The Cottage Day Centre is operated by Rural Age Concern Darent Valley (RACDV), with support from KCC Social Services, for the benefit of aged and disabled clients of varying dependencies who reside in its catchment area.
The Day Centre is a lovely, large, ground floor brick built bungalow, located in its own large grounds in a beautiful rural setting, on the border of Hawley and West Kingsdown, six miles from Dartford and seven miles from Gravesend Vehicular and pedestrian access is by a sign-posted driveway, the entrance of which is situated approximately 150 yards North-west of the Paddock entrance to the Brands Hatch Racing Circuit. The Centre address is: Age Concern, Cottage Day Centre, Scratchers Lane, Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8PU.
The Day Centre can accommodate up to 44 clients, and comprises an entrance hall, large dining room, lounge, quiet room, clinical room, library, large kitchen, separate male / female toilets, two bathrooms, offices, various storage rooms, garages, greenhouse, a large secluded decking patio, and large flat and level lawned garden areas all around. There is parking and turning space for up to 14 cars or minibuses. Age Concern operates a full Health &Safety Policy for the safety and well being of all clients.
Facilities include flat and smooth disabled access, ramps where required over steps, wheelchair provision, walking aids, bath handrails and hoist, toilet handrails, high toilet seat adaptations, high seated chairs, higher than average room temperatures, and powered lifts on specialised transport for frail or wheelchair bound clients, with trained & experienced Drivers, Supervisor, Care Assistants and Volunteers to assist where required. Chiropody, Hairdressing, Bathing, Impaired Hearing & Information Services provided.
The Day Centre is supervised by Caroline Young supported by Care Assistants, a Cleaner / Handyman / Gardener, a Cook, five Drivers, and many kind and unpaid Volunteers. The Centre is under the management of the Age Concern Chief Officer, Mr. John Arnold.
The Centre is generally open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm on Mondays to Fridays and closed on public holidays and weekends.
A varied menu of fresh, home cooked 2 / 3 course lunches are provided daily, together with morning and afternoon hot and cold drinks and refreshments. [ Current Prices ] Any Special Diets are fully provided for as required. The kitchen area and procedures are regularly checked and examined by Sevenoaks Environmental Health Department to ensure safe and best practice
Various door-to-door transport, including specialised minibuses equipped to carry the disabled and wheelchairs, can normally be arranged on a low cost basis. The Dial-a-Ride Service and Volunteer Drivers are also used. Please enquire for further details.
Clients have free use of a Library with various magazines and books available in normal and large print, with about half the books fictional and half factual. The stock is regularly changed via the KCC Library Service to ensure a fresh selection is always available.
Chiropody Clinic held every second Thursday, between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon, and on the first Tuesday in alternate months, between 9.00 am and 12.00 noon, by qualified/registered Chiropodists. See Information Sheet 25 for current prices. Clients from outside the Centre may make appointments to attend for treatment on payment of a surcharge. Transport possible, [ View Current Prices ]
A free impaired hearing clinic is held on the second Tuesday of every month, between 10.00 am and 11.30 am, where trained volunteers are available to check, clean and re-tube hearing aids, supply batteries, and to give advice and information on the services and equipment that can make life easier for people with hearing loss. Arrangements can be made for NHS clinical initial assessments or for attendance for hearing aid maintenance. A separate information sheet is available. Replacement hearing aid batteries are available at the Age Concern office in Swanley on a one for one basis.
The Centre operates an assisted bathing service with bath hoist, rails and a bathing nurse available, where your bathing requirements can be carried out fully and safely in private. A Walk in Bath is hoped to be installed soon. Domiciliary, or disabled bathing services in a special Parker Bath, is also available if required. [ Current Prices ]
Hairdressing salons are held at the Centre every Monday and Friday afternoon and every Wednesday morning for a full range of low cost treatments for men or women. Your Stylist is Sue.
A Shopping trip for the frail elderly or disabled is run every second and fourth Tuesday to facilitate purchases at Safeway, Pepper Hill, Northfleet, with help and advice available. Various other shopping trips are made to Waitrose and the Longfield Shopping Centre.
Various social and seasonal activities and outings are arranged regularly, such as music, music and movement, singing, playing cards, board games, bingo, raffles, parlour games, walks, reminiscence sessions, craft sessions and entertainers. Various outings are occasionally arranged to the seaside, museums, historic buildings, shopping Centres, gardens, blossom tours, places of interest, etc. Feel free to contact us for more information.
A wide selection of greeting cards and a confectionery is available on display for low cost purchase by clients. Sales promotions of various goods are held from time to time to permit clients to look at and purchase goods at low cost without any pressure.
Various events are arranged regularly, such as open days, Christmas shopping, bazaars and sales of low cost wide fitting shoes, clothes, food, books, greeting cards, jewellery, sweets, and bring & buy sales, etc. Clients are requested to contribute 50p per week to their client’s fund to assist funding of various events and to allow subsidised prices to Day Centre Clients.
Escorted Group Holidays are sometimes arranged annually at low cost to various locations, normally for one-week duration.
New referrals would normally be offered attendance at the Centre once/twice weekly, as a heavy demand exists for places. However consideration can be given to certain referrals to extend this attendance where appropriate circumstances may exist.
We welcome enquiries or referrals from any source, be it any statutory or voluntary agencies, Social Services, NHS, Mental Health, GPs, Churches, relatives and friends, or the person themselves. All dependencies can be catered for.
Informal visits can readily be arranged for clients, volunteers, relatives or professionals to be advised further on all services and facilities available and to be shown around the Centre by appointment.
Sevenoaks Parishes of Ash-cum-Ridley, Crockenhill, Eynsford, Fawkham, Farningham, Hartley, Hextable, Horton Kirby, Knatts Valley, Lullingstone, New Ash Green, South Darenth, Swanley, Swanley Village, and West Kingsdown and Dartford Parishes of Wilmington, Bean, Darenth, Hawley, Longfield, Southfleet and Sutton-at-Hone.
For further information please contact us.
See Information Sheet 4 - Cottage Day Care Centre
