
Being impressed starts with the moment you arrive in the gardensClive B(Son-in-law of Resident/Service User)

Lovely people each and every single one of themAnnie Joan W(Resident / Service User)

We feel all staff are working together as a team. Staff communicate well with family.K H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Being impressed starts with the moment you arrive in the gardensClive B(Son-in-law of Resident/Service User)

Lovely people each and every single one of themAnnie Joan W(Resident / Service User)

We feel all staff are working together as a team. Staff communicate well with family.K H(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Austen House is a purpose-built Nursing Home in Reading, set in a semi-rural location and within easy reach of Wokingham and London. The staff at Austen House are dedicated to meeting all residents’ needs.
Austen House boasts an established, well run Nursing Floor with dedicated, experienced nurses 24 hours a day.
Austen House’s specialised Memory Lane Community (for people living with dementia) was refurbished in Summer 24. The team have also been...
Care Provided by Barchester Austen House Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 79 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Phone Point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
This Weekly Fee rate is an indication only of a typical standard fee rate for a resident living in a standard, comfortable room. A final Weekly Fee rate will be confirmed once we have carried out a pre-admission needs assessment. For nursing care, Weekly Fee rate will be dependent on personal needs.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Barchester Austen House Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Barchester Austen House Care Home to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Katherine Mahoney (Registered Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 45+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 1994
- Last Refurbishment: 2024
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (79)
Parking
- Free parking on site at Austen House
Barchester Austen House Care Home Reviews (131)
Barchester Austen House Care Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.666) out of 10, based on 28 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Barchester Austen House Care Home has 131 reviews.
My daughter was the emergency contact while I was away but it was respite for her too. The home called her three times in one week regarding non urgent reasons so not as good respite for her.
Thank you for your positive feedback, it is always our honour to support your husband when he comes to stay with us. It is always our aim to keep family members informed of any updates for their loved one during their stay. However, it would not of been our intent to take away from your daughter's respite. We look forwards to supporting your husband in the future.
My wife is a guest for respite. She has Alzheimers. Mobility bad Speaking - only a few words at a time. She had spent time last year for respite last July so was known by a lot of staff. All staff are professional and kind, fully understanding her needs and wants she is happy so no tears when I visit or leave. She is encouraged to partake in activities and loves to go outside. My dealings with CEO and Secretary are professional friendly and understanding
Everyone is shown the utmost dignity.
As a family we consider ourselves so lucky to have such lovely people working in the care home and mum is so happy it means such alot to us all.
Thank you for your lovely words. We pride ourselves in ensuring we promote each person's dignity and respect. It is truly an honour to be able to support your mother and be part of her recovery journey.
I am very happy that Colin is getting very good care than home care. He gets more attention and engaging with others. That makes me very very happy.
Thank you for your kind feedback. We pride ourselves in delivering person centred care and we are happy you can see the impact this has had for your brother-in-law Colin.
My husband has been here six and a half years and the staff have always been caring and compassionate to me and my husband.
Thank you Maggie for your lovely review. It is an honour to be able to support your husband and yourself at Austen House.
I would recommend this care home to anyone who asked.
Thank you Gary for your great feedback and for the recommendation. Our team are very dedicated to ensuring we provide a caring and professional environment to all residents, families and visitors.
We sadly lost dad but we are so grateful to you for making his last weeks so comfortable.
Thank you all and keep up the amazing work.
It was a privilege and an honour to have been able to care for your father and get to know him.
We take great pride ensuring we provide person centred care to our residents, especially in supporting...
My Partner was sent to Austen House after being in hospital for four weeks, where he lost over nine kilos in weight. He was a very poorly chap. He was suffering from late stage dementia. His care in Austen House was exceptional, they were so kind and attentive even though his behaviour at times could be challenging but he settled really well and I believe his behaviour improved. He couldn't really communicate but he did tell me he was happy on two separate occasions. I felt less stressed knowing he was safe, well cared for and happy. He started to put weight on and he was eating well. The food was very good with plenty of choices, my partner did have problems feeding himself but there was finger food available as well as two three course meals twice a day. His room was light and airy and comfortable.The staff were lovely, they kept me informed of any medical problems. Sadly he was only there for seven weeks before he passed away but I am pleased he was so well cared for until the end.
Thank you so much for your kind words all the team at Austen House appreciate.
Dad has stayed at Austen House twice before and been very well looked after. This time we needed emergency respite care as mum had a fall and was in hospital. Staff at Austen House were very quick to accomodate him and he was very well looked after. They were able to be flexible with length of his stay and kept us informed every step of the way. I definately reccomend Austen House.
