy a safe, caring environment with all the home comforts and 24-hour specialist care from professionally trained staff.

Staff at Fern Brook Lodge pride themselves on providing the best possible care alongside relevant health and social care professionals tailored for individuals and their families.

Residents...  

Care Provided by Fern Brook Lodge

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 75 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia
  • Advanced/Complex Dementia

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Near Public Transport
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Television point in own room

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

Type of carePermanentRespite
Residential CareFrom £1,395From £1,570
Residential Dementia CareFrom £1,525From £1,650

Contact Fern Brook Lodge 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

Person in charge

  • Sara Maynard (Home Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Information

  • Mixed with both male-only and female-only unit(s)
  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: Yes

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (75)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (75)

Fern Brook Lodge Reviews (77)

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9.8

Fern Brook Lodge has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.753) out of 10, based on 32 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Fern Brook Lodge has 77 reviews.

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Showing 77 reviews matching selected criteria
Review from C H (Daughter of Resident) published on 26 May 2025 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

We chose FBL because of the friendliness of the staff and their team spirit. Not only are the carers brilliant - unfailingly cheerful and kind and willing to go the extra mile to ensure that residents are calm and comfortable, but the support staff are amazing too, from the cleaners and laundry staff who keep up high standards of cleanliness to the catering staff who make sure my mother's breakfast is individually cooked to her liking and her food is presented in appetizing ways, and the activities staff who are always looking for creative ways of making residents lives brighter. FBL is an exceptionally well-run home, and we are grateful to you all. Thank you!

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a great deal to our whole team to know their efforts are making a difference. We're truly grateful for your support and are proud to care for your mother.

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Review from A C (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 May 2025 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Super friendly, clean, staff are amazing. Always kind and helpful. Mum's room is always spotless. Very happy environment.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review we are so pleased you always find the staff kind and helpful, we will share your review with the team.

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Review from M Y (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 30 April 2025 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

A warm friendly loving home. From day one our our whole family, not just mum have been made to feel very welcome at Fern Brook Lodge. In fact through this kindness to us we have manged to extend this to a new resident and families over the months. Mum has been a resident for almost year and a half and as her condition progresses she requires a lot of patience and energy from care staff. And due to the whole teams dedication and loving support mum is happy, relaxed and doing really well. Keep up the great work we are grateful to you all. Thank you.

Reply from Esther Sheppard, Senior Customer Relationship Manager at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt words. We're truly grateful for your support, and it's been a privilege to care for your mum. We'll be sure to share your thanks with the whole team.

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Review from Shirley F (Resident / Service User) published on 30 April 2025 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Overall very good. The staff are very helpful and are very respectful. The care and consideration is excellent, if there is any queries they are dealt with when able. The biggest problem is having to wait, but understand others need attention. The activities are very good and great fun. Very pleased with my room and can do crafts and rest if needed. Very happy here and made friends.

Reply from Esther Sheppard, Senior Customer Relationship Manager at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for your lovely feedback. We're so pleased to hear you're happy, enjoying the activities, and have made friends.

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Review from Mary S (Resident / Service User) published on 17 January 2025 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

First class. Feels like home from home.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review. We are so pleased to read your review and that the home feels like home. We will share this with the team.

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Review from S R (Daughter of Resident) published on 17 January 2025 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

All of the staff are patient, kind, and caring and always ensure that residents' needs are put first. We are impressed with the Events Team, which keeps the residents engaged with all of the various activities. We have noticed that mum loves the attention and has lots of fun with the staff, which makes her happy. Fern Brook Lodge is a lovely care home, and we would like to thank all of the staff for everything that they do for the residents.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review. We are so pleased your impressed with the events and activities at the home. We will share your review with the team.

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Review from C D (Daughter-in-law of Resident) published on 15 January 2025 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Excellent Christmas Fete. The activity team work so hard with very limited funds. So many festive activities are planned. The new chef appears to be providing good food. The staff are dedicated and have the right amount of respect and love.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review. We are so pleased you enjoyed the Christmas Fete and are enjoying the home cooked food at Fern Brook.

