Rivermere Care Home

Avery Healthcare has always made the health and safety of our residents and staff a priority, and the Covid-19 pandemic has required us to raise our exacting standards to even higher levels. That is why we are taking the innovative step to introduce a cleaning system into our care homes that is already proven to kill 99.9% of viruses, including MRSA, e-Coli, norovirus and the SARS virus (which is similar to Cov-2, which causes Covid-19).

Avery is now leading in the care sector with the testing of an established cleaning system that refreshes and sanitises a bedroom in less than an hour, with a larger capacity variant addressing communal areas. Keeping both areas clean in this way will be an effective method in how Avery care homes manage their environments, to keep them as virus and bacteria-free as possible.

All Avery homes are now equipped with Topaz Machines ready for when we can allow visiting into the homes. The system hosts two units, one larger which dispenses hand sanitiser to visitors upon arrival and exit; it also provides an important messaging display screen to advise visitors of the latest news, and the other, a smaller screen, which operates as a thermal checker so that we can support temperature checks of those entering the building. Yet another fantastic piece of technology that provides relatives with safer, more efficient visits with their loved ones.


As we’ve learned during this pandemic, we are all in this together. We want our residents, staff, and their respective families to know that when they are in an Avery care home, that it is one of the safest and cleanest places to be. We also want relatives to be confident that their loved ones are being cared for in the best possible way, and for anyone in the position of placing a loved one in to care, to have the peace of mind that an Avery home will be a clean and safe haven.

Infection control and the safety of both residents and staff often requires quarantine measures and the isolation of care home residents. To test, monitor and allow residents to communicate with relatives, the prevalence of room-level connectivity within the home is becoming increasingly relevant.

Wireless Internet access (WiFi)

Yes, our care home has WiFi in all our resident’s rooms.

Mobile Phone Network Coverage (mobile “signal”)

Yes, our care home has mobile phone signal in all our resident’s rooms.

Telephone for external calling

Yes, our care home provides a telephone in all our resident’s rooms.

All bedrooms, which vary in size and type, including suites for couples, are light and roomy and have an en-suite wet room and kitchenette; Although the rooms are fully furnished, residents are encouraged to personalise their rooms as they please. A spacious atrium with feature chandelier and sweeping staircase leads on to an open-plan area which includes a bistro cum cafe, bar, lounge and dining room. Here is where most of our residents like to congregate.  There is also a hair and beauty salon with manicure and therapy room. On the first floor there is a lounge, where small groups or clubs can meet, a library as well as a cinema room and exercise room.

The second floor is dedicated to dementia care with its own dining room, lounges, Cosy Corner Tea Room and activity area leading onto a spacious and safe patio area. 

All bedrooms are light and roomy and have an en-suite wet room; residents are encouraged to personalise their rooms as they please.

Minds and bodies are kept active with daily quizzes, scrabble and crosswords, listening to speakers on the history of teapots, conservation or the local history of Sevenoaks, with musical exercise, a game of croquet, or gardening. The words that find their way on to the giant Scrabble board are often a talking point and the keen Scrabble teams like pitting their wits in tournaments against other neighbouring homes. An active gardening club enjoys growing flowers and vegetables in the raised beds.

Everyone pulls together to make our open days and fetes great successes. Residents are happy to contribute to the wider community by raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and local charities. They also appreciate a wide variety of musical entertainment from harp music, to jazz and Elvis Presley and like to participate in the special themed events we put on. Tea at the Ritz is the next one, I think. Very best dresses and suits for that one, then!

As we have our own minibus, we often get out and about. We are spoilt for choice in the abundance of nearby castles and gardens, but the seaside, garden centres and the theatre also prove popular places to visit.

We encourage friends and families to be as connected as they would like to be, and we invite them to our regular councils. The more the communication, the better the care and attention.

Pets by arrangement.

6th February 2021

25th January 2018