Age UK
Age UK is a home care agency in Maidstone, Kent (ME15 6XW). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Age UK
We provide care in people's own homes across Maidstone and the surrounding parts of Kent. Most of the people we visit are older, and what they want from us is usually straightforward: help to stay in the house they know, on their own terms, for as long as that is realistic. That might mean a short morning call to help someone wash and dress and get breakfast started, or several visits a day covering medication, meals, laundry and a bit of company. We support people living with dementia, where routine and familiar faces matter enormously, and we try hard to send the same carers to the same people rather than a different name every week. We also support younger adults who need help at home. Our carers are local. They know the roads, they know which chemist is quickest and they often know the neighbourhood a person has lived in for decades, which makes conversation easier and makes it far more likely that we notice when something is not right. We begin with a conversation at home, with family involved if that is what the person wants, and we build the plan around the routine that already exists rather than imposing a new one. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. If you are thinking about care at home, we are happy to talk it through with no obligation.
Care provided at Age UK
- Older person care
- Dementia care
- Younger adults care
- Covers approximately 10 miles
- Last CQC inspection: 6 September 2017
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
What the inspectors found
A plain English summary of the Care Quality Commission inspection behind the current rating of Age UK Maidstone. Report published 6 September 2017.
Safe
Inspectors found that the registered manager and staff took people's safety seriously. Staff understood their responsibility to protect people from the risk of harm. Risks to people had been identified and managed, and recruitment checks were carried out to make sure staff were suitable to work with people.
Effective
Inspectors found that staff received the training they needed to meet people's needs. Staff were supported in their role by the registered manager.
Caring
Inspectors found that staff respected and maintained people's privacy. Staff understood the importance of maintaining people's dignity. People who used the bathing service expressed great satisfaction and spoke very highly of the staff supporting them.
Responsive
Inspectors found that people said both services were responsive to their needs. Information was available on how to make a complaint. People knew what to do if they were unhappy and knew who to contact at the registered office.
Well-led
Inspectors found that there was a registered manager in place. People's feedback was actively sought and acted on to improve the quality of the service. Staff were supported in their role by the registered manager.
What people told the inspectors
Inspectors said the feedback from people using both services was consistently positive. People said both services provided a much needed service in the community, and people felt safe with the staff who supported them.
Since the last inspection
Rated Good in September 2017, up from Requires improvement.
Safe moved from Requires improvement to Good; Well-led moved from Requires improvement to Good; Effective is still Good; Caring is still Good; Responsive is still Good.
- 1 March 2022: Inspection looking at part of the service
- 12 July 2017: Routine inspection
- 24 June 2016: Routine inspection
- 6 September 2013: Inspection looking at part of the service
- 24 April 2013: Routine inspection
Read the full report on the CQC website
Source: Care Quality Commission inspection report, summarised by CareAssura. Contains CQC data used under the Open Government Licence.
How Age UK Maidstone compares in Maidstone
Measured against the 54 home care agencies registered in Maidstone.
- CQC rating
- Good. 19 of the 54 agencies (35%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 42%.
- Latest report
- 6 September 2017. 21 of the 54 agencies have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- February 2013. One of the longer established agencies. 49 of the 54 registered more recently.
- Provider
- One service. Age UK Maidstone runs this agency only.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered home care agencies in Maidstone.
The local picture: Maidstone
What the numbers say about home care in Maidstone, in Kent.
What home care costs
| Type of care | What it costs |
|---|
| Hourly care visits, Kent | £28.50 to £39.15 an hour (Middle half of prices from 7 agencies. Median £32.00.) |
| What Kent pays | £28.05 an hour (Average hourly rate, October 2026.) |
| Homecare Association minimum price | £34.42 an hour (2026 to 2027. The Association's estimate of the lowest price that covers the cost of delivering care. It is not a legal minimum.) |
| Live in care, England | £1,250 to £1,668 a week (Middle half of prices from 62 agencies. Median £1,455.) |
Published prices come from agencies that publish rates, so treat them as a guide. Ask the agency for its own price.
- People aged 75 and over: 19,200. Rising to 22,400 by 2035, up 17%
- People aged 85 and over: 5,200. Rising to 7,900 by 2035, up 54%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,500. Rising to 3,200 by 2035, up 28%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 65%. The NHS ambition is 67%. Kent as a whole is 62%.
- Agencies in the borough, last 12 months: 2 opened, 4 closed. 50 registered today.
- Choice of agencies: 160 within 10 miles. In a typical neighbourhood. The nearest is under a mile away (0.6 miles).
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, dementia estimates, CQC register), published home care rates, Homecare Association.
Good to know about Age UK Maidstone
Facts from public registers, and what the agency has told us.
- Registered with CQC
- 1 February 2013, so 13 years.
- Run by
- Age UK Maidstone, which runs this service only.
- Service type
- Personal care in people's own homes (domiciliary care).
- Where it covers
- Not yet confirmed by the agency. Check that your postcode is covered before you rely on it.
- Live in, overnight and 24 hour care
- Not yet confirmed. The agency can add these when it claims its profile.
Sources: CQC register and the agency's own entries. Anything marked not yet confirmed is shown as unknown rather than guessed.
Common questions about Age UK
Where is Age UK located?
Age UK is a home care agency based in Maidstone, Kent (ME15 6XW), providing care to people in their own homes within approximately 10 miles of the area.
What type of care does Age UK provide?
Age UK is registered to provide care in people’s own homes, with support that includes Older person care, Dementia care, Younger adults care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Age UK's CQC rating?
Age UK is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 6 September 2017. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Age UK provide dementia care?
Yes. Age UK supports people living with dementia. We recommend contacting the agency directly to discuss your individual situation.
Questions families ask about Age UK
Can they support someone living with dementia at home?
Yes. Yes. Age UK Maidstone is registered for dementia care in people's own homes.
Can they help with medication and nursing tasks?
Ask the home. Most home care agencies prompt or give medication but do not provide nursing tasks. Ask what their carers are trained to do.
Do they cover our area?
Yes. Age UK Maidstone covers roughly 10 miles from Maidstone.
Will the council help pay?
Ask the home. The agency has not told us which funding it accepts. Most take both council funded and self funded clients; a direct payment from the council can be used to pay them.
Typical home care fees in the South East
Age UK Maidstone has not published its fees yet. These are typical hourly rates for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Home care (per hour): £29 to £35 per hour, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Age UK Maidstone. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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