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Review from R J (Brother of Resident) published on 31 December 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

My brother has been a resident of Fern Brook Lodge for the past 6 months. He is being cared for well, the food is good. The staff are always friendly, courteous and helpful whenever we visit. Personal hygiene is good.

Reply from Phillip Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for such a positive review, I am so glad to read your comments, which of course I will be sharing with the team.

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Review from R S (Relative of Resident) published on 23 December 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

It was very hard to accept the fact that the time had come to look for a care home for a much loved family member, who now needed more care and support than we were able to provide. Fern Brook Lodge came highly recommended to us by a friend who's father was a contented resident, because of this we were keen to include it in our choices. It was very clear from our first visit what a kind and caring home Fern Brook is, this wasn't always evident at other establishments and made a difficult choice so much easier. 4 months into his new home, we have a very happy, contented resident, who's life has been made so much easier. We are always met by smiling friendly staff who genuinely care and look to enrich the residents life.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for this lovely 5 star review. We are all so pleased to hear how your feeling about the care at Fern Brook.

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Review from G B (Daughter of Resident) published on 13 November 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

Excellent trip to Poole, my mother really enjoyed her day out, and the trip and the trip was exceptionally well planned.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review - we are so pleased your mother enjoyed the trip to Poole.

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Review from J A (Resident / Service User) published on 16 September 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

A first-class care home with excellent, kind and helpful staff which I would certainly recommend.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your review and lovely words. We will share this with the team.

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Review from A B (Daughter of Resident) published on 16 August 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I was very nervous about placing my mother in a care home. The home has been fantastic in settling my mother. She has been in Fern Brook for 4 weeks and has been better with each week. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. Seems to be understaffed. The activities staff are very good and friendly. The manager has been very helpful with the process of making the placement.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for rating the overall experience at Fern Brook Lodge as 5 stars! I understand our Home Manager has been in touch with you to discuss your review and we hope to see you again. All the best.

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Review from A B (Daughter of Resident) published on 25 July 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

This is the third month my father has been living at Fern Brook. From the first day my sisters, my father's brother and I visited Fern Brook Lodge we knew he would be well cared for. All the staff are absolutely wonderful. The food is fantastic and there is always something for my father to eat who is a meat and veg man!

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your wonderful 5* review of Fern Brook Lodge, I am so pleased that your father has settled into life so well. Wishing you and your family all the best.

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Review from Livvy W (Friend of Resident) published on 25 July 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

The staff of Fern Brook are very dedicated, caring, friendly and respectful. They care for each client with dignity and respect, and no task is ever too much trouble. The meals are lovely and nutritious. Activities are always taking place and encouragement for the clients to join in as much as possible.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your wonderful five star review, the team at Fern Brook Lodge will be absolutely thrilled. I will be sure to pass on your kind feedback to the team.

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Review from David R (Son-in-law of Resident) published on 24 June 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
This refers to the cake sale of 29th May 2024 but applies generally across the board to all the staff all the time.

Everyone does all they can to make life as pleasant as possible and are caring, thoughtful and kind.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for your wonderful five-star review of Fern Brook Lodge; the team will be so pleased to read your wonderful comments. Wishing you all the best.

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Review from J S (Daughter of Resident) published on 11 March 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
The staff at Fern Brook Lodge made the process of moving Mum to a care home so much easier than we feared.

Everyone has made her welcome, showing her extraordinary care and understanding. She enjoys the wonderful activities, and the room is just perfect for her. We can't wait to be able to sit in the garden in the spring when visiting.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for your wonderful review of Fern Brook Lodge; I am so pleased that Mum is enjoying life with us. Wishing you both all the best.

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Review from Julie O (Daughter of Resident) published on 18 January 2024 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I have been coming to the memory cafe every Thursday for a few months. The staff are extremely welcoming and spend quality time with my father who has dementia. It is a wonderful service to help get people out of the home and surroundings. It has made my father feel more comfortable in the environment so may be able to settle for respite care in the future.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for leaving a review, feedback like this is so important to the team. I am delighted that your Father is enjoying his regular visits. All the very best.

