Kingswood Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 4UN
View Full Details of Halliwell Care HomeI had a lovely stay at Halliwell Care Home last summer to help recover from a small operation. I found the home to be welcoming, spotless, beautiful and uplifting despite my worries about my operation and my discomfort after. The care staff were very kind, careful and supportive - and especially reassuring when I needed help at night. The gardens are gorgeous and can be accessed from every level - my grandsons loved finding the little stone animals. Lunch was always delicious. The evening meals were a little less inspired/more repetitive than lunch, but usually fresh and healthy and there was a good range of choice. There was a real community in the home, with many of the residents very active in making me feel welcome and driving the activities/care/food choices etc. There were a raft of things to get involved in - I only wish I'd had time do to more! My friends and family visited and were made very welcome and were impressed. I would certainly recommend Halliwell.
Sadly I write this review with apprehension as my dad, although has always been a happy man and aims to please everyone, has of late become withdrawn and sad. After a lengthy amount of time at Halliwell he has been made to feel like a burden and someone of little importance. As new staff arrived things have changed and not in a good way. Where once I would have said this is the place to be with the love and care anyone would want for their family member this has changed. Unfortunately, care has been lost and it has been really sad to see the decline. The deputy manager is an amazing lady and Halliwell will be lost without her. It is a real shame that in 2024 people are not treated with the dignity and grace they deserve!
Having read many reviews from "relatives" I think that a review from a long-term "resident" is overdue. In brief what I would say to all who need a home is, like a small boy might say "Come on in. The waters are fine". I moved into Halliwell mid August 2018, so I must have been here longer than most residents. This is my home, and I love it. When I moved in I was made to feel so welcome, and all my fears and worries soon departed. I am sure it is natural to be apprehensive when you may well have lost someone near and dear to you, and being unable to cope by yourself, for whatever reason, can be deeply disturbing. But there is so much laughter up and down the corridors here I defy anyone to be sad for long. Everyone says that the staff are lovely, and that is true, but we also have so much more. It is like a new chapter opening in my life, and all of it is fun, I honestly did not expect that. I say again, this is my home, and I do not think, all things considered, I could be more happy.
All I can say is that I came for respite care, now I want to come back permanently. Many thanks to all the lovely caring staff.
My friend of 46 years began her stay at Halliwell in September 2023. She was only 61 years old but had been diagnosed with a severe brain tumour and her life expectancy was only months. It became impossible for her to be cared for at home so the difficult decision was made to find a home for her to spend her final days. Having looked at two other homes that were clearly unsuitable we came across Halliwell. As soon as we stepped into Halliwell and met with the manager, we knew we were in the right place. The home is clean and comfortable, the food very good and the staff outstanding. From reception staff, to the maintenance team right through to the carers and nursing staff who cared for her for the next 6 months, we could not have asked for more love, care and support - both for her and for those of us as her family and friends involved in her care. Right to the end my friend's care was excellent and dealt with in such a kind and compassionate way. Thank you so much.
I highly recommend the Halliwell Care Home, who are an amazing team creating a happy caring home. They looked after both of my parents. My mum had a terminal cancer diagnosis needing palliative care. They support her, working in partnership with the hospice team through a very difficult time with dignity and love. Supported Dad who was dealing with losing everything he was heartbroken. They were gentle, kind and helped him build a new life, and make new friends by joining the activities he wanted to do like the choir. He had 3 happy years there, and when it was his time to join Mum they worked with his wishes. The team at the Halliwell really care it is not a job for them, they treat everyone as an individual making their time fun and enjoyable. There is so much to join in with them in their home it makes it feel like you are visiting them at home, for example, family quiz nights, fairs, the dog show or the choir concerts. I can’t thank the whole team enough for the care and support to us.
The Halliwell is a beautiful nursing home in a lovely setting with views of the grounds and the park. Every amenity one could wish for is provided, including a dining room, hairdressing, pedicures and physiotherapy, as well as social activities including film screenings but the most important aspect is the kindness and care of the staff, which extends from the general managers to the administration team to the wonderful carers and maintenance team. If you have a loved one who needs more support, I could not recommend a better choice than the Halliwell.
It really is outstanding. My father feels truly cared for and part of a tight community of residents, staff and volunteers. It is one community, led by an incredibly committed and passionate manager. Thank you for all you do. I hope it will never change (my siblings and I have got our names on the waiting list!)
Very welcoming, friendly and smiling staff. All are very competent and always helpful. Good variety of healthy diet and is nicely presented. Wide range of activities and a very pleasant garden. Overall I can highly recommend Halliwell Care Home to any potential service user.