It was an honour to be able to welcome your dad back to Austen House and give him the support he needed and preferred.
We pride ourselves in being able to offer support when families need it and ensuring we are flexible to your needs.
My mum came for 3 weeks respite care. She wasn't happy to come but did settle. The staff looked after her very well with all her needs. She needed attention a couple of times but the staff were always so caring and also transparent. Great communication. The head of unit/care practioner, admin assistant & another member of staff, in particular, were especially great.
The nurse puts action plans together and we work together for good. I did not get on with her at first because she is like me.
It is lovely to hear you feel supported by the team at Austen House. We pride ourselves in having a whole home approach to ensure our residents and relatives have the support and guidance they need and deserve. We always try to go above and beyond to ensure the resident and family experience is outstanding.
Both of my parents are living at Austen House as living independantly was not suitable anymore. They are both doing really well under the care of all the amazing staff. The home is lovely, there are activities if they want to join in & the food is great. My family & I are very happy that they are so well cared for. Thankyou
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We are absolutely delighted to hear that your mum and dad are both doing well at Barchester Austen House. At Austen House, we strive every day to provide the very best care and support for our residents and relatives. Thank you for choosing Barchester Austen House.
The Austen House Team were amazing. Despite my Grandad only being there for a short time before he passed, the team went above and beyond the expectations and he was well looked after. Two staff members in particular were amazing in ensuring not only my Grandad was comfortable but the rest of the family were comfortable when visiting him at the home. Thank you so much for making my Grandad's end of life as comfortable as possible.
We are deeply sorry for your loss and we truly appreciate you sharing your experience with us. its privilege to have been able to care for your grandad during his final weeks and we are grateful his was able to pass with dignity in comfort of his own room. We also take great pride in supporting families and make them feel welcome and we are glad you felt supported by our team.
My mother has settled in well into the great care home. Sadly, she is unable to participate in any activities. Nonetheless, she has some lovely carers (one in particular). The staff are always available and always friendly.
Thanks so much for your wonderful review, We are absolutely delighted to hear that your mum has settled well at Barchester Austen House. At Austen House we strive every day to provide the very best care and support for our residents and relatives. Thank you for choosing Barchester Austen House.
All the staff in Austen House make my visit to my mother go smoothly and happy. 100% care is given and all staff are very friendly and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. Everything is explained in full. I would recommend this home.
Thank you for your kind review! We are so pleased that you have had such a great experience with us!
All staff, medical + admin, are very helpful. Staff are all approachable. Staff are kind and doing their best to care for our father. We feel all staff are working together as a team. Staff communicate well with family. We feel listened to.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, we really appreciate it!
Very good experience staff are excellent. Food very good.
Thanks so much for you generous comments and appreciation of Austen House staff.
The food was very good generally I found the home clean but on a couple of occasions noticed that the dishwasher had left some revenue.
When I arrive from hospital, someone tried to remove my wound dressing for a photo. The hospital notes indicated it should not be tampered with. On discharge my prescription included some strong painkillers, I expected to be offered them regularly but sometimes had to ask for them. I do not know what the best regime would be.
Thanks so much for your appreciation of staff at Austen House.
Austen House came to our aid when we needed urgent respite care for a family member. They could not have more accommodating or helpful if they had tried.
Thanks so much for your support and encouraging words.
Austen House is excellent! The staff team are very caring and always keep me informed of anything I need to know! They do excellent jobs looking after and caring for my parents.
Thanks so much for appreciation, will let the staff know on how they are doing good job.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 04 October 2022Requires improvement
- CaringGood
- EffectiveRequires improvement
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeRequires improvement
- Well-ledRequires improvement
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (34) & Events (3)
- 20 Jul 2026
You brought smiles and so much happiness to all our residents as they got to see and hold your beautiful birds. It was a delight meeting the Tawny owls, Barn...
- 20 Apr 2026
Today we enjoyed making our own pizzas with a variety of yummy toppings, pepperoni, salami mushrooms and much more. We all worked together to make some extras so we could...
- 17 Apr 2026
We had a wonderful afternoon taking our lovely residents to the pub for a change of scenery and great chit-chat. Everyone enjoyed some delicious cake and their favourite choice of...
- 13 Aug 2026Organiser: Barchester Austen House Care Home
- 27 Aug 2026Organiser: Barchester Austen House Care Home
- 30 Sep 2026Organiser: Barchester Austen House Care Home
Awards / Recognitions (96)
- 09 Jun 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- 09 Jun 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- 15 Apr 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Barchester Austen House Care Home.
Meet the Team (19)

