Activities

Safety and physical well-being are naturally of paramount importance. In addition, residents are actively encouraged to take part in activities and events that stimulate the body, mind and spirit.

The home has a spacious dining room, lounge and conservatory that are used by residents for relaxation, entertainment and exercise or simply just to communicate with each other. Regular activities are organised both in and outside the home to ensure residents live a full active life.

We have weekly visits from a hairdresser, and a chiropodist who comes in every six-eight weeks. We also have a visiting GP who calls in regularly and an optician and dentist who visit as required.

Our activities team are full of enthusiasm and spirit, devoted in engaging the residents and encouraging interaction with them. This is lead by our head of activities, their vibrant energy and positive attitude is magnetic to all our residents. She organises an extensive range of activities providing cognitive stimulation, promoting a sense of belonging and connection with others and improving resident well being. She is guided by what the residents want to do, firm favourites include Board Games, Arts & Crafts, Flower Arranging, Exercise Classes, Book Club, Film Club and Bingo. Through themed events, such as national days she will also engage and encourage residents to talk about their past, reminiscing about previous experiences and listening to each others wonderful memories.

Suggestions for new activities are welcomed and often implemented; ensuring residents are getting the most from life.

Excursions

We provide regular excursions to places of interest for our residents. Highlights have included trips to the beach at Eastbourne, Polhill Garden Centre and the Hop Farm. We have also linked up with Tonbridge boys school, Hillview School and our local church whom have kindly opened their doors to us and invited us to many events that they hold such as coffee morning, film viewings, art exhibitions and seasonal events.

Keeping in touch with our Community

We are a firm believer of keeping in touch with our community, this is very much driven by our activities team. This involves collaborating with local schools, the local church and other community groups. Whether it be a planned event at the home or an invite to a special event, the team will try their very best to make sure our residents and visitors have the best time. Bringing the outside in allows our residents to see new faces and share some of their most wonderful experiences. We also keep in touch via our social media sites, sharing as many Chestnut Lodge moments as we can.

Celebrations

We love to celebrate here at Chestnut Lodge. We make sure that residents birthdays are extra special with an individualised cake and plenty of decorations. Themed events such as Easter and Halloween are also a real treat often involving fancy dress, music, games and a raffle with lots of amazing prizes to be won.

In the height of the summer we hold a summer garden party, bringing together residents and their families to enjoy. The food is prepared and cooked by our amazing chefs with a live band to really set the tone.

Christmas is such a magical time at Chestnut Lodge, we have our themed productions, carol singers, and our very own pantomime. We appreciate that this time of year can be extremely busy so to make sure that our relatives and families get to share some valuable time together we host a special Christmas lunch. Our chefs thoroughly spoil our residents and their guests.

We have designed specific menus for the Christmas and New Year Period with lots of delicious foods to choose from.