Care home activities: what works, from a former manager

Care home activities are there to give residents company, enjoyment and something to look forward to, and to keep them connected to the life they had before they moved in. What works best is often the simplest thing: a member of staff sitting with someone and talking about their past life, and music. Around that, a planned mix of classes, outings and one-to-one time, run by a dedicated activities coordinator with care staff joining in, keeps it going day to day.

I was a registered manager for 15 years, running care homes, including learning disability homes. So this guide starts with what I saw work in the homes I ran, what homes get wrong, and what inspectors want to see in the records. After that come some activity ideas grouped by what people need, a section on dementia, what an activities coordinator does, and where activities sit in the regulations.

What actually worked

Music therapy worked. In our guide to person-centred values I've written about one resident who settled once staff swapped the TV for her own music and sat and listened to it with her.

But sometimes the most basic, simplest thing works best: just sitting with someone and talking to them about their past life.

Staff find that very hard. It's not just one care home I've worked in, it's every single care home. Everyone's in a routine, working by the clock and under pressure. So at some point you have to drop the routine and tell staff to go and sit with people. Just getting staff to sit with them was the best thing we did.

If you're not sure where to start a conversation, the care plan usually has the way in: where the person grew up, the work they did, the people who matter to them, the music they love.

Why a dedicated activities coordinator is worth it

It's always good to have a dedicated activities coordinator. Let the care staff do their job and carry on with the day-to-day routines, and give them some downtime to join in the activities.

I know it's a cost to the home. But you've got to look at it from the other side: they add so much benefit. The activities coordinator is one of the main people in the home, sometimes even more than a carer, because of how much they add. They spend time with people, they run classes, and they take people on outings and trips. Carers are more for the day-to-day routines.

The coordinator is also the family liaison. They deal with families and give them the updates they're asking for: how's my mum, how's my dad doing?

Train your staff too. Keep them up to date on how the residents and service users are, and let them get involved whenever they can or have some downtime.

Two official sources point the same way. CQC's guidance on Regulation 9 says staff providing care must be kept up to date with any changes to a person's needs and preferences. And Skills for Care notes CQC's view that people aren't always engaged in meaningful activities on a regular basis: activities can be ad hoc, not planned thoroughly, or left to one person to coordinate. So the coordinator leads, and the whole team keeps it going.

What an activities coordinator does

Skills for Care's careers pages call the role an activities worker, usually based in care homes, day centres, people's own homes or the community. It lists the job as:

organising activities tailored to each person's needs and abilities, as well as group activities that bring people together;
booking outside suppliers to provide entertainment;
organising trips out in the local community, thinking about transport and accessibility;
leading discussions about the kinds of activities people would like to do.

Induction includes training such as health and safety, first aid, and moving and handling. Extra training, such as working with people with dementia, autism awareness or communication skills, may be offered. Once in post, an activities worker could take a vocational qualification such as a Diploma in Health and Social Care, or an award or certificate in activity provision.

A coordinator can also be the main link with families, giving them regular updates on how their relative is doing.

Cut your staff some slack

From what I've seen, carers in care homes, nursing homes and supported living work 12-hour shifts: long days and long nights. In my experience three or four shifts a week is about the average, and sometimes more with overtime. They're exhausted. They are working flat out.

So cut them some slack. This is the other half of the case for a coordinator: sitting with people shouldn't become one more job on a tired carer's list, and carers can still join in when the routine allows.

What care homes get wrong

Homes put out the same bingo game or puzzle in front of someone, walk off and leave them.

Residents need time with them. They can't just play with it themselves. They need someone sitting there explaining how things work, and actually listening to them.

The Alzheimer's Society's advice for people living with dementia points the same way: adapt and simplify activities, and if games and puzzles get difficult, try ones made for people with dementia, such as jigsaws with larger pieces.

Weekends and visitors

In the homes I ran, we didn't do too many activities at weekends. It was almost downtime for residents, and they could watch TV.

Families tend to come at weekends, and they stay for hours. They'll come and sit with their dad, have a cup of tea, and that in itself is an activity. It takes pressure off the staff. Grandchildren come to spend time with their grandparents.

