Care in Kent

Care in Kent At Care in Kent we believe care is personal. It’s not about ticking boxes it’s about building trust & understanding. Warm, professional care that fits your life.

From daily support to companionship & everything in between we focus on what you truly need. Care in Kent is dedicated to providing the highest quality homecare to older people that enriches their lives and helps them to remain at home safely and independently. From just a couple of hours a day, to full time care, our service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit http://www.careinkent.co.uk to learn more

“The hospital just called. Mum’s coming home tomorrow.”Those six words can send a family into panic mode.One minute you’...
15/06/2026

“The hospital just called. Mum’s coming home tomorrow.”

Those six words can send a family into panic mode.

One minute you’re focused on hospital visits, speaking to doctors, and hoping Mum gets better.

The next, you’re trying to work out:

Who will help her get washed and dressed?

Can she manage the stairs?

Who will collect prescriptions?

What happens if she falls again?

How am I supposed to do all of this and still go to work?

After more than 30 years working with families across Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe, I’ve seen this happen time and time again.

The biggest mistake families make isn’t that they don’t care enough.

It’s that they leave planning until the discharge date.

Not because they’ve done anything wrong.

Because they’ve been busy worrying about someone they love.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that planning ahead doesn’t mean expecting the worst.

It simply means creating options.

And when you’re faced with important decisions, options can make all the difference.

If you’re supporting an ageing parent in hospital right now, what’s your biggest worry about them coming home?

If you’re starting to think about home care, companionship care, or support for an elderly parent, message me. I’m always happy to help families think clearly before things reach crisis point.

Kimberley Stevens
Founder, Care in Kent

Ashford • Folkestone • Hythe

Care isn't glamorous all the time.It's early mornings.Forgotten shopping lists.Cold coffees.And making someone smile eve...
15/06/2026

Care isn't glamorous all the time.

It's early mornings.
Forgotten shopping lists.
Cold coffees.
And making someone smile every day 🩷

If you feel like you could become part of our team, DM us today...

“Mum keeps packing her bags.”“Dad keeps saying he wants to go home.”Even though he is already home.If you’ve ever cared ...
14/06/2026

“Mum keeps packing her bags.”

“Dad keeps saying he wants to go home.”

Even though he is already home.

If you’ve ever cared for someone living with dementia, you’ll know how heartbreaking and confusing that can be.

You try to reassure them.

You explain.

You remind them where they are.

But nothing seems to help.

After more than 30 years working in dementia care, I’ve learned something important.

Often, they’re not trying to get to a place.

They’re trying to get back to a feeling.

A feeling of safety.

A feeling of familiarity.

A feeling of belonging.

When someone living with dementia says, “I want to go home,” they may actually mean:

“I want to feel safe.”

“I miss my family.”

“I miss the life I remember.”

“I need reassurance.”

That’s why arguing or correcting rarely works.

Sometimes a better response is simply:

“Tell me about home.”

Those four words can unlock memories, comfort and connection.

Because behaviour is communication.

And when we understand the feeling behind the words, we can respond with more compassion and less frustration.

Have you experienced this with a parent, spouse or loved one living with dementia?

Kimberley Stevens

Care in Kent

Supporting families across Ashford, Folkestone, Hythe and the surrounding villages with dementia support at home, companionship care and home care.

01233 619530

One of our carers stayed an extra few minutes just to sit and chat with a client who seemed low. No task.No requirement....
13/06/2026

One of our carers stayed an extra few minutes just to sit and chat with a client who seemed low.

No task.
No requirement.
Just Kindness 🩷

That's the type of people we want at Care in Kent.

Recruiting in Ashford & Folkestone, find out more today!
https://careinkent.co.uk/care-in-kent-links

It’s Carers Week, and I’d like to say thank you.Not all carers wear uniforms.Some are daughters trying to juggle work, c...
12/06/2026

It’s Carers Week, and I’d like to say thank you.

Not all carers wear uniforms.

Some are daughters trying to juggle work, children, and an ageing parent.

Some are husbands quietly managing medications, appointments, and sleepless nights.

Some are neighbours who pop in every day to check that someone is safe.

Some are friends who have gradually become lifelines.

After more than 30 years working in care, I’ve seen just how much family carers do behind the scenes.

The shopping.

The phone calls.

The paperwork.

The worry.

The endless mental checklist that never quite switches off.

What many people don’t see is the emotional load that carers carry every single day.

The daughter answering work emails from a hospital waiting room.

The husband sleeping lightly because he’s listening out for movement upstairs.

The son trying to organise prescriptions during his lunch break.

These moments happen every day in homes across Kent.

Often without anyone noticing.

If you’re caring for a loved one, please remember this:

You matter too.

Looking after yourself isn’t selfish.

It’s one of the most important things you can do for the person you care about.

This Carers Week, I’d love to know:

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about being a carer?

Let’s give carers the recognition they deserve.

If you’re caring for an elderly parent, supporting someone living with dementia, or wondering whether home care could help, we’re always happy to have a chat.

Care in Kent
01233 619530
[email protected]

“Why is my dad refusing to shower?”It’s a question I hear surprisingly often.And sometimes families are asking the wrong...
11/06/2026

“Why is my dad refusing to shower?”

