Activities at Harton Grange Care Home
We understand that the people we support have passions and interests that could be difficult to pursue after moving into a care home – but that doesn’t mean we don’t encourage them to try! Some hobbies can define a person, so our Activities Coordinators are dedicated to ensuring that everyone we support is able to do what makes them happy to the best of their abilities. Social events are organised with individual tastes in mind and with the idea that residents have the opportunity to try new and exciting things.
Marius Sidoriuc
Hi, my name is Marius, I am the activities coordinator here at Harton Grange. I joined Barchester's family in 2021, as I found their approach and standards on dementia very interesting. Since early 2022 I work for Barchester as both activities coordinator and care assistant. In 2018, I started my journey in health and social care as a care assistant and very soon after, I completed courses on dementia and activities (NAPA, level 2) and I worked as both activities coordinator and care assistant in Kent. I'm also an apprentice in health and social care. I've met some amazing people that have guided my understanding of dementia.
The most important thing for me is to see our residents achieving a meaningful raison d'etre, living as they like and to benefit from a range of activities starting from Namaste to reminiscing and spiritual needs (such as praying or listening to hymns), art and craft, armchair exercises, music therapy or finger nail pamper sessions.
I like to acknowledge that I am working as a part of a whole team, including the fantastic management, hospitality and maintenance departments, promoting a person centred approach for each resident and we are glad to know each persons preferences and abilities in order to plan how the day will look with them. One way we are able to do this is through our residents' and family' meetings where we try to let everyone have their say about the way they want to live and the activities they take part in.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Harton Grange Care Home
Enjoying a trip out
On a beautiful spring day and warmer weather, we took the opportunity and went to Minchella, South Marine Park - not only for the coffees, teas, the cakes and scones which were great but also to bask in the spring atmosphere. Gladys and Diane said they hadn't had such a good scone for such a long time.
Residents enjoy live entertainment
"It was marvellous! It was so fabulous! Please ask him to come back soon." I heard all these sentences from our wonderful residents after a great afternoon dancing and singing together with Alex Hall.
As everyone loves Alex, we thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic atmosphere and having a great time together.
We hope that next show with Alex will be in the garden.
Trip to Minsteracres
We took a special journey, today, at Minsteracres. Patricia and Dot visited last year this place and since then asked me multiple times to help them to visit it again. Nancy loved to join us on this trip. It was so impressive to see again the majestic old trees guarding this landscape. This year Minsteracres is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the first Passionists here. Patricia enjoyed to meet and to have time with her daughter Marnie and son-in-law Alan.
We loved to pray in the Church, to find peace and time for some reflections. As last year, every person from Minsteracres Retreat Centre was very kind and helped us with whatever we needed. We also enjoyed the lunch in their dining hall. It was a great spiritual experience as Dot said.
Come sing!
Residents across our homes and hospitals had a fantastic time with vocal coach Dan Cooper from Biiah as he led an amazing sing-a-long session for residents to enjoy. Residents who joined the event were able to learn different techniques as they sang the famous ‘I Can See Clearly Now’ by Jimmy Cliff and ‘Here Comes the Sun’ by The Beatles. Across our homes there were smiles and laugher all around. The session was such a success and was great for the mind, body and soul.
Inside the Factory
We had a brilliant time across our services with Harrogate Skills 4 Living as they took us on a wonderful virtual visit to their Harrogate Chocolate Factory.
Residents were thrilled to discover details about the chocolate-making process and the fascinating journey from bean to bar, all while enjoying some delicious sweet treats.
The Factory aims to employ people with learning disabilities and autism, involving them in all parts of the process, from sorting and roasting the beans to packaging and sales. The experience was truly enjoyed by all who joined this event.
Beat the Clock
We continue to celebrate a varied life enrichment programme and across our services we linked up with other Barchester care homes and hospitals up and down the country for some interactive Beat the Clock games.
Our residents truly enjoyed solving word puzzles, conundrums and mathematical problems as part of Barchester’s very own game show series.
Everyone who joined had a fantastic time and enjoyed some friendly competition.
