Austen House Care Home

Kilnsea Drive,

Lower Earley,

Reading,

Berkshire,

RG6 3UJ

Map View

Care enquiries 01189 145 484

New care enquiry phone lines are open 8am - 8pm

All other calls 01189 266 100

Austen House Care Home in Reading

Austen House is a purpose built residential care home in Reading, set in a semi-rural location and within easy reach of Wokingham and London. Our staff at Austen House are dedicated to meeting residents’ personal needs and our nurses are on duty 24-hours a day to provide top quality elderly care.

Staff on Austen House’s specialised Memory Lane Community (for people living with dementia) have been awarded certificates by the Alzheimer's Society for passing a course that helped with enhancing their understanding of dementia. It involves improved insight into dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and learning that feelings matter most.

Austen House welcomes enquiries and is pleased to show people – whether they're looking for advice or support – around if they would like to drop in to investigate for themselves.

Latest News

Following significant investment, Austen House has a brand new look! The appearance of our home has been carefully designed with the people we care for in mind, including our Memory Lane Community for people living with dementia. Our bright new reception area is the perfect spot for socialising or taking part in one of our many daily activities. Our beautiful new dining room is a wonderful place to enjoy a three-course home-made lunch and our new bedrooms are comfortable and tastefully decorated. Why not take a look at our virtual tour to see our brand new look? Or alternatively, pop in to our home to see for yourself!

Types of care

At Austen House, our qualified Nurses and Carers achieve job satisfaction through making a difference each and every day to residents' lives.

In our Memory Lane communities of Thames, Bourne and Loddon, we care for individuals living with dementia, and in our Kennet unit, we provide nursing care for individuals with a wider range of nursing needs.

Prior to moving into our home, a full assessment of individual needs will be undertaken to ensure that the care services we provide are person-centred. Care needs are reviewed each month - or upon any change in need - and we encourage the involvement of loved ones in this and indeed all aspects of the care we provide.

In our last Care Quality Commission inspection, Austen House was rated as 'Good' for 'Caring', with residents telling inspectors that, "the staff have big hearts."

Dementia Care

Respite / Short Stay

Services for Under 65

Facilities

Wi-fi available
Sky TV
En-suite rooms
Pet-friendly

On-site

Activity room
Bar/café
Flexible mealtimes
Internet access/wifi

Accessibility

Disabled bathroom
Disabled WC/facilities
Disabled parking
Disability awareness/equality training

Accommodation

Electric profiling bed
En-suite toilet
Furnished rooms and own furniture welcomed
Nurse call system

Our Team

The dedicated and experienced team are passionate about providing quality care to each individual living at the home.

Rhonda Herring

General Manager

Hi, my name is Rhonda, and I am the General Manager here at Austen House. Welcome to our website!

After 16 years as a project manager supplying to blue chip companies, I decided to retrain in adult nursing and qualified as a Registered General Nurse with a First Class Honours degree (BSc Hons). After spending some time in orthopaedics nursing, I felt unfulfilled – as if something was missing. Since transferring into the care sector in 2013, I have never looked back.

Care of the elderly is an area I feel passionately about, and Barchester’s approach to how they care for this vulnerable group of people is, I believe, second to none. We pride ourselves on offering a 'home from home' environment to all residents and a weekly schedule brimming with social activities, entertainment and trips out, as well as the assurance that families and friends are welcome any time of the day to visit their loved ones.

At Austen House, we offer a warm and friendly atmosphere filled with laughter and happiness among residents and staff alike.

I very much look forward to meeting you and answering any questions you may have!

Get in touch Meet my team

Esther Hehetror

Unit Manager

I have been an RGN for over 35 years and have been working in elderly care since 2004. I am passionate about making a positive difference into the care of residents and love my job as a Unit Manager.

Wendy Riache

Administrative Assistant

Wendy provides clerical and administrative support to the Administrator and General Manager. She meets and greets all visitors to Austen House, both on the telephone and face-to-face.

Lind Immaculate

Receptionist

I have been working for Barchester since 2015, starting out as a Carer specialising in dementia support. I had a lot of training through Barchester, which has helped me to deliver better person-centred care to residents during my time at this company.

In 2017, I began studying accounting, which led to my promotion to Receptionist. In this role, I answer the phone and welcome visitors into the home.

I enjoy my new position and look forward to what the future holds for me at Barchester.

Ainsworth Brown

Head Chef

Ainsworth started working in the hospitality industry in 2004 as a second chef at a different care home. He gained further experience as a Chef De Partie, preparing various English, Asian and French authentic dishes, before being promoted to Head Chef.

Ainsworth started at Austen House in 2015 and has gained experience in elderly care and understands about the nutritional welfare of those we support, catering for varying diets, including vegan, diabetic, celiac and authentic cultural cuisines.

Gabriel Hirta

Maintenance Manager

I have enjoyed working for Barchester as a Maintenance Manager since 2018. I am a qualified heating and gas engineer, but I feel that Austen House is my second home.

Barchester is a great company to work for; they make you feel welcoming and they help you with your professional development. I enjoy managing the building at Austen House, and it gives me great satisfaction to see that my managerial skills contribute to the safety and well-being of those we support in a safe and warm environment.

Sophie Swanborough

Housekeeping Team

I am the Head Housekeeper here at Austen House. I have worked here for 4 years and I enjoy my job very much, as each day is different. I love interacting residents and loved ones as I go about my daily tasks. I take great pride in the home being clean and well-presented.

Life at Austen House Care Home

Our home is designed so that each person we care for feels completely supported in every aspect of their lives. First and foremost, the care and services we provide are delivered by trained professionals who are dedicated to looking after the health of each resident. Our activities programme is tailored around particular interests and our facilities are designed to enhance the lives of everyone living at the home. We also offer tasty and nutritious food that is prepared by a skilled team of chefs.

Food & Nutrition

Our fantastic catering team are always on hand to prepare tasty and nutritious food with fresh, seasonal produce that is cooked to the highest of standards.

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Activities & events

Our varied activities programme reflects the dedication of our skilled staff, who bring a certain uniqueness to the home, which can’t be found anywhere else.

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Care & Facilties

Our home is equipped with a number of facilities and features that serve to enhance the lives of those we support.

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Austen House Barchester Healthcare

Email us

What is the nature of your enquiry

01189 145 484Care Enquiries

01189 266 100 All other calls

What happens now?

Are you ready to discuss your individual care requirements? Pick up the phone and talk to us, book a visit to our care home or come and take a look around our facilities.

Care enquiries

New care enquiry phone lines are open 8am - 8pm

01189 145 484

All other calls

01189 266 100

Send us an email

Use our online form

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