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Activities and music at Linden House

Activities and music form part of everyday life at Linden House. A dedicated Companionship Team supports this area of the home, ensuring opportunities are present without becoming obligation. Members of the team receive dementia-specific training so they understand how cognitive change can affect concentration, mood and engagement.

For people living with dementia, participation is closely linked to recognition, repetition and comfort. Familiar songs, shared routines and small group activities can support emotional wellbeing and reduce agitation. Residents choose how they spend their time, whether that means joining regularly, occasionally or simply observing.

Planned with wellbeing in mind

How activities fit into daily life

Activities are shaped around the residents at Linden House rather than following a fixed programme. The Companionship Team pays attention to individual preferences, energy levels and moments in the day when someone feels most receptive.

Sessions are structured to be easy to join and easy to leave. Small groups help prevent overstimulation, and support is available so participation feels manageable rather than demanding.

As someone settles into life here, gradual changes in engagement are often seen. A resident may remain at a session for longer, respond more readily to music or choose to sit closer to others after initially observing from a distance. These shifts are noticed and supported carefully, without pressure.

Supporting mood, memory and connection

Music as part of daily life

Music plays a significant role in daily life at Linden House. Listening sessions, familiar songs and small group singing reflect the preferences of the people who live here.

Familiar music can prompt recognition, encourage movement and support conversation. In some situations, music is used intentionally to help calm the atmosphere or provide reassurance during transitions in the day. Residents may sing, tap along, listen quietly or simply remain present.

Latest activities calendar

Organised activities contribute to the sense of community at our home. Activity helps to sustain both physical and mental health and it is important that our residents are able to maintain their interests and have opportunities to develop new ones.

Our Colten Companions draw on the interests of each individual and try to reflect their views and ideas. We regularly organise visits by musicians and entertainers. We want our activity programme to have something for everyone, whether it is a pub quiz, a trip out of the home, or a visit by a local school or community group. We regularly ask our residents for feedback and also make time to ask what they would like to do/see in the coming weeks.

View current calendar

Specialist guidance across our homes

Professional leadership in music and arts

Music and creative activity at Linden House are supported by Colten Care’s Music and Arts Partner, Fiona Pritchard, who works across our homes to strengthen practice and ensure consistency in how music is used.

Fiona trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and holds a Master’s degree in Dementia Studies with Arts and Activities. Her work brings together professional artistic training and specialist knowledge of dementia care, informing how music and creative sessions are structured within the home.

This oversight ensures that music is used thoughtfully and purposefully. Familiar songs are selected with care, group sizes are considered and the pace of sessions reflects the needs of residents living with dementia.

Fiona also supports resident choirs and structured creative projects, while guiding teams in how to use music effectively in everyday moments. This professional input helps ensure that music and arts remain consistent in quality and aligned with wellbeing.

Accessible and paced appropriately

Creative and meaningful activity

Creative activities are offered in ways that feel manageable. Materials, pace and group size are adjusted so residents can take part without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Some residents revisit long-held interests such as painting, writing or craft. Others find comfort in simple hands-on activities that provide structure and familiarity.

The aim is not productivity, but engagement at a level that feels natural and achievable.

Maintaining community connection

Time beyond the home

For residents who enjoy spending time outside the home, outings are arranged with careful attention to familiarity, comfort and accessibility. These may include short visits within Lymington and the surrounding area, parks, cafés or community events, planned in ways that reduce overstimulation and support confidence.

Linden House maintains relationships with local schools, charities and community groups. Residents are able to remain part of the city they know, with connection supported in ways that feel manageable and reassuring.

Children and young people in the home

Connections across generations 

Linden House has 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, 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 visible and immediate. 

These are not staged occasions. They are part of normal life within the home. 

Talk to us about daily life

If you would like to understand more about activities, music and how residents spend their time at Linden House, our team will be pleased to tell you more about how life unfolds day to day.

Speak to the home team
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