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Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home Testimonials
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Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home Testimonials

Call 01322 289 768 | 10 High Road, Wilmington, Dartford, DA2 7EG

The love and care shown to him and to us was so special….

Two years ago we unfortunately had to put our dear dad into care; after a lot of research we were lucky to find Sonya Lodge. It was a tough start for my dad but the staff never gave up on him, they treated him so kindly and got to know his triggers to disruptive behaviour. Sadly he had skin cancer which they dealt with brilliantly and always got him to hospital appointments on time, they supported us as a family with the difficult decisions and outcomes. Sadly dad passed away in March but the love and care shown to him and to us was so special at that time especially, it's a huge comfort that he was able to die in his Home surrounded by the absolutely wonderful staff – whether it's senior staff, housekeeping or dining room staff, they're the kindest, most caring people. Their love helped us through such a sad time. I so miss seeing the online photos of what my dad had been up to with the many activities. I send everyone there my hugest love and best wishes, I miss you all. Thank you.

Anne K, daughter of resident, July 2024 Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

I’ve always been made to feel very welcome and am kept up-to-date with my mum’s care….

Very pleased with the care and attention given to my mum by all the wonderful staff at Sonya Lodge. Mum settled into the Home very quickly. She was given a lovely room overlooking the garden and is very happy there. They organise lots of brilliant activities for the residents which I’ve also enjoyed taking part in. As a relative of a resident, I’ve always been made to feel very welcome and am kept up-to-date with my mum’s care. They provide excellent food which mum enjoys and I am always asked if I want to stay and eat with her. All the staff treat my soon-to-be 97-year-old mum with the utmost care and respect and my family is so happy that she is spending her final years in a happy, caring environment. Thank you to everyone who works at Sonya Lodge.

Rita W, daughter of resident, May 2024, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

Every time we visited, we saw first-hand how she was treated with dignity and respect….

Our mum experienced the most amazing level of love and care whilst being part of the Sonya Lodge family, in a cosy and clean 'home from home' environment. Sadly our mum passed away at the end of March, but we will always be so grateful that she had the most caring, kind and dedicated team looking after her with compassion, patience and understanding. My sister and I have always felt welcomed by all the staff at Sonya Lodge and have always been kept informed of any issues regarding our mum. Every time we visited, we saw first-hand how she was treated with dignity and respect. A huge thank you from all our family, to all the Sonya Lodge team – she could not have been in a better place.

Corrine R, daughter of resident, May 2024, Sonya Lodge Residential Home

We cannot fault the care and attention that the staff at Sonya Lodge have given my father….

We cannot fault the care and attention that the staff at Sonya Lodge have given my father, and us. We are only in the early days of our experience (nearly six weeks), but after a difficult start (he was very obstructive about moving in) they have worked hard to settle him and learn about him and engage him. His very poor memory means that any amount of explaining the dangers of him living alone at home are very quickly forgotten. They suggested that we bring him in as a 'day visitor' for a week so they could get to know each other, and he could learn they layout and make friends before we then left him for overnight stays, and he has now been there for a month. The communication has been good - letting us know how he is and when things have gone well, or if they have not then what they are doing to help him. He has been enjoying the food and the activities. We are welcome to visit any time of the day, and all the staff are very friendly to all the residents and to all the guests.

A G, son of resident, April 2024, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

The positive atmosphere is excellent….

The Care Home is excellent in meeting the needs of my parents. Facilities, rooms, and activities are all clean and gauged toward the individual needs of my parents. The management and staff are knowledgeable, friendly, approachable and nothing is too much trouble. The positive atmosphere is excellent and mum and dad are able to enjoy their final years as it is their own home.

A B, son of resident, April 2024, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

Mum gets lots of attention from the staff who are always ready to chat and spend time with her….

Mum moved to Sonya Lodge just before Christmas 2022, following the Home she was in closing down. When we were looking for a good Care Home we were very lucky to find Sonya Lodge. All of the staff are very kind to our whole family and they understand how hard it is to leave a loved one with strangers. Mum is now part of the Sonya Lodge family. Mum gets lots of attention from the staff who are always ready to chat and spend time with her. The food I am told is very good. When it was mum's birthday we celebrated in the 'Forget Me Not' room in the garden at the Care Home where tea, coffee making and biscuits were provided. Recently, mum had a spell in hospital and she was very down, however, as soon as she returned to Sonya Lodge, she immediately started to perk up and soon returned to her old self. Overall, we have had a very positive experience with Sonya Lodge.

Jayne B, daughter of resident, January 2024, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

The staff are attentive, engaged and caring towards residents and their families….

My mother has been a resident at Sonya Lodge Care Home for almost a year. In all that time, I have found the Home to be excellent. The staff are attentive, engaged and caring towards residents and their families. Communication with staff is always outstanding, queries or questions answered quickly and sensitively. I am always kept fully up to date with mum's wellbeing, medications and behaviours. Activities at the Home are fun, engaging, and plentiful. My mother is always encouraged to participate, but never forced. When visiting my mother, she is always clean, warm and well dressed. All the staff know her personally and I feel I can talk to any of them about mum and they all have a personal connection with her. Her room is bright, always clean and tidy. I live 100 miles away so only visit once a fortnight, but I feel confident that mum is receiving the best care and I have no worries about her at all. Sonya Lodge was a great decision for me and most of all for my mum.

Andrea M, daughter of resident, November 2023, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

I wanted kindness, patience, caring, respect and fun for my mum and it’s there in bucketloads at Sonya Lodge….