My father was a resident at the Halliwell Care Home for four and a half years until his death in June this year. During his time there he was looked after with great kindness and professionalism. I was confident that he was not only well-cared-for and safe, but also loved. The staff were wonderfully caring and compassionate as well as bringing fun and laughter while they carried out their roles. The Halliwell is led with exceptional skill by the general manager. She cares passionately about the well-being of the residents and equally passionately about the welfare of the staff, and it shows. There is a warm and positive atmosphere which is evident from the moment you step through the door. Quite simply, the Halliwell sets the standard by which all care homes should be judged.
My mother, who was a resident of Halliwell for about 7 1/2 years, died this week (at 103) after a short illness. I cannot let her passing go without saying how extraordinary the love and care at Halliwell is. During her time at the home, she forged strong friendships with other residents and the staff became part of our extended family. They always go the extra mile for their residents and treat everyone with dignity, compassion and humour. The whole atmosphere of the home is fun and positive and Mum was very happy at Halliwell. The general manager sets the tone and is more than ably supported by her amazing staff. The end-of-life care was incredible. Mum was very sick for three days but she was kept comfortable and pain free and I, who was able to be with her, was treated with huge kindness and concern. Halliwell and the staff are truly the gold standard of care homes. My family and I will be eternally grateful to them.
My mother is 96 and was struggling on her own. We visited quite a few care homes, and the atmosphere at Halliwell convinced her that this was the place for her. She has now been there for four months and could not be happier. Apart from the excellence of the facilities and the high standard of care, the approach of the staff to the residents cannot be faulted. The residents are given complete agency over their lives, and the activities that are offered are ones that engage them, as opposed to just being paraded in front of them. They are able to fully participate in music, poetry, art, quizzes, etc. The quality of the senior staff sets the tone. I was dreading my mum having to go into residential care, but it really could not have worked out better. She feels engaged and fulfilled. The staff and the other residents could not have been more welcoming, and the process of fitting her in socially was done with care. An unhesitating recommendation.
My mother has now been a resident at the Halliwell for nearly two and a half years. Prior to her admission, she had been struggling alone at home, despite family support and had suffered numerous falls and fractures. Since arriving at the Halliwell, her quality of life has certainly improved despite her age, and she now feels safe and secure. The nursing staff and carers treat her with kindness and dignity but are also her friends, happy to have a laugh together. There are many activities and clubs which mum thoroughly enjoys alongside other residents. Recently we attended a garden party in the beautiful gardens, cream teas, a dog show and a great jazz band were loved by all. Thank you to all at the Halliwell for going the extra mile!
I received excellent care and attention. The staff were very kind and considerate. The residents were very friendly and inclusive. The grounds were beautiful with easy wheelchair access. I enjoyed my lunches in the dining room chatting with others whilst enjoying excellent cuisine
My mum has been in the Halliwell Care Home as a resident since just before lockdown as she is now registered blind and can’t look after herself. From the first moment she got there she felt at home. The staff are lovely and obviously make a great effort to ensure that Mum enjoys her time there. Having had experience of other care homes, it is lovely to take my mum back there and have her walk in as if it is her home without her asking if she can leave, which was an experience we had with another elderly relative in another home. I would recommend the Halliwell Care Home unreservedly.
My husband went into the Halliwell for a month as he hadn't been well, and I (wife) was struggling as unwell. The home is lovely, really clean and comfortable. The staff are very kind and caring and looked after him so well. Will come back again for respite next spring.
I would highly recommend this care home and cannot fault the care my father was given and the compassion shown every single day. He struck up genuine bonds with the people looking after him, sharing laughs and playing music together. They made him feel both at ease and safe, often in circumstances that he would not ideally have placed himself in. Everyone took the time to get to know him and manage his ever-increasing nursing needs in a thoughtful, seamless and dignified manner. The nursing care was exemplary. In addition to the excellent onsite nurses, the GP is available weekly, in person. I was always kept up to date, and this reassured me that his every need was in hand, even when he wasn't in a particularly compliant mood! The general facilities are excellent, and the food is carefully created to appeal to the older generation, and the gardens are wonderful. Thank you, everyone, at Halliwell, for looking after my father so well in the last year of his life!
My Mum came initially for respite care, but ended up staying for a few months, until her health needs meant she could no longer be in a residential home. I cannot praise Halliwell and the staff enough - they did their absolute best to cope with Mums care needs. Everyone treated her with dignity and respect. The home is very well equipped, and has beautiful grounds and an engaging programme of clubs and events. I would highly recommend Halliwell to anyone looking for a top class residential home.
I came for a fortnight's respite care and am going home much refreshed. All the staff have been so helpful. Halliwell Care Home is a very good care home, well designed and with a very beautiful garden which is extremely accessible to someone like me with limited mobility.
We've been very pleased with Halliwell's care of my father over the last six months, and my mother for a short respite stay, especially after transfer from a less good Home! Helpful, friendly care staff and responsive management.
