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Call 01474 702 146 | Castle Hill, Hartley, Dartford, Kent DA3 7BH
The Old Downs Residential Care Home
Call 01474 702 146 | Castle Hill, Hartley, Dartford, Kent DA3 7BH
The Old Downs Residential Care Home
Call 01474 702 146 | Castle Hill, Hartley, Dartford, Kent DA3 7BH
The Old Downs Residential Care Home
The Old Downs
Residential & Dementia
Care Home
Call 01474 702 146
Castle Hill, Hartley, Dartford, DA3 7BH
Care Home in Dartford, Kent
At the heart of the village
Steeped in history, The Old Downs has been both a private family home and a school since its beginnings in 1887. Nestled at the end of a private, winding driveway and surrounded by greenery, the Home is at the heart of the village community with local shops and transport links to Longfield, London and the Kent coast.
Elegant rooms and period features
Our 41 rooms have been tastefully styled to meet individual tastes, but we encourage our residents and families to personalise their rooms and we are happy to give any assistance with this. No job is too big or too small and our maintenance team are happy to help paint a room, hang pictures, put up shelves or move furniture around. Lift access makes it easy for our residents to move freely around the Home and there is easy access to several gardens and a terraced area. Our housekeepers work tirelessly to maintain a clean and welcoming environment.
Despite being a period building, the home is spacious and has been tastefully extended to provide a light and airy conservatory that boasts beautiful views across the valley. Within the home there are relaxing spaces for our residents to enjoy private time with their friends and family. Exciting plans are also underway for a new tea room!
Recreation and leisure
Our Recreation and Well-Being Team and Carers support our residents to remain as independent as possible and encourage them to continue enjoying their own hobbies and interests. The team provides activities 5 days a week, enjoying anything from art and crafts and baking, to watching movies or sports. Our garden overlooks the Fawkham Valley and is the perfect setting for a spot of gardening, a BBQ or just enjoying some fresh air.
With Millbrook Garden Centre, Hall Place and Gravesend Promenade close by we also make the most of our minibus for getting out and about. Family and friends are always welcome to join us.
In the warmer months, we enjoy our front-of-house garden which has a BBQ and summer house, with ample shade from the sun provided by the old oak trees. Families are encouraged to join us for a BBQ or one of our many special events. With decorations, entertainment and often fancy dress, all our staff and residents join in with gusto – especially when the karaoke machine appears!
Our gardens attract a great deal of wildlife, particularly the squirrels whose antics are always entertaining! We also enjoy the varied bird life (including our resident woodpecker) and often wild rabbits too.
Well-being and personal care go hand in hand, and we ensure that everyone’s needs are taken care of. We have our own salon with a hairdresser for ladies and barber for the gentlemen, plus a well-equipped nail bar for those who would like a manicure. We are also visited by chiropodists, district nurses, speech therapists and eye care specialists. Our Well-Being Team are also available for booking hand-massages, manicures, reflexology and other holistic treatments.
At the heart of the village
Steeped in history, The Old Downs has been both a private family home and a school since its beginnings in 1887. Nestled at the end of a private, winding driveway and surrounded by greenery, the Home is at the heart of the village community with local shops and transport links to Longfield, London and the Kent coast.
Elegant rooms and period features
Our 41 rooms have been tastefully styled to meet individual tastes, but we encourage our residents and families to personalise their rooms and we are happy to give any assistance with this. No job is too big or too small and our maintenance team are happy to help paint a room, hang pictures, put up shelves or move furniture around. Lift access makes it easy for our residents to move freely around the Home and there is easy access to several gardens and a terraced area. Our housekeepers work tirelessly to maintain a clean and welcoming environment.
Despite being a period building, the home is spacious and has been tastefully extended to provide a light and airy conservatory that boasts beautiful views across the valley. Within the home there are relaxing spaces for our residents to enjoy private time with their friends and family. Exciting plans are also underway for a new tea room!
Recreation and leisure
Our Recreation and Well-Being Team and Carers support our residents to remain as independent as possible and encourage them to continue enjoying their own hobbies and interests. The team provides activities 5 days a week, enjoying anything from art and crafts and baking, to watching movies or sports. Our garden overlooks the Fawkham Valley and is the perfect setting for a spot of gardening, a BBQ or just enjoying some fresh air.
With Millbrook Garden Centre, Hall Place and Gravesend Promenade close by we also make the most of our minibus for getting out and about. Family and friends are always welcome to join us.
In the warmer months, we enjoy our front-of-house garden which has a BBQ and summer house, with ample shade from the sun provided by the old oak trees. Families are encouraged to join us for a BBQ or one of our many special events. With decorations, entertainment and often fancy dress, all our staff and residents join in with gusto – especially when the karaoke machine appears!
Our gardens attract a great deal of wildlife, particularly the squirrels whose antics are always entertaining! We also enjoy the varied bird life (including our resident woodpecker) and often wild rabbits too.
Well-being and personal care go hand in hand, and we ensure that everyone’s needs are taken care of. We have our own salon with a hairdresser for ladies and barber for the gentlemen, plus a well-equipped nail bar for those who would like a manicure. We are also visited by chiropodists, district nurses, speech therapists and eye care specialists. Our Well-Being Team are also available for booking hand-massages, manicures, reflexology and other holistic treatments.
