






The Chestnut Lodge Care Home is a 60-bed residential care home, which supports those living with dementia. The home opened in 2013 and has recently had a refurbishment.
Many residents are living with a diagnosis of dementia and the team at Chestnut Lodge support their residents to be as active and independent as they can be. There is a large communal area that offers a pub, a café and an...
Care Provided by The Chestnut Lodge
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 60 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
Other Care Provided
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
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
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Excluded from the standard fees are additional services i.e. Hairdresser, Chiropodist, Audiology, opticians, dentist, Excursions, toiletries(we have an inhouse shop)
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Chestnut Lodge for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Chestnut 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
Owner
- Tonbridge Care Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Kelly Butler(Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2022
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (60)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (13)
Visiting
- All visitors will be required to complete a LFT Covid Test on arrival to the home prior to their visit. LFT Covid tests can be completed at home by the visitor however, they must register the test prior to their visit and evidence the result on arrival.
Parking
- Free parking available to the front and side of Chestnut Lodge
The Chestnut Lodge Reviews (42)
The Chestnut Lodge has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.636) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Chestnut Lodge has 42 reviews.
I can never thank the staff enough for all their patience and dedication. No matter their job. They all carried it out with a smile and compassion and a few tears as well, especially in the last couple of days.
Thank you so much for helping me as well.
Thank you for your kind words. It was our pleasure to provide care and support not only to the client but to you and your family. You will always be part of our Chestnut Lodge Family and always welcome.
My husband was very happy there. The carers were lovely so caring and they kept him so clean. He had quite a long beard and they managed to shave it off. He would never let me shave him so I was so pleased as he looked 10 years young. It was a pleasure going to visit him as he always had a smile on his face. If I ever wanted another respite I would certainly send him to this lovely care home.
Thank you for your feedback. It was a pleasure to take care of your husband for his short respite stay. Looking forward to his next visit.
I attended a relatives’ meeting recently and was very impressed, the manager spoke from the heart and showed real passion and pride for the care home and the people in it. All of the relatives in the meeting had positive feedback about their loved ones' improvement since being in Chestnut Lodge. I attended the barbecue after the meeting, the kitchen staff made fab burgers and coleslaw. I watched the interactions between staff and other residents and felt there was really genuine care. The staff interacted and chatted with all residents and paid special attention to everyone’s needs. This care home has a real family feeling, the staff are so caring, kind, and professional. I really feel Dad is being looked after as I would look after him. I would definitely recommend it if you are wondering where would be best for your loved one.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback! Working in partnership with residents, staff, and relatives and being transparent with everyone supports us to be able to provide a high level of care. We are very happy that you enjoyed our recent barbecue and hope to see you at our next event.
Staff do their best in caring for their residents. The food is good and fresh. Could do with more stimulation for those residents who need it.
Thank you for your feedback. We encourage all of our residents to attend our extensive activity program. However, all residents are offered a choice and if they decline then we must respect their decision. 1-1 activity is provided to ensure inclusion.
Mum has found it difficult adjusting to life in a care home, having been completely independent up until December 2022. However, the care staff, seniors and management have been great. When mum first went into Chestnut Lodge she had to go into the only available room, which was on the top floor and there were eaves in the room, it wasn't suitable as mum has severe sight loss. However, as soon as another room became available mum was moved into it. Similarly, if she has had any issues, medical or otherwise, they are sorted out very promptly. It is a little difficult for mum to make connections with many of the residents as a lot have dementia and her loss of sight makes it harder to recognise people. The garden is beautiful and is lovely to sit in with mum when I visit.
The support, guidance and care provided is of excellent quality. The home offers a great variety of activities and inclusion for residents. It's very welcoming to visitors and all the staff are friendly and go above and beyond working extremely hard. The atmosphere is great. I'm so grateful for this wonderful place and everything it offers.
Thank you for your kind comments, they are very much appreciated and welcomed.
Chestnut Lodge is a home from home, it does not look institutional-like some care homes. My uncle has been there 9 years, he always lived with family so we were unsure how he would settle but we need not have worried, the care staff made him feel welcome like they always do. They are a caring and cheerful team, recently my uncle became unwell and we thought we were going to lose him, the staff were great they kept us informed and could not do enough to support us, fortunately, he pulled through which we put down to the love and support he had from family and his chestnut lodge family. Chestnut Lodge is not just a care home, it is his home.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback. We appreciate your kind words and we are very happy that you have had a great experience for the past 9 years.
There is a wide range of activities on offer for the residents and the building is well maintained.
My relative never leaves her room and the staff always serve her food in the room and try their best to be of assistance.
The home is open to visitors any time day or night and has a calm environment with ‘busy’ pockets of goings on for those who want.
Your kind comments are very lovey and reassuring to hear. Thank you for taking the time to review Chestnut Lodge.
In June 2023 there was an incident at Chestnut Lodge (unwitnessed by any care worker). My mother suffered severe head trauma and she was hospitalised requiring a huge amount of specialists stitching to her head and face and only 3 days later my mother fell again at Chestnut Lodge at 5am and broke her hip. The staff at Chestnut Lodge took over six hours to call an ambulance for her! Since these events, my mother will never be able to walk again and is mentally damaged to the point that she is no longer able to communicate. This may sound extreme, but it is true. Only a few weeks prior to the last incident and fall, my mother spent the afternoon dancing and singing and chatting to us. Now she will never walk again, let alone dance.
Thank you for your review. We are sorry you feel you have had a negative experience. We take feedback seriously, constructively and without prejudice. Both incidents were unfortunate, they happened unexpectedly and unintentionally. Both incidents have been fully investigated and where identified...
On being shown the care home we were unsure due to the amount of residents with dementia. My mum has been there since October and we now feel this is no longer a concern. My mother has settled in very well, fantastic care from all of the team from management to carers and cleaners. I cannot fault the care given, especially when she is unwell. Whatever is needed for her is done immediately if needed. I would recommend highly The Chestnut Lodge to anyone thinking of long-term care for a relative.
Dad was booked in, originally, for respite care - he never came home. Everyone in the home made Dad feel so loved and he was the happiest ever. Unfortunately, following a week in the hospital with a chest infection and a short time 'at home with his friends', Dad passed away. Words fail me with the tenderness and love Dad was given at all times. The Chestnut Lodge made his passing 'magical' along with tenderness to us - his family.
I just would like to say a big thank you to the staff for making us so welcome today. We enjoyed a lovely Christmas lunch together with Mum. It was almost like home from home. All the staff had put so much care and love into the setting as well. I think that Mum thoroughly enjoyed herself and our company. The staff work so hard and its much appreciated, the care and kindness given to my mum.
My husband has been with you for three months now and we have had nothing but praise for all of you at Chestnut Lodge. All of your staff are a wonderful team so thank you all.
My Mum has been a resident at The Chestnut Lodge for over 4 years. The staff are always welcoming and helpful. Mum is well cared for and her needs met. Mum enjoys the many activities on offer and especially her trips to the resident hairdresser. Even though the last few years have been difficult due to the pandemic the management and staff found ways to maintain contact by phone calls, video calls and Facebook. This contact was very much appreciated by myself and my Mum. The Management always keeps me updated on any changes. I feel happy that Mum is well looked after. The Chestnut Lodge is a lovely caring home.
Excellent staff - like family.
My sister is about to start her 5th year as a resident of Chestnut Lodge and I can truly say that as her LPOA and closest blood relative, that Chestnut Lodge have done a superb job of catering for my sister’s needs - especially in the current difficult times. They have tried so hard to keep some sort of visiting going - which has not been easy. My sister has suffered from being isolated during these times but she has had excellent activities, good food and supportive medical care throughout this depressing pandemic. The staff have been loving and caring and given their very best and the management have been excellent at keeping in touch with direct relatives and telling us the state of play. My sister is still my dear sister, although her Alzheimer’s is gradually taking its toll after 6 years now. I can unhesitatingly recommend Chestnut Lodge for anyone who is suffering from this terrible illness that not only affects their quality of life but also the lives of those who love them.
My mum went into this care home in December. My sister and I went to see this home and loved it as soon as we entered. Very clean and fresh and was greeted with smiling faces. My mum, having slight Dementia, has really taken to it, the staff are so friendly and helpful and you are made to feel at home every visit. Thank you all for looking after my mum, I am very grateful.
Any issues I've had have been dealt with very quickly and very well.
My mother has been at Chestnut Lodge for 2 and a half years, she is happy, well looked after and settled.
She has a good connection with all of the staff and is often joking and laughing with them.
Her room is always clean and tidy as is the rest of the home.
Drinks and snacks are always available.
The home has gone downhill. Management overall is not good, needs a big improvement. Staff shortage and cleanliness could be better at times, as can activities.
I hold POA for my cousin who could no longer live in her own home as she became increasingly anxious and likely to wander. Chestnut Lodge made a transfer as simple as possible and were helpful throughout. My cousin has now been resident there for nearly 3 months. She looks well and the staff take a personal interest too. The home is clean and well run. Meals are good and visitors welcome. Dementia is a horrible illness and my cousin is understandably very frustrated sometimes. The home appears to be dealing with this well.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 06 April 2023Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeRequires improvement
- 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)
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Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for The Chestnut Lodge.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for The Chestnut Lodge.
Meet the Team (2)

Kelly Butler is an established Care Manager working in the sector for over 25 years. She has a wide range of experience, including Domiciliary Care, Learning Disabilities, Nursing and Residential Care settings and a previous experience of assessing for health and social care services.
Kelly holds NVQ Level 5 and retains the Registered Managers Award.
Kelly is passionate about Chestnut Lodge, delivers high standards of care and provides individualised care to all our residents.

Cathy’s passion for care began at the age of 16. Since then, she has progressed through various roles within the care sector, gaining a wealth of experience along the way. She has a particular interest in end-of-life care and places great importance on building meaningful connections with residents and their families during such significant times. Her dedication and compassion are at the heart of the support she provides.
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