Care Home in Dartford

Home from home

Located in the village of Wilmington, just outside Dartford town centre, Sonya Lodge provides a real home-from-home environment for everyone in our care. The strong relationships we have with relatives and the local community help us to support our residents’ independence and quality of life.

Over the years, Sonya Lodge has been extended and refurbished into a traditional, yet modern Home. With two lounges, a dining area, a cinema room and an onsite tea room in the garden, our residents have the freedom and space to relax, join in with activities or spend time with family and friends.

To help everyone settle into their new surroundings, we encourage residents and their families to bring special belongings with them; cherished photos, ornaments or pieces of furniture which help to create a familiar environment. Our Housekeeping and Maintenance teams are also always on hand to add those all-important special touches to each room.

Enjoying the garden

We make the most of our garden for relaxing and enjoying some fresh air all year round, and our large sharing-table is perfect for a spot of al fresco dining in the warmer months. Many of our residents are keen gardeners and enjoy tending to the planters and spending time in our greenhouse; they grow strawberries, potatoes and tomatoes which are enjoyed by everyone once Chef has put them to good use in the kitchen. We also have a wonderful garden tearoom which we use all year round for enjoying drinks and treats.

Dedicated Team Members

Our Registered Manager leads our highly trained team by example, many of whom have worked at Sonya Lodge for over 10 years. We are all dedicated to providing the best person-centred care to support all areas of our residents’ health and well-being. We are proud of the family ethos and environment within the Home and embrace the fact that our residents do not live in our workplace, we work in their home.

Care services

• Day Care & Weekend Care
• Respite Care & Short Breaks
• Residential Care
• Dementia Care
• End of Life Care

A shared Nellsar culture

As part of a group of Care Homes, we are extremely proud of our caring, supportive culture which embodies empathy, equity, professionalism and continuous improvement. Our shared values focus on the individual – from residents to team members – creating an inclusive environment with both residents and team members at the heart of what we do every day.

More on our values

Recreation and leisure

It’s important for our residents to remain as independent as possible and continue to enjoy their own hobbies and pastimes, as well as maybe trying something new. Our Recreation and Well-Being Team plan activities throughout the week and we make the most of our minibus for trips out and about.

We love to get creative with arts and crafts, enjoy a classic film in our cinema room, test our general knowledge with a quiz or two and join in with some dancing and singing when the karaoke machine makes an appearance! We also regularly welcome singers and musicians to perform for us, as well as local primary school children who entertain us with magic and tricks which always puts a big smile on everyone’s faces.

Being close to the Kent countryside we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to days out and we like to stroll through the lavender fields at Eynsford and butterfly centre at Hall Place. In the summer you’ll find us taking in some sea air along the coast, followed by a meal at one of our favourite restaurants. In the winter months it’s wonderful to be able to take some of our residents wheelchair ice-skating at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre.

Throughout the year we celebrate special days and occasions – from Christmas and Remembrance Sunday, to Easter and Pancake Day – where residents, team members and families come together for fun-filled days of food, entertainment and games. We also make sure our residents are the centre of attention for birthdays and special anniversaries; we never need an excuse for cake and decorations!

More on Recreation and Leisure

A message from the Manager

Hello family and friends. My name is John, and I am the Home Manager at Sonya Lodge. I have worked in a range of roles within the care industry for over 25 years, from Care Assistant through to Home Manager in various Care Homes. The largest part of my career has been working with people living with Dementia and this is where my heart lies.

I am very focussed on the care of our residents and their needs. I work in a spirit of openness, honesty and integrity, and I like to include everyone – residents, team members and families – in my ideas and hopes for the future.

My goals will always be to put our residents’ needs first, to improve their quality of life in whatever way I can – whether it be activities, catering, the quality of care or the environment. Myself and my team strive to ensure a happy, enjoyable and comfortable time for each person, however long they reside with us.

Please feel free to call me on 01322 289768.