The decision to leave my mum, who has Lewy Body Dementia, in a Care Home was one of the hardest things I have ever done. On the day that I took her to Sonya Lodge, I sat in the office and just kept on talking, spilling out everything that was and had been whirling in my mind. The Manager just let me talk, never interrupting, totally understanding and fully engaged in my feelings. From that day on, I've never doubted that decision. I wanted kindness, patience, caring, respect and fun for my mum and it's there in bucketloads at Sonya Lodge. All the staff are friendly, cheerful and welcoming. The garden is beautifully kept, full of colour and places to sit. The Forget-me-Not Tea Room is perfect for some quiet private time and a cup of tea and biscuits. There's always something going on and I like the monthly timetable explaining the activities of each day – it's a good prompt for conversation when mum forgets.

Susan C, daughter of resident, November 2023, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

I feel exceptionally fortunate to have found a Care Home that delivers such a high performance….

I feel exceptionally fortunate to have found a Care Home that delivers such a high performance for a service that is so important to me, and that worried me so much before we moved mum in. I'll keep this as formal as I can to help others quickly assimilate; 1) Warmth and love – Sonya Lodge has this in abundance, and it's consistent across staff members. 2) Communication – the staff are very good at keeping you informed at the right level. They will let you know the important stuff by phone straight away (eg the need for some medical attention). The activities the residents are undertaking are there for you to browse, and they do a lot of consultation. 3) Organisation – they deliver an abundance of activities. 4) Professionalism – always, but with a human and humane touch. 5) Confidence – I have total trust in them.  

Nigel R, son of resident, November 2023, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

Time is given to the residents to enrich their lives as much as possible….

My experience of Sonya Lodge and the staff members I have encountered has been a very good one. My sister entered Sonya Lodge just over a year ago now. It has been a good choice for her and also for me as I am able to see her about twice a week as it is fairly close to where I live. I am always made very welcome and able to stay for as much time as I like. Nearly always I am offered refreshments, I have on a few occasions even had a meal with my sister. The food is always good and from what I have seen the residents enjoy it very much. There is always a choice and the new cafe effect is attractive.

The staff are very good and kind to all residents. Time is given to the residents to enrich their lives as much as possible. Activities happen often and are enjoyed by those who are able and wish to take part. Parties are fun and can be a bit noisy, there is always time for dancing if a resident wishes to. Respect is shown. Management of the Home goes on quietly and efficiently from what I have seen.

Hilary C, sister of resident, November 2023, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

I could not have found a better Home for my dad….

Sonya Lodge was by chance the first Home I called when looking for a place for my dad who has Lewy Body Dementia. I got the best advice from them on the phone, other Homes seemed like they couldn’t be bothered. Sonya Lodge doesn’t look great from the outside, but from it being the hardest decision to make for my dad it’s been the absolute best decision – once inside you find caring and fun staff, who find any reason to have a party with the residents. We had a few tricky months that were incredibly upsetting, but the staff didn’t give up on my dad. They’ve learnt all his funny ways and triggers to his bad behaviour. You can call them day or night if you’re worried (as I did at the beginning) but now, a year on, we can fully relax knowing how much fun he’s having. I could not have found a better Home for my dad. He's cheeky and winds the staff up and they all take it and have a laugh with him. Literally, all the staff are lovely with him – a great atmosphere there. The absolute best Home for him by far.

Anne K, daughter of resident, September 2023, Sonya Lodge Care Home

Very kind, caring staff….

Very kind, caring staff. Supportive, using lunchboxes to help her eat. Able to visit or phone any time. Good food and plenty if needed. Activities each day – shown on the board.

D C, daughter of resident, December 2022, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

I cannot thank the team enough for their love and support….

My auntie was a resident at Sonya Lodge after a difficult journey in her family home - my uncle and the family needed support. I'll be honest, it took a while for her to settle, but the staff never ever gave up...they understood, they supported us, they showed her love and care and took their time with her. We were able to decorate her bedroom with family photos, favourite teddies and cushions, and favourite colours - home-from-home, the staff said. To eventually see photos of my auntie dancing, cuddling and taking part in activities was an absolute pleasure; she was settling, and because she was, we did. I cannot thank the team enough for their love and support. Our only regret was that she ended up in the hospital and did not see out her last hours with the loving team at Sonya Lodge.

Wendy W, niece of resident, November 2022, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

We are very pleased with how she has settled in….

Our mum has been at Sonya Lodge for nine months now and we are very pleased with how she has settled in with the care she has received. She herself has said how much she likes it there. All the members of staff are dedicated to ensuring their residents are cared for and provide a range of activities they can participate in.

Ken H, son of resident, November 2022, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

All the staff engage thoughtfully and respectfully with the residents….

Sonya Lodge has always provided excellent care for our mum. All the staff engage thoughtfully and respectfully with the residents. Varied entertainment is regularly provided, which often includes events for the rest of the family to attend too. Sonya Lodge is kept clean and tidy in both the shared areas and in our mum's room and ensuite.

Corrine R, daughter of resident, November 2022, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

The variety of activities is excellent….

Sonya Lodge has been a great home for mum. The team treat her with respect and courtesy and ensure that there is dignity at all times. They know her so well and understand when she is not coping well with her disease and know when she is having a good day and a not-so-good day. The variety of activities is excellent, including the trips and the excuse to celebrate an event always goes down well with the whole Home! Any reason to have a little party!

S S, daughter of resident, November 2022, Sonya Lodge Residential Care Home

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