Activities & music
Activities and music are part of daily life across Colten Care homes. Each home has a dedicated Companionship Team responsible for supporting this aspect of residents’ lives, ensuring opportunities are available without becoming expectations.
For many people, daily engagement is closely linked to identity and routine. Familiar interests, shared moments and time spent with others help life continue in ways that feel settled.
Residents choose how they spend their time, whether that means joining in regularly, occasionally, or keeping days quieter.
Planned around the people who live in each home
How activities fit into daily life
Activities are planned around the people who live in each home. Teams notice what residents enjoy, how energy levels change and what works best at different times of day. This helps them offer sessions that are easy to step into, with room to join for a short while or stay longer.
These may include small groups, games, reading, crafts or support with long-held hobbies. Some residents appreciate the structure these sessions bring. Others prefer to dip in and out. Staff offer help where needed so residents can take part comfortably. Activities are offered regularly throughout the week, providing opportunities without structuring the day.
Noticing change and responding appropriately
Support that adjusts over time
As someone settles into life in the home, they may find they are able to do more than they expected. This often happens gradually: staying at an activity for longer, responding to familiar music or choosing to join others after a period of observing. Staff pay attention to these moments and adjust support in line with what works best for the individual.
Families often notice these changes as daily routines become more familiar.
Activities Calendar
Each home maintains a weekly activities planner, coordinated by the Companionship Team and informed by residents’ interests and feedback.
The calendar reflects the rhythm of the home. It may include music sessions, small group activities, outings, visiting performers, community visits or time set aside for quieter interests. Some residents join regularly. Others dip in and out.
Planners are reviewed and adjusted as preferences change. Residents are asked what they would like to see included in the weeks ahead, and activities evolve accordingly.
You can download an example planner below to see how daily life is structured in one of our homes.
Used to support engagement and calm
Music in daily life
Music is offered in straightforward ways. This may include listening sessions, singing familiar songs or visits from musicians playing well-known pieces. Sessions reflect the people present and can support movement, participation or quiet enjoyment.
For some residents, music prompts recognition or helps with pacing. For others, it provides a peaceful background to time spent together. Residents can join in, listen from a distance or simply enjoy the atmosphere.
Accessible and paced appropriately
Creative activities
Art, craft, writing and other forms of expression are offered in ways that are accessible and relaxed. Materials, pace and group size are adjusted so residents can take part without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Stepping forward or stepping back is equally accepted.
These moments allow residents to revisit familiar skills, explore interests or spend time in quiet focus.
Specialist guidance across our homes
Professional leadership in music and arts
Colten Care’s music and arts programme is led by Fiona Pritchard, our Music and Arts Partner, who works across the group to strengthen creative practice and ensure consistency in how music and arts are delivered.
Trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and holding a Master’s degree in Dementia Studies with Arts and Activities, her work combines professional artistic training with specialist knowledge of dementia care. This informs how music and creative activity are used thoughtfully and purposefully across our homes.
Her role includes supporting resident choirs, developing structured creative projects and guiding teams in how to use music effectively, particularly for residents living with dementia. By providing professional oversight, Colten Care ensures that music and arts remain consistent in quality and integrated into daily life.
Time beyond the home
Everyday interactions
Children and young people in our homes
Connections across generations
Many of our homes have regular contact with local schools and nurseries. Children visit to read, sing, take part in shared activities or spend time talking with residents.
For some residents, these visits bring back memories of their own families. For others, they simply bring energy into the day. The presence of children changes the atmosphere in a way that is immediate and visible.
These are not special performances. They are part of normal life in our homes. Moving into a care home does not mean losing contact with younger generations.
Talk to us about life in our homes
If you would like to understand more about activities, music, and how people spend their time in our homes, our teams are here to talk with you.