Austen House Opens Its Doors To Lonely Older People

Local care home Austen House in Lower Earley, Reading will be opening its doors to a number of people from the community to help tackle loneliness in their local community.

Open for elderly people who might usually eat alone, are invited to join the residents and teams at the home on for a 3 course meal, on a day of their choice.

Diners will be treated to a tasty lunch in the home’s dining room. Guests will have a chance to chat to the home’s staff and residents, while enjoying their food, and will be able to partake in musical entertainment and friendly games with those at the home after their meal.

The home’s Head Chef will be producing a range of dishes to cover varied individual dietary needs and preferences, so diners were able to eat to their fill accompanied with a wide selection of beverages.

The ‘Don’t Dine Alone’ initiative was launched by care provider Barchester Healthcare as a way to reach out to isolated or vulnerable members of their local communities. Barchester Healthcare is also behind Barchester’s Charitable Foundation, which is a registered charity that gives grants to older people and other adults with a disability to help combat loneliness and enable people to be active and engaged in the communities where the Barchester care homes operate.

Joleen Leung, Operations Manager at Austen House said: “Loneliness can be a big problem for elderly people, especially as the weather gets colder. Our doors are always open to new friends of the home.”