I had a lovely stay at Halliwell Care Home last summer to help recover from a small operation. I found the home to be welcoming, spotless, beautiful and uplifting despite my worries about my operation and my discomfort after. The care staff were very kind, careful and supportive - and especially reassuring when I needed help at night. The gardens are gorgeous and can be accessed from every level - my grandsons loved finding the little stone animals. Lunch was always delicious. The evening meals were a little less inspired/more repetitive than lunch, but usually fresh and healthy and there was a good range of choice. There was a real community in the home, with many of the residents very active in making me feel welcome and driving the activities/care/food choices etc. There were a raft of things to get involved in - I only wish I'd had time do to more! My friends and family visited and were made very welcome and were impressed. I would certainly recommend Halliwell.
Sadly I write this review with apprehension as my dad, although has always been a happy man and aims to please everyone, has of late become withdrawn and sad. After a lengthy amount of time at Halliwell he has been made to feel like a burden and someone of little importance. As new staff arrived things have changed and not in a good way. Where once I would have said this is the place to be with the love and care anyone would want for their family member this has changed. Unfortunately, care has been lost and it has been really sad to see the decline. The deputy manager is an amazing lady and Halliwell will be lost without her. It is a real shame that in 2024 people are not treated with the dignity and grace they deserve!
Having read many reviews from "relatives" I think that a review from a long-term "resident" is overdue. In brief what I would say to all who need a home is, like a small boy might say "Come on in. The waters are fine". I moved into Halliwell mid August 2018, so I must have been here longer than most residents. This is my home, and I love it. When I moved in I was made to feel so welcome, and all my fears and worries soon departed. I am sure it is natural to be apprehensive when you may well have lost someone near and dear to you, and being unable to cope by yourself, for whatever reason, can be deeply disturbing. But there is so much laughter up and down the corridors here I defy anyone to be sad for long. Everyone says that the staff are lovely, and that is true, but we also have so much more. It is like a new chapter opening in my life, and all of it is fun, I honestly did not expect that. I say again, this is my home, and I do not think, all things considered, I could be more happy.
All I can say is that I came for respite care, now I want to come back permanently. Many thanks to all the lovely caring staff.
My friend of 46 years began her stay at Halliwell in September 2023. She was only 61 years old but had been diagnosed with a severe brain tumour and her life expectancy was only months. It became impossible for her to be cared for at home so the difficult decision was made to find a home for her to spend her final days. Having looked at two other homes that were clearly unsuitable we came across Halliwell. As soon as we stepped into Halliwell and met with the manager, we knew we were in the right place. The home is clean and comfortable, the food very good and the staff outstanding. From reception staff, to the maintenance team right through to the carers and nursing staff who cared for her for the next 6 months, we could not have asked for more love, care and support - both for her and for those of us as her family and friends involved in her care. Right to the end my friend's care was excellent and dealt with in such a kind and compassionate way. Thank you so much.
I highly recommend the Halliwell Care Home, who are an amazing team creating a happy caring home. They looked after both of my parents. My mum had a terminal cancer diagnosis needing palliative care. They support her, working in partnership with the hospice team through a very difficult time with dignity and love. Supported Dad who was dealing with losing everything he was heartbroken. They were gentle, kind and helped him build a new life, and make new friends by joining the activities he wanted to do like the choir. He had 3 happy years there, and when it was his time to join Mum they worked with his wishes. The team at the Halliwell really care it is not a job for them, they treat everyone as an individual making their time fun and enjoyable. There is so much to join in with them in their home it makes it feel like you are visiting them at home, for example, family quiz nights, fairs, the dog show or the choir concerts. I can’t thank the whole team enough for the care and support to us.
The Halliwell is a beautiful nursing home in a lovely setting with views of the grounds and the park. Every amenity one could wish for is provided, including a dining room, hairdressing, pedicures and physiotherapy, as well as social activities including film screenings but the most important aspect is the kindness and care of the staff, which extends from the general managers to the administration team to the wonderful carers and maintenance team. If you have a loved one who needs more support, I could not recommend a better choice than the Halliwell.
It really is outstanding. My father feels truly cared for and part of a tight community of residents, staff and volunteers. It is one community, led by an incredibly committed and passionate manager. Thank you for all you do. I hope it will never change (my siblings and I have got our names on the waiting list!)
Very welcoming, friendly and smiling staff. All are very competent and always helpful. Good variety of healthy diet and is nicely presented. Wide range of activities and a very pleasant garden. Overall I can highly recommend Halliwell Care Home to any potential service user.
