Activities at Westergate House Care Home
Our activities team are great at building the activities programme around the likes and interests of the people we care for. Ensuring that our social events offer fun and adventure is part of the ethos of our home; it’s important that those we support can enjoy an active and social lifestyle. Of course, there will always be those who prefer peace and quiet, and in these instances, a cup of tea and a chat are always welcomed.
Lee Austin
My name is Lee and I am the Head of Lifestyle here at Westergate House.
I support our residents daily to do the things they enjoy and it is extremely important to me that we are offering a premium and person centred service to each resident. I support our residents on a daily basis by providing meaningful and quality activities either in groups or on a 1:1 basis, to help encourage and build confidence while creating an enjoyable environment for everyone. Westergate House is the home of our residents, we as staff are working in it, so it is extremely important to me that we are respectful of that, while offering a premium and person centred service to each and every resident.
I am a trained actor and professional vocalist and not shy in making a fool of myself. If I do that every day to put a smile on our residents faces then I’m happy I have played my part, along with the rest of the amazing team, to brightening their day. If you hear someone singing along the corridor or see them dancing in the lounges, it will probably be me.
Read our brochure 'Life-enriching activities' for more information about life in our care homes.
Read our brochure
Activities and Events Partnerships
As part of our bespoke life-enrichment programmes, we host a