Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre

10 High Road, Wilmington, Dartford DA2 7EG
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9.9 75 Reviews
  • Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre, Dartford
Located in the quiet Kentish village of Wilmington, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre is a residential home, providing specialist care for elderly people who have been diagnosed with dementia. The Home has a warm and welcoming atmosphere and enjoys secure, private accommodation with modern amenities. They pride themselves on having an excellent care team, highly trained to care for residents with respect, patience and compassion.

Sonya Lodge has a capacity of up to 37 residents, with single room accommodation. The majority of bedrooms have ensuite facilities. The Home has five comfortable lounges, one of which opens onto a peaceful garden with flowerbeds and outdoor seating; Another doubles up as a movie-screening room.

Other amenities include a spacious dining area, an old-fashioned shop selling treats and toiletries, an onsite hair salon and a ‘Forget Me Not’ café in the garden.?

Socialising is a key part of daily life at Sonya Lodge and there is always plenty going on, including visits from entertainers, group sing-a-longs and summer BBQs. They also arrange regular trips out to local garden centres and places of interest.

One of the first care providers to champion the importance of nutrition for the elderly and those with Dementia, Nellsar employ a Nutrition & Wellness Manager for their Homes. Sonya Lodge acknowledges that nutrition and hydration are an integral part of good health and well-being, delivering well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks to residents every day.

Sonya Lodge also benefits from a Well-Being Team of fully-qualified holistic therapists who use nurturing touch, complementary therapies and relaxing treatments to improve residents’ quality of life and sense of well-being.

Employing high-tech care planning technology, Sonya Lodge care staff use the ®Nourish system, spending less time on paperwork and more time caring for their residents.

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Care Provided by Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre

  • Primary Care Categories
  • Dementia
  • Older Person Care
  • Respite Care
  • Care Types Provided
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 37 Service Users
  • Privately Owned
  • Care Offered
  • Alzheimer's
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Other Care Provided
  • Day Care
  • End of Life Care
  • Own GP if required
  • Palliative Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • John Hudson-Beddows (Registered Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • Ages 65+
  • Room Information
    • Single Rooms (37)
    • Couples/Companion Rooms (0)
    • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (29)
  • Care Home Design/Build
    • Purpose Built: No
    • Number of floors: 3

Funding & Fees Guide for Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre

  • Funding Types Accepted
  • Self funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top-Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding
  • Weekly Charges per Person
    • Self-Funded Residential Care £1,100 – £1,300
    • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care £1,300 – £1,450
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care £1,100 – £1,300
    • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care £1,300 – £1,450

  • Excluded in fees: Hairdressing, Chiropodist, Newspapers, Toiletries and Clothing.
  • (these prices are only a guideline, please contact Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre to find out the exact price for your requirements)

Facilities

  • Bar/Café
  • Close to Local shops
  • Gardens
  • Lift
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Near Public Transport
  • Own Furniture if required
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Television point in own room
  • Wheelchair Access
  • 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.


Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre Reviews (75)

Total of 75, showing 61-75
9.9

Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.867) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre has 75 reviews.

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Review from K H (Son of Resident) published on 11 December 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

Pleased with the care so far. Any medical issues/medication changes have always been followed up with a phone call to us. Initial issue with laundry, but this seems to have been sorted. Food allergy (coeliac) was understood and dealt with quickly. Staff seem caring and helpful.

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Review from A D (Son of Resident) published on 20 November 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The whole team at Sonya Lodge have made mum feel at home straight away and made me confident that she is safe and well looked after, which has put my mind at rest following my concerns and reservations about placing mum into a care centre.

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Review from Sussan C (Daughter of Resident) published on 26 October 2017
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have just lost our mum who was living at Sonya Lodge for the last two-years. We would like to thank all the staff for the care they gave our mum. So many care homes get bad reviews but mum's care was wonderful. All the staff went above and beyond, even when she was rude to them.


They just loved

her and looked after her. We can't thank them enough.

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Review from T W (Son of Resident) published on 28 August 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

A calm, friendly environment with very professional standings. The staff do really care and are extremely efficient. I know that my mother is looked after and is safe. I believe we made the right decision when we chose Sonya Lodge as a care home.

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Review from Philip D (Son-in-law of Resident) published on 28 August 2017
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am a retired vicar, in the course of 20+ years of ministry I had occasion to visit many retirement/dementia homes. Sonya Lodge is clearly the best I've come across, in the course of 3 yrs visiting a relative, EVERY time relative is treated with kindness, patience with clear evidence of professional
standards being maintained (despite 'someone' often being grumpy). I cannot recommend the staff and facilities at Sonya Lodge highly enough.


You might be surprised that I haven't listed every facet as excellent in the review, they are in a very cramped location; but they make very good use of the space.


For excellent, read 'perfect'
For good, read 'show me better'
Your relative would be cared for well here.


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Review from S S (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 22 July 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Staff - friendly and communicate well. Always inform me by phone of any change in my granddad's wellbeing. Staff are always the same, minimal agency (if any) and so I am reassured that the carers know my grandad and his needs. Sometimes toilets/tables are not clean but this is hard to keep on top of
with residents with dementia.

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Review from S S (Son of Resident) published on 22 July 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My mother has been a resident at Sonya Lodge for 18months, we are very satisfied with her care. Residents, even when being difficult, are treated with patience and dignity. We regularly ask my mother if she is happy staying at Sonya Lodge and her answer is always positive. In her own words 'I couldn't
be in a better place'.