My father was a resident at the Halliwell Care Home for four and a half years until his death in June this year. During his time there he was looked after with great kindness and professionalism. I was confident that he was not only well-cared-for and safe, but also loved. The staff were wonderfully caring and compassionate as well as bringing fun and laughter while they carried out their roles. The Halliwell is led with exceptional skill by the general manager. She cares passionately about the well-being of the residents and equally passionately about the welfare of the staff, and it shows. There is a warm and positive atmosphere which is evident from the moment you step through the door. Quite simply, the Halliwell sets the standard by which all care homes should be judged.
My mother, who was a resident of Halliwell for about 7 1/2 years, died this week (at 103) after a short illness. I cannot let her passing go without saying how extraordinary the love and care at Halliwell is. During her time at the home, she forged strong friendships with other residents and the staff became part of our extended family. They always go the extra mile for their residents and treat everyone with dignity, compassion and humour. The whole atmosphere of the home is fun and positive and Mum was very happy at Halliwell. The general manager sets the tone and is more than ably supported by her amazing staff. The end-of-life care was incredible. Mum was very sick for three days but she was kept comfortable and pain free and I, who was able to be with her, was treated with huge kindness and concern. Halliwell and the staff are truly the gold standard of care homes. My family and I will be eternally grateful to them.
My mother is 96 and was struggling on her own. We visited quite a few care homes, and the atmosphere at Halliwell convinced her that this was the place for her. She has now been there for four months and could not be happier. Apart from the excellence of the facilities and the high standard of care, the approach of the staff to the residents cannot be faulted. The residents are given complete agency over their lives, and the activities that are offered are ones that engage them, as opposed to just being paraded in front of them. They are able to fully participate in music, poetry, art, quizzes, etc. The quality of the senior staff sets the tone. I was dreading my mum having to go into residential care, but it really could not have worked out better. She feels engaged and fulfilled. The staff and the other residents could not have been more welcoming, and the process of fitting her in socially was done with care. An unhesitating recommendation.
My mother has now been a resident at the Halliwell for nearly two and a half years. Prior to her admission, she had been struggling alone at home, despite family support and had suffered numerous falls and fractures. Since arriving at the Halliwell, her quality of life has certainly improved despite her age, and she now feels safe and secure. The nursing staff and carers treat her with kindness and dignity but are also her friends, happy to have a laugh together. There are many activities and clubs which mum thoroughly enjoys alongside other residents. Recently we attended a garden party in the beautiful gardens, cream teas, a dog show and a great jazz band were loved by all. Thank you to all at the Halliwell for going the extra mile!
I received excellent care and attention. The staff were very kind and considerate. The residents were very friendly and inclusive. The grounds were beautiful with easy wheelchair access. I enjoyed my lunches in the dining room chatting with others whilst enjoying excellent cuisine
My mum has been in the Halliwell Care Home as a resident since just before lockdown as she is now registered blind and can’t look after herself. From the first moment she got there she felt at home. The staff are lovely and obviously make a great effort to ensure that Mum enjoys her time there. Having had experience of other care homes, it is lovely to take my mum back there and have her walk in as if it is her home without her asking if she can leave, which was an experience we had with another elderly relative in another home. I would recommend the Halliwell Care Home unreservedly.
My husband went into the Halliwell for a month as he hadn't been well, and I (wife) was struggling as unwell. The home is lovely, really clean and comfortable. The staff are very kind and caring and looked after him so well. Will come back again for respite next spring.
I would highly recommend this care home and cannot fault the care my father was given and the compassion shown every single day. He struck up genuine bonds with the people looking after him, sharing laughs and playing music together. They made him feel both at ease and safe, often in circumstances that he would not ideally have placed himself in. Everyone took the time to get to know him and manage his ever-increasing nursing needs in a thoughtful, seamless and dignified manner. The nursing care was exemplary. In addition to the excellent onsite nurses, the GP is available weekly, in person. I was always kept up to date, and this reassured me that his every need was in hand, even when he wasn't in a particularly compliant mood! The general facilities are excellent, and the food is carefully created to appeal to the older generation, and the gardens are wonderful. Thank you, everyone, at Halliwell, for looking after my father so well in the last year of his life!
My Mum came initially for respite care, but ended up staying for a few months, until her health needs meant she could no longer be in a residential home. I cannot praise Halliwell and the staff enough - they did their absolute best to cope with Mums care needs. Everyone treated her with dignity and respect. The home is very well equipped, and has beautiful grounds and an engaging programme of clubs and events. I would highly recommend Halliwell to anyone looking for a top class residential home.
I came for a fortnight's respite care and am going home much refreshed. All the staff have been so helpful. Halliwell Care Home is a very good care home, well designed and with a very beautiful garden which is extremely accessible to someone like me with limited mobility.
We've been very pleased with Halliwell's care of my father over the last six months, and my mother for a short respite stay, especially after transfer from a less good Home! Helpful, friendly care staff and responsive management.