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Review from Sharon S (Daughter of Resident) published on 9 January 2024 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
One year on from moving Mum to Fern Brook Lodge and I can honestly say it is the best decision we ever made for her.
She settled quickly and has been cared for with such affection and gentleness that she continues to thrive despite her dementia. With an activities coordinator now in place there have been numerous opportunities for Mum to enjoy her lifetime love of music, thanks so much to one member of staff in particular for all her hard work in organising so many lovely events, especially over Christmas.

Any minor issues have been dealt with immediately by the equally caring leadership team. I cannot recommend Fern Brook Lodge highly enough and would like to thank everyone there for all their continued efforts with Mum.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for taking the time to leave your review, your wonderful comments are much appreciated. I will of course pass your review onto the team at Fern Brook Lodge. All the best.

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Review from Yvonne H (Daughter of Resident) published on 1 December 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
Mum has been a resident at Fern Brook Lodge for 18 months now. There is always something going on to keep the residents busy, from bingo to sing-a-longs and trips out.
The care given by the staff is first class, all the residents are always treated with genuine love and affection. I witnessed this, particularly at the concert. The carers were so attentive throughout. The residents tend to get restless and the care and guidance given was exemplary.

Thank you team.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you for leaving a review - the team at Fern Brook Lodge will be thrilled. It is wonderful to read how well mum is enjoying life with us. Thank you again.

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Review from C T (Daughter of Resident) published on 24 November 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My mother came in for an initial period of respite care during the summer and then moved in permanently in October. I am very happy with how well she has settled and how her health, both mental and physical, has improved since moving into an environment where she receives exemplary care, a daily structure and lots of stimulation from an excellent programme of activities. The staff (with perhaps one minor exception) are all kind, friendly, caring and seem to really enjoy their work. I visit 3-4 times a week, often with our dog (who is also made very welcome!) and we always receive a friendly reception and help with any queries or concerns. Mum really enjoys the food and often tells me how kind everyone is. I am so relieved to have found such a lovely home in Gillingham and it's a great comfort to know that my mum is so well cared for at a time of great difficulty for her family.

Reply from Phil Smith, Director of Residential Care at Fern Brook Lodge

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, it's wonderful to see how highly you rate the service the team provides at Fern Brook Lodge. Wishing you all the best.

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Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 04 March 2020
Overall
Good
  • CaringGood
  • EffectiveGood
  • ResponsiveGood
  • SafeGood
  • Well-ledGood
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.

News (48) & Events (0)

News
  • 02 Jun 2026

    Dorset care home residents delighted in a memorable musical afternoon created especially for them by the BSO, Care South and JPMorganChase. Hosted at JPMorganChase’s Bournemouth campus, the midweek event included...

  • 27 May 2026

    Communities across the south of England gathered at Care South’s care homes to share experiences and raise awareness during Dementia Action Week. Karen Hodges, Group Dementia Lead for Care South,...

  • 16 Apr 2026

    Fern Brook Lodge residents embraced the spirit of spring with a colourful lavender-themed crafting session. Residents at the care home on Fern Brook Lane in Gillingham were pleased to welcome...

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events for Fern Brook Lodge.

Awards / Recognitions (6)

  • 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Care South
  • 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Care South
  • 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Care South

Accreditations

There are no accreditations posted yet for Fern Brook Lodge.

Meet the Team (1)

Sara Maynard
Sara MaynardJob Title:Home Manager

“As Manager at Fern Brook Lodge, I believe that our residents must be at the heart of all that we do. By nurturing and developing our team, we can then provide the best possible care, focusing all that we do around the individual's wishes and needs.”

Sara (pronounced Sarah) grew up in North Devon. She completed her nurse training in Cambridge in the 1980s and moved back to North Devon in the 90’s. She is now living locally to Gillingham. She worked in the NHS, mainly specialising in respiratory work and has always been passionate about enabling and giving people a voice.

She has been a care home manager for fourteen years, which has encompassed nursing, residential and dementia homes. Care South are delighted to have secured her talents for leading the team at Fern Brook Lodge and maintaining the levels of excellence this care home provides.

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