Activities & Companions

Our Companionship team co-ordinate wide-ranging pursuits and events to suit every personal interest of our residents. Our activities calendar includes both indoor and outdoor activities and minibus trips. ‘Colten Companions’ ensure that each resident has an opportunity to engage in activities by looking after their needs one-to-one and by being a friend.

'Making wishes come true' is a key part of the Companionship role.  Listening to and responding to these wishes means delighting and entertaining our residents, providing opportunities for experiences they never thought possible and creating even more memories.  The film below highlights just one of the many different wishes coming true for our residents. 

Activities form a special function in our care homes.  The Activity Organiser leads a wide variety of social events to create a stimulating, entertaining and therapeutic environment for our residents.

As part of this role you will organise daily activities both inside and outside of our homes.  A sensitive understanding of the social needs of every resident is essential – many residents will often enjoy a big social event whilst others prefer an activity on their own or with one or two others.  You will need to cater to all preferences, both group and individual.

As an Activities Organiser in one of our dedicated Dementia care homes you will support residents to feel stimulated and engaged as a key way in which to maintain their quality of life.

As a Colten Companion, you will gain a rich understanding of a resident’s life story, experiences and interests.

You will use your knowledge of each resident to create purposeful one-to-one activities which are matched to his or her interests and capabilities.

In engaging with residents and stimulating their interests, you will learn a lot about yourself and improve your social engagement skills. 

What do I need to work as an Activity Organiser or Colten Companion?

Previous experience in coordinating a variety of events which are suitable for older people will be useful, but won’t be essential.  More important is your natural flair for organising events and activities which participants are both keen to get involved with and enjoy.  You will be friendly, kind, honest and reassuring and love to socialise and help others.

The Activity Organiser role will suit someone with an outgoing and warm personality who is equally adept at working in a group or individually.  By contrast, whilst the role of Colten Companion may suit either an outgoing or more reflective person, you'll need to be sensitive to the needs of individual residents who are less physically active.  You will need to be creative and inspiring in both roles.