Hello, I am Katherine Mahoney. I am the General Manager at Austen House. Welcome to our Carehome profile!
I have worked in Health and social care for 25 years, and was a registered manager in various care settings for 15 years. Most recently, I have been registered manager of a premium care home for the last 4 years.
I am very passionate about delivering outstanding care to our residents, empowering them to make choices and live their lives to the fullest. I believe resident wellbeing is paramount and should be at the centre of everything we do, and I enjoy making a meaningful impact on their lives.
I am very excited to be part of the team at Austen House, and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact, ensuring every resident’s journey with us is filled with dignity, respect and high quality care.

Hello, my name is Khizra, and I am proud to be the Clinical Deputy Manager here at Austen House Care Home. I joined the team in 2024 as a Registered Nurse and, through dedication and commitment to providing the very best care, progressed to Senior Registered Nurse before stepping into my current role.
I began my career as a Military Nurse in Pakistan, where I served for two years before moving to the United Kingdom to continue my nursing journey. My passion has always been to ensure the highest standards of care, and I strongly believe in a person-centred approach that values the dignity, individuality, and well-being of every resident.
For me, making a positive difference in people’s lives is at the heart of everything I do, and I am dedicated to supporting both residents and colleagues here at Austen House.

I'm Lind, and I have been a part of the team since 2015. I am very passionate about my role at Austen House and love spending time with the residents and getting to know their relatives. During my time at Austen House, I have developed my skills and completed the Level 2 Accounting course.
I am always around to help and happy to assist wherever possible.

Ainsworth started working in the hospitality industry in 2004 as a second chef at a different care home. He gained further experience as a Chef De Partie, preparing various English, Asian and French authentic dishes, before being promoted to Head Chef.

Hello, I’m Gihan and I am the Head of Housekeeping.
I have been working for Barchester since 2023 and am proud to lead my team of housekeepers and laundry assistants in ensuring the home is clean and looking beautiful.I really enjoy working at Austen House alongside our residents and my team.”

Hello, my name is Sonyia and I am a young, dedicated, committed nurse, willing to explore and develop my knowledge and skills.
I enjoy working with a variety of people and enjoy a challenge, using my initiative to solve a problem. It is important to me to ensure that within the care home, my residents are comfortable and satisfied with their surroundings and care.

Joesphine has been employed by Barchester Austen House since/02/2023 and ever since she has been a very valued member of staff, she is reliable and flexible and her committed to her role as she helps other staff members to deliver possible person-centred care to our residents.

Hello, my name is Prathistha and I have joined the nursing team at Austen House, I moved from the Nepal to qualify as a nurse and really enjoying getting to know and caring for our residents

Karen has worked with us for over 20 years! She is a Laundry Assistant within Austen House.

Hello! Meet some of our hostesses who are very passionate about the art of hosting and creating unforgettable experiences at Austen House.

I joined the team at Austen House in 2008 and passionate about fulfilling residents lives by getting to know each individual on a personal level and supporting them to continue enjoying their hobbies, I hold this very close to my heart

Jo is our home hairdresser at Austen House, appointments with her are available two days a week and she is very flexible over what time residents would like, we all love a pamper and she also visits residents in their rooms if they prefer!

Sent from my iPhone

Hi, I am Abdullah Mohsin. I joined Barchester Healthcare in October 2025 and work as an Administrative Assistant at Austen House, where I support the day-to-day administration of the home and help ensure everything runs smoothly for residents, families, and staff.
I enjoy being part of a supportive team and contributing to a welcoming and well-organised environment for everyone at the home.

My name is Loredana, a registered nurse, originating from Romania, and I joined Barchester in September 2024.
I have been very happy working at Austen House as a senior nurse since March 2025.
My responsibilities include leading nursing teams, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based patient care, and mentoring junior staff.
I am recommending Austen House as a beautiful home, with lovely residents and trained and kind staff looking after them.

My name is Nisha, and I am a passionate and hardworking nurse who is committed to continuously developing my knowledge and clinical skills. I take pride in providing high-quality care and always strive to improve my professional practice.
Providing compassionate care is very important to me. I always aim to ensure that residents feel safe, respected, and comfortable, and that they are happy with both their care and their living environment within the care home.

My name is Janet, and I joined Austen House in 2023 as a Healthcare Assistant. I am passionate about providing compassionate and supportive care to residents. With a caring nature and strong teamwork skills, I enjoy contributing to high-quality care and supporting the well-being of the people I look after.

My name is Clara, and I joined Austen House in 2021 as a Housekeeping Assistant. I take pride in helping to keep the home clean, comfortable, and welcoming for residents, visitors, and staff.
I understand how important a clean and well-organised environment is for the health, comfort, and well-being of residents. I am happy to support residents and colleagues whenever needed, and I enjoy contributing to a positive and caring atmosphere at Austen House.

I'm Assan Ibrahim. I'm from West Africa, Sierra Leone, a small but beautiful country. I'm a budding Lawyer by profession, having just finished my Law degree at the University of Makeni before moving to the UK. Over the years, I have worked, and I have earned my experience by communicating, caring and interacting with individuals with whom I found pleasure. Working with Barchester is my first job in the UK, and the staff at Austen House are top-notch. From the Manager right down to the least, they're all amazing to work with. Working here has given me more exposure, and there is more to life in all areas... I love Barchester, and I'm pleased to be working in Austen House Care Home.
Frequently Asked Questions about Barchester Austen House Care Home
What types of Care is Barchester Austen House Care Home registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Barchester Austen House Care Home have?
There are 79 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Barchester Austen House Care Home?
Own Furniture if required, Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Phone Point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Barchester Austen House Care Home to the centre of Reading?
3.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Barchester Austen House Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Barchester Austen House Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.