It’s a question I hear surprisingly often.

And sometimes families are asking the wrong question.

Because the problem isn’t always the shower.

A little while ago, I met a family who were becoming increasingly frustrated with their dad.

Every conversation seemed to end in an argument.

Every suggestion was met with resistance.

They thought he was being stubborn.

The reality was very different.

A few months earlier, Dad had slipped in the bathroom.

He wasn’t badly hurt.

But he was frightened.

So frightened, in fact, that he quietly stopped bathing.

Not because he was being difficult.

Not because he didn’t understand.

Not because he wanted to upset anyone.

Because he no longer felt safe.

And if you’ve ever supported an ageing parent, you’ll know this is often how things happen.

The unopened post on the table.

The same question asked again and again.

The reluctance to leave the house.

The “I’m fine” that clearly means anything but fine.

The behaviour we see is often just the tip of the iceberg.

Underneath it is usually something else:

Fear.

Embarrassment.

Confusion.

Loss of confidence.

After more than 30 years working in care, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this:

When we stop asking,

“How do we make them do it?”

and start asking,

“What might be making this difficult?”

everything changes.

For this family, the answer wasn’t another argument.

It wasn’t pressure.

It wasn’t persuasion.

It was understanding.

A little reassurance.

And support that helped Dad feel safe again.

Slowly, his confidence returned.

Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t changing the behaviour.

It’s understanding what’s underneath it.

If you’re worried about an ageing parent who is refusing help, avoiding personal care, becoming withdrawn, struggling with dementia, or showing signs of confusion, there is often more to the story than first meets the eye.

Whether you’re looking for elderly parent help, dementia support at home, companionship care, respite support, or simply trying to understand what’s happening, knowing the “why” behind the behaviour can change everything.

Does this sound familiar?

Have you noticed changes in a parent that only made sense once you understood what was really going on?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

If you’re starting to think about home care for a parent, feel free to send me a message.

I’m always happy to help families think clearly before things reach crisis point.

Kimberley Stevens

Founder, Care in Kent

Helping families across Ashford, Folkestone, Hythe and Kent navigate ageing parents, dementia and home care with confidence.

01233 619530

[email protected]

www.careinkent.co.uk

A client remembered her carer's name... but not what day it was. The familiar face mattered.That consistency mattered.So...
10/06/2026

A client remembered her carer's name... but not what day it was.

The familiar face mattered.
That consistency mattered.

Sometimes care is simply being the person someone feels safe with 🥰

Come and join our fabulous team, DM us today!

A good carer notices the little things 🩷The unopened bread.The quiet mood change. The client who suddenly seems withdraw...
08/06/2026

A good carer notices the little things 🩷

The unopened bread.
The quiet mood change.
The client who suddenly seems withdrawn.

Because sometimes the smallest observations make the biggest difference 🩷

Caring roles available in Ashford & Folkestone, apply today 👇
https://careinkent.co.uk/care-in-kent-links

“Why does Mum keep counting tissues?”It sounds like such a small thing.Until you notice she’s counted them three times i...
07/06/2026

“Why does Mum keep counting tissues?”

It sounds like such a small thing.

Until you notice she’s counted them three times in the last ten minutes.

Or she’s counting coins.

Or pieces of paper.

Or the same objects on the table over and over again.

Many families caring for a loved one with dementia quietly ask:

“Why does she keep doing that?”

The answer may surprise you.

For someone living with dementia, the world can gradually become less predictable.

Memory changes.

Time becomes confusing.

Everyday tasks that once felt automatic can start to feel overwhelming.

But numbers are often different.

Counting is familiar.

Counting is structured.

Counting follows rules.

And when life no longer feels entirely understandable, counting can create a small sense of order in a world that feels increasingly uncertain.

Over the years, I’ve met people who counted teaspoons, tissues, biscuits, buttons, coins and all sorts of everyday objects.

Not because they were being difficult.

Not because they wanted attention.

And not because they were trying to frustrate the people who love them.

Often, it was their brain reaching for something that still felt safe, familiar and predictable.

One of the most helpful shifts families can make is moving from:

“Why are they doing that?”

to

“What might they be experiencing right now?”

Because dementia care isn’t really about managing behaviours.

It’s about understanding the feelings, fears and needs underneath them.

And very often, what looks unusual to us makes perfect sense when we see the world through their eyes.

Have you ever noticed a loved one counting things repeatedly?

I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.

If you’re worried about an ageing parent, dementia, memory loss, or whether they might benefit from some support at home, please feel free to send me a message.

Kimberley Stevens
Founder, Care in Kent

Helping families across Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe navigate home care, dementia care and ageing parent support.

01233 619530
[email protected]

If this post helped, please share it. You never know who might need to hear it today.

One of our carers recently supported a client to attend a free community lunch at a local church 😍A hot meal is lovely.B...
05/06/2026

One of our carers recently supported a client to attend a free community lunch at a local church 😍

A hot meal is lovely.
But companionship, laughter and feeling included?
That matters just as much!

Care is about people, not just tasks.

Apply today 👇
https://careinkent.co.uk/care-in-kent-links

Address

Unit 7, Evegate Business Park
Ashford
TN256

Telephone

+441233619530

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