We had a booking system for visits, so we knew who had family coming. We also knew who had no one visiting at all, and we gave the attention to those people.

A booking list should help you plan, not limit visits. Since 6 April 2024, Regulation 9A has required care homes to facilitate visits for residents, and CQC's guidance says everyone should work on the assumption that in-person visiting is possible.

What inspectors want to see

In the homes I ran, we recorded everything on our electronic system. It had a dedicated activities button, and that's how we showed inspectors.

What inspectors want to see is the person's mood, the outcome of the activity, pictures (always with the person's consent), and a record of what happened and what the result was.

The system we used back then only asked what the activity was. It was just: what's the activity, yes, good, okay, next. With all that experience I knew exactly what inspectors want to see, and that's how I ended up building Kiwi. Activities is one of the most important things in a care home.

Writing an activity record that shows the outcome

This example is made up to show the difference; it isn't a real resident.

Weak record: "Attended bingo. Enjoyed."
Better record: "Music session in the lounge after lunch, 30 minutes. Sang along to two songs she knew and tapped the table in time. Chatted with the staff member sitting next to her. Calmer afterwards and stayed in the lounge for tea. Photo taken with her consent."

The better record says what the activity was, where, how long, how she took part, her mood and what difference it made. Regulation 17 requires an accurate, complete and contemporaneous record for each person, including the care provided. A record is only part of the picture, though. CQC sorts evidence into six categories, including people's experience, observation and outcomes, so an inspector will also talk to residents and families and watch what happens on the day. Our daily care notes examples show the same approach for the rest of the day.

Photos need consent. A photo that shows who someone is counts as personal data under UK GDPR. Only take or keep a photo with the person's consent, record that consent, and keep photos in the care record rather than on personal phones. If the person can't give consent, don't assume: follow your home's consent and data protection policy. Our guide to data protection in care homes covers the basics.

Activity ideas that work

Start with the person's own history and what they enjoy, then pick from these.

One-to-one and companionship: sitting and talking about their past life; looking through their own photos or keepsakes together; reading the paper with them; a hand massage with a lotion they like the smell of.
Music: singing familiar songs, a music session, a visiting musician, or their own favourite music in their room.
Reminiscence: life story work, old photographs, objects from the work they did, a memory box.
Physical: chair-based exercise, a short walk, dancing, skittles or a ball game.
Creative and everyday: arts and crafts, baking, gardening, laying the table or folding laundry, if the person enjoys it.
Outdoors and community: time in the garden, a walk in the park, a café or the shops, trips out.
Faith and culture: worship in the home or at the person's own place of worship, prayer times, religious festivals and the food that goes with them.

Activities for people living with dementia

NICE's dementia guideline (NG97) recommends offering people living with dementia a range of activities to promote wellbeing, tailored to the person's preferences. For mild to moderate dementia it recommends group cognitive stimulation therapy and says to consider group reminiscence therapy. For people who experience agitation or aggression, it recommends personalised activities to promote engagement, pleasure and interest.

The Alzheimer's Society's advice on the later stages adds some practical points:

people can still enjoy hobbies and interests if they're adapted and simplified;
someone who can't fully do an activity may still enjoy how it feels, such as the feel of wool after they can no longer knit;
in the later stages, people may respond more to things that stimulate the senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) than to words.

It also describes music and singing as very powerful ways to relive memories. Both fit the two things that come up again and again in this guide: music, and someone sitting with the person.

Where activities sit in the regulations

For care homes in England, registered with CQC, activities are part of person-centred care rather than an extra.

Regulation 9 (person-centred care) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 requires care that is appropriate, meets the person's needs and reflects their preferences. CQC's guidance on it says assessments should include all of a person's needs, including emotional, social, cultural, religious and spiritual needs.
Regulation 10 (dignity and respect) includes supporting the person's autonomy, independence and involvement in the community.
Regulation 9A (visiting and accompanying), in force since 6 April 2024, requires care homes to facilitate visits and not to discourage residents from taking visits out.
NICE quality standard QS50 (mental wellbeing of older people in care homes) says older people in care homes should be offered opportunities during their day to take part in meaningful activity that promotes their health and mental wellbeing, and that staff should be trained to offer both spontaneous and planned activity. Quality standards aren't law, but CQC's Regulation 9 guidance says providers should use nationally recognised evidence-based guidance.

