Festive Visits at Austenwood Care Home

Austenwood Care Home had a lively run-up to Christmas thanks to two local groups who gave residents a reason to smile.

The first visit came from the local Brownies, who arrived with plenty of confidence and a list of songs they were keen to share. Residents enjoyed chatting with them about their badges and all the things the girls had been working on this year. The home felt noticeably brighter while they were here, with many of the residents talking about the visit long after the Brownies left.

Later that week, children from St Mary’s School dropped in with shoebox gifts they had put together. Each parcel was handed out individually, then the children took their time speaking with residents as they went around the room.

They also sang a few carols and residents recognised the songs straight away and joined in, and several commented afterwards that it reminded them of their school concerts from many years ago.

The thought that had gone into the presents did not go unnoticed. Several residents commented on how personal the children’s gifts felt and how much they appreciated the care that went into them.

Both groups brought something different to the home and together they created a strong sense of connection across the generations. Visits like these remind the staff at Austenwood how much residents value those simple, genuine moments of contact, whether that’s a conversation, a shared singsong or the kind of attentiveness that makes them feel included.