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Review from Andrew Y (Son of Resident) published on 22 July 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Thank you for looking after my dad. Sonya Lodge has become his home and residents and staff his family. Every time I visit I am amazed at the dedication of the care staff and the way they treat my dad as an individual and in dealing with this dreadful disease. I love the banter the staff have with him
and the way he smiles and responds gives me great comfort to know there is still some parts of my dad that remind me of what he used to be like. The recent celebration of my parents 75th wedding anniversary at Sonya Lodge was very moving and I cannot thank the staff enough for making it such a joyous event.

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Review from John H (Husband of Resident) published on 22 July 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Many of our family have had experience of care homes. All say this is one of, if not the best. Cleanest they have experienced.

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Review from Julie C (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 July 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My sister and myself find the home for Mum more than suitable. The staff are very caring and friendly. They treat her with respect and dignity. We are always asked when we arrive if we would like a hot drink.

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Review from P B (Son of Resident) published on 20 July 2017
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My father is well cared for in a warm, safe environment. The staff are always welcoming and friendly.

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Review from Sara H (Daughter of Resident) published on 17 July 2017
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My Mother has been in Sonya Lodge since January. All the staff are excellent treating Mum with respect. The staff always seem happy, which is great as they have, in my view, an extremely challenging job. Mum is fed very well and always looks clean and presentable. I would have no hesitation in recommending
Sonya Lodge to anybody who has the horrible job of finding a good care home for someone with dementia.

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Review from Alison K (Daughter of Resident) published on 3 June 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mum has been treated with dignity and respect from the beginning of her stay at Sonya Lodge. All the staff are friendly and courteous. They are all knowledgeable about mum. Her room is spacious, well decorated, clean and comfortable. Mum is well cared for and very well fed. The food at Sonya Lodge
is amazing. I am very happy that my brother and I were lucky enough to find mum a place at Sonya Lodge.

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Review from T B (Son of Resident) published on 1 June 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

9/5/16 I was so happy to arrive to visit my dad to find an entertainer singing, also getting the other residents stimulated enough for some of them to get up and have a dance. My dads sister and I had a very enjoyable afternoon with my dad, thanks again.

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Review from Simone T (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 24 May 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

MY grandfather suffers with dementia. Sonya Lodge immediately gave me the feeling of security from the moment we first visited. It has a home from home atmosphere with incredibly skilled staff who can deal with the changing moods that dementia brings.
The residents come first at Sonya Lodge, they
are treated like family and staff take the time to treat residents with dignity and genuinely care for the ingredients. Family are always encouraged to join in many activities and have an open visiting.

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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.867)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.867) out of 10 for Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 12 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 12 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:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.867 for Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre is calculated as follows: ( (124 Excellents x 5) + (19 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 143 Ratings = 4.867

  • b) 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 Sonya Lodge Residential Care Centre is based on 12 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 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

    • ii) 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 37 registered maximum number of service users is 7.4, which has been reached with 12 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Performance

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 12 Feb 2020

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.

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Bed Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (5)

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Meet the Team (2)

John

John Hudson-Beddows

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2022

John joined Nellsar as a Home Manager in February 2022. Having previously managed a medium-sized Nursing Home, John first began his care career as a Care Assistant, progressing into management over time. John’s previous role as a Metropolitan Police Officer translates to great leadership and communication skills with the Home, with a passion for Dementia care and making people feel safe. John leads a very strong, friendly, and reliable team, and together they ensure residents feel happy and content every day. As a Manager, John is caring and calm; he runs an open-door policy and enjoys empowering his team with support and professional development.


Amanda

Amanda Jones

Job Title: Business Support Officer

Joined: 2014

"When I first joined ‘The Family of Nellsar’ in March 2014, little did I know how much satisfaction I would receive daily working in a care home for people living with Dementia. It was a very personal decision choosing to work within care. After losing my husband to cancer and receiving so much support from Macmillan I wanted to give something back to the community and here I am some few years later loving the role I am in. I had very little understanding of Dementia and was thrown in the deep end from the on set and soon found that all what was needed was time, patience, and a calming voice of reassurance along with a smile.


My role initially was a little part time role of 16 hours per week – a dream position working four hours per day, four days a week. At the interview I clearly remember asking what the job expectations would be and the response was, "It is a brand-new role that has been created and it involves a little bit of typing, filing, and answering the telephone." Little did I know what the role really involved! With an increasing workload, within a year, Nellsar saw the need to increase this position and I was asked to work full time. My role as Business Support Officer entails many aspects of administration working very closely with both the Home Manager and Deputy Manager and all my colleagues.


There have been many changes and development within the group over the years – improved training and learning being offered to all personnel, improved technology and a huge amount of support being provided from my peers and colleagues, to name a few. I am still learning daily and every day here at Sonya Lodge is different. We are one big Nellsar family unit.


The team at Sonya Lodge are all amazing and working together is a crucial and integral part of the smooth running of the Home and care provided for our residents and colleagues. Working at Sonya Lodge is a privilege – after all, this Home belongs to our lovely residents first and foremost and their care is our absolute priority.


I thoroughly enjoy meeting our residents' family members and loved ones, and building a good rapport. I believe it is important to be honest, always, and to have a listening ear too, as this is probably one of the toughest decisions a family will ever make – finding a suitable Home for the care of their loved one.


For anyone that knows me well here at Sonya Lodge and Nellsar, I am lucky enough to bring my dog into work daily. Roxi is a valued member of the team here and our residents adore her. For me, having this opportunity to go to work with my best friend Roxi is simply awesome. Roxi brings smiles daily with her unconditional love."