CQC's quality statements that cover activities, and the regulations CQC links to each:

CQC quality statement (key question)	What it says, in brief	Regulations CQC lists
Independence, choice and control (Caring)	People have access to activities and the local community to promote their independence, health and wellbeing, keep their relationships, and have access to friends and family	Regulations 9 and 12 (also consider 9A and 10)
Treating people as individuals (Caring)	People's personal, cultural, social and religious needs are understood and met	Regulations 9, 10, 14 and 15
Person-centred care (Responsive)	People's care plans fully reflect their physical, mental, emotional and social needs	Regulation 9 (also consider 10, 11 and 12)

How Kiwi handles this

Kiwi (our product) has a "Social & activities" category in its daily logs. Staff record in-house and community activities: the type of activity (such as Music / singing, Gardening, Baking / cooking, Faith / worship, Café / restaurant or Park / walk), where it took place, how long it lasted, and how the person engaged: Fully engaged, Participated with prompts, Observed with enjoyment, or Refused. Up to six photos can be added to a daily log, so take them only with the person's consent. Mood is recorded in its own "Mood & behaviour" log. Family and friend visits, and phone or video calls, can be logged too.

If you'd like to see how Kiwi's daily logs record activities and engagement, with mood in its own log, book a demo.

Frequently asked

What activities can you do in a care home?

Almost anything that suits the person: one-to-one conversation about their past life, music and singing, reminiscence, chair-based exercise, arts and crafts, baking, gardening, faith and worship, and trips out to a park, café or the shops. Start from the person's own history and preferences rather than a fixed timetable, and make sure someone stays with them while they take part.

What does an activities coordinator do in a care home?

An activities coordinator plans and runs activities for residents: one-to-one time, group sessions, classes, entertainment and trips out. Skills for Care, which calls the role an activities worker, lists organising activities tailored to each person's needs and abilities, booking outside entertainment, organising trips in the local community and asking people what they would like to do. The coordinator can also be the main contact for families, giving them updates on how their relative is doing.

What activities help people with dementia in a care home?

NICE recommends offering a range of activities tailored to the person's preferences, recommends group cognitive stimulation therapy for mild to moderate dementia, and suggests considering group reminiscence therapy. Music, singing, sensory activities, simple games made for people with dementia and one-to-one conversation about the person's past can all work well. As dementia progresses, adapt and simplify activities: the Alzheimer's Society notes that people may respond more to things that stimulate the senses than to words.

How often should care homes run activities?

The regulations don't set a number. NICE's quality standard for older people in care homes says residents should be offered opportunities during their day to take part in meaningful activity, planned or spontaneous. In practice that means something every day, including one-to-one time for people who don't join groups, rather than a few set sessions a week.

How do you record activities for CQC?

Record what the activity was, where it happened, how long it lasted, how the person took part, their mood and the outcome: what difference it made to them. Add a photo only with the person's consent. Regulation 17 requires an accurate, complete and contemporaneous record for each person, and CQC also looks at people's experience, observation and outcomes, so the record should show the effect on the person, not just that the activity happened.

Should there be activities in care homes at weekends?

Weekends can be quieter, and downtime is fine if it's what residents want. Families often visit at weekends, and a cup of tea with family is an activity in itself. The thing to check is who has no visitors coming, so those residents still get staff time and company. Visits shouldn't be restricted without good reason: Regulation 9A requires care homes to facilitate them.

Why are activities important in care homes?

They give residents company, enjoyment and a sense of purpose, and keep them connected to the people and interests that matter to them. NICE links meaningful activity to the health and mental wellbeing of older people in care homes, and CQC's quality statements expect people to have access to activities and the local community. NICE also recommends personalised activities for people living with dementia who experience agitation or aggression.

Sources

Sources last checked: 30 October 2026.

Care home activities that work: a former registered manager's guide