Activities at Austen House Care Home
Here at Austen House, we like to get to know those we support, and from the day of moving in, our activities team will spend time on an individual basis learning about interests, likes and dislikes, life history and favourite hobbies.
We provide a wide range of activities, from one-to-one time, manicures and board games, through to live entertainment, prize bingo and our ever-popular cheese & wine events. Our activities team will also tailor individual activities to ensure residents can have as much or as little involvement as they choose.
In the summer months, greater focus is given to outdoor activities, such as barbecues and garden parties. In conjunction with our Chef, themed events are planned throughout the year, bringing activities and food together.
In their pink polo shirts, our activities team are easily identifiable and embrace ideas and suggestions from residents and their relatives to ensure that the activities provided keep those we support engaged, stimulated and entertained.
Iuliana Buican
Hi my name is Iuliana, I was a history teacher for 12 years before I joined Barchester in 2017. I am passionate about my job and love working with people. I enjoy planning and delivering meaningful activities which make a difference to our residents lives.
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 Austen House Care Home
Summer Fete
We held a Masquerade Themed Summer Fate on Saturday, 27th July. The day was a great success with lots of visitors and of course the residents, who had a wonderful day and we even managed to get a little bit of sun.
Everyone was wearing decorative masquerade marks adding excitement and colourfulness to the event. We enjoyed a raffle, games, BBQ, cocktail and everybody loved the superb afternoon entertained by James’ summer show.
Finally, the ice cream was lushed - thanks to the ice cream man! Summer is certainly in full swing at Austen House Care Home! A resident said: ‘’A great day, many visitors, it was good to see lots of people having a good time.’’
Thrive Fridays
Every Friday, residents enjoy a visit from the Thrive Intergenerational Toddler Group. During the session, toddlers all of ages come to the care home to play games, dance, sing and enjoy story time with residents.
With a relaxing and fun atmosphere, both generations love the 2 hour session. It is amazing to see how much the residents love engaging with the children. A favourite for the children is singing nursery rhymes with the residents, and it is joyous to see this activity bringing everyone together.
Our Divisional Winner
Well done to Josephine Shingwele, who was named as a Divisional Winner in the 'Learner of the Year' category for the 2019 Barchester Care Awards.
The Magic Table
We are delighted to announce that we have just had a Magic Table installed, which is an interactive light projector, designed to support residents living with dementia by keeping them engaged through specialised games.
The light projections respond to hand and arm movement, allowing residents to stay stimulated and, most of all, have fun!
You can read more about it on this page.
Carers Week
We celebrated Carers Week on 12th June by hosting a special thank you buffet lunch as a token of appreciation for our carers' dedication and hard work.
35 people attended the lunch celebration and were presented with a buffet spread of hot food, quiches, sandwiches, a delicious cheese selection, and a variety of cakes, fruits and sweet treats.
Everybody had fun and enjoyed music with disco light. Austen House's General manager, Natsayi Dunira, was very pleased to meet all the staff and appreciated their hard work. Some staff even decided to join the celebration on their day off.
Boat Trip
We celebrated the beautiful summer weather by having a boat trip on the 20th June. With a full boat, it was a nice day out for our residents to enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife along the Thames. They even got a chance to see professional rowers preparing for the Henley Royal Regatta, and celebrity houses along the river.
One of our residents was a member of rowing club, and this brought back old memories for him. At the end of trip, he was revitalised, and was taking charge of helping other residents disembark from the boat, which had easy accessibility features. He was pushing wheelchairs and guiding the way to the minibus.
On the boat the residents enjoyed tea, coffee and lunch while sharing their previous boating experiences and cruise holidays. Also, Henley, being a well-known place to residents, provided everyone with a nice moment to reminisce about their adventures.
