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
Foundation Cook Off
Staff and residents are celebrating because their wonderful Managing Director, Fiona Fagan, from Barchester’s North East and Scotland Division, has stepped completely out of her comfort zone to compete in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2024.
Fiona went head-to-head with the Managing Directors from Barchester’s four other divisions and cooked up a storm to raise a phenomenal £24,595 for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation which helps connect vulnerable people and those living with a disability to community groups in their local area by providing grants to improve mobility and quality of life. Each year the Foundation distributes thousands of pounds to individuals, small community groups and charities across England, Scotland and Wales.
Exploring the Eden Project
Residents across our homes had a fantastic time exploring the Eden Project virtually - an educational charity and visitor attraction based in Cornwall, featuring sprawling outdoor gardens and breathtaking biomes that house the largest indoor rainforest in the world.
During the session, residents who joined were reconnected with nature through their senses, memories and stories. A big thank you to the community team at the Eden Project for the wonderful event.
Charity Cake Bake Sale
We enjoyed a great time today as we had on sale delicious home-made cakes amongst many others tasty goodies. The families were fantastic and supported us with this event. We had so many donations and many families sacrificed from their time and came today to buy some delicious cakes for they beloved ones.
We thank you so much to all the families for their help and care. We would like to say a big thank you to the kitchen team: chef Joy, second chef Helen and chef assistant Liz. They went above and beyond in helping with this special cake sale. Thanks to them we enjoyed so many goodies.
We shall be sending all the monies raised to Barchester's Charitable Foundation, a fantastic charity supporting local causes.
Beamish Museum
We enjoyed a lovely, reminiscing time visiting Beamish Museum despite the cold weather. It was enjoyable to see the old benches in the classrooms and the writing slates, the abacus and those authoritarian, old fashion teachers.
We visited the colliery and the steam engines. Of course, after having lunch in the tea room in the town (1900) we went to the sweets shop and visited the old bakery and pharmacy.
It was a wonderful experience as Norma visited Beamish together with her husband Joe, Kitty was with her daughter Diane, Jack and Lilian were thrilled having Gillian and Paul helping them and Dot was happy to have all of us around. All loved to visit this place after many years.
Harton Harmonisers Choir
We enjoyed the visit of a special guest, Harton Harmonisers Choir. One of the best a cappella singing group, led by Kathleen, Harton Harmonisers is very popular and our residents thoroughly loved to listen and sing together with the choir.
Wonders of the ocean
Residents across our services enjoyed a fantastic virtual tour of The Deep, an award-winning aquarium in Hull.
Our residents dived into the underwater world of some fascinating creatures such as sharks, turtles and stingrays.
It was a truly immersive and educational experience that brought the wonders of the ocean right to our screens.