Staff have always taken a person-centred approach, making every effort to understand my mother’s individual needs
Care services
- Day Care & Weekend Care
- Respite Care & Short Breaks
- Residential Care
- Dementia Care
- End of Life Care
Amenities at a glance
- 41 bedrooms
- Several lounge areas
- Light and airy dining room
- Secure garden and coffee terrace
- Large Conservatory
- Dedicated Recreation and Well-Being Teams
- Nutritional Therapy
- Onsite Hair and Nail Salon
- Wi-Fi
Food glorious food
Food and nutrition are very important to us; not only for maintaining good health but as an enjoyable and social part of the day. Our Cook uses fresh ingredients to create home-cooked meals and sources local produce to create exciting menus. Residents are welcome to take their meals wherever they feel comfortable and our Dining Assistants make sure that mealtimes are relaxed and unrushed. Family and friends are welcome to dine with us any time.
Nellsar is proud to have its very own Nutritional Therapist, Leni, who spends time with our Chefs, staff and residents to find out about individual likes and dislikes, plus any dietary requirements, to ensure that variety and choice is made available.
What makes us unique
We are pleased to offer an online ‘memory box’ called Interactive Me which is filled with personalised photos, music and text. Should you wish to use this, our Recreation and Wellbeing Manager, Viv, will speak with family and friends to create a unique memory tool for your loved one.
Many of our residents have been pet owners and still love the company of animals. Our Manager Caroline is currently training her own black Labrador, Bella, to be a PAT dog and can’t wait for everyone to make a fuss of her when she visits the Home.
As well as supporting a variety of charities, The Old Downs also takes part in Nellsar competitions held throughout the year and enjoys some healthy competition with their nearest rival and sister Home, Sonya Lodge.
Dedicated staff and supportive relatives
The Old Downs has been managed by Caroline Cheeseman since May 2017 and along with her team of staff, their passion and dedication to each resident is clear to see. No two days are the same at the Home, but Caroline does enjoy a certain daily routine, “When I arrive each morning, I spend time chatting with the residents and staff, ensuring they are well and happy before I start my busy day.”
Caroline is immensely proud of her staff, all of whom are actively involved with the residents’ day-to-day lives. Their dedication and passion is clear to see, and several staff have worked at The Old Downs for many years, including Deputy Manager, Zoe, for over 10 years and Head of Care, Rebecca, for almost 20 years!
The Old Downs receives wonderful support from relatives, and we hold regular meetings to discuss ideas, listen to feedback and support not only those we care for, but their family and friends too.
If you would like to visit us or simply speak to someone about the care and services we offer at The Old Downs, please call us on 01474 702146.
An insight into The Old Downs and Nellsar Care Homes
Why Choose Nellsar?
Our latest video gives an insight into our Care Homes and the wonderful people within them. Hear from staff, residents and family members and discover what it means to be a part of the Nellsar family.
Nutritional Therapy
We are one of the first Care providers to employ a dedicated Nutritional Therapist and introduce Nutrition Champions across our Homes.
Our Well-Being Team
Our team of therapists enrich the lives of our residents through nurturing touch. Their services include Massage, Aromatherapy, Reiki and Reflexology.
Careers Hub
Nellsar is a great choice for a career in care. We continually train and develop our staff, and recognise and reward individual achievements.
Nellsar Newsletter
Produced three times a year, Nellsar News is our group Newsletter. It gives an insight into our company and life within our 13 Homes.
The local area
Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. The town is situated on the border of Kent and Greater London. Learn a bit about the local area and places of interest.
Latest News & Events
The Old Downs Residential Care Home hosts Share a Heart coffee morning
We held a special ‘Share a Heart’ Coffee Morning at The Old Downs Residential Care Home on Friday 17 July. We’ve received a selection of beautiful handmade hearts by the Charity Silk Elephant, in support of those facing difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. We...
read more
National Cherry Day at The Old Downs Residential Care Home
On Friday 16 July our residents celebrated ‘National Cherry Day’ at The Old Downs Residential Care Home. To mark the day we made some delicious chocolate chip cherry bars. Our ladies enjoyed the process of mixing all the ingredients and adding the cherries. The...
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Tidying the garden at The Old Downs Residential Care Home
On Tuesday 14 July, our residents joined in for our Gardening Club here at The Old Downs Residential Care Home. They got busy sweeping leaves and tidying up our garden, to make it all spick and span. Our ladies and gents did a great job and they really enjoyed being...
read moreA message from the Manager
Hello, my name is Caroline Cheeseman and I am the Home Manager for The Old Downs Residential Care Home situated in Hartley, Kent. I have worked in the care industry since 2000. I started my career in care in a local hospital’s Accident and Emergency department, which I really enjoyed, after seven years I decided to combine my management skills with my passion for care and became a Care Home Manager. I joined The Old Downs in May 2017 bringing 10 years’ experience of managing both Dementia Residential and Nursing Homes.
When I first came to see The Old Downs I was pleasantly surprised by the location of the Home. It is close enough to be included in a wonderful community as well as having a calm setting with spectacular views of the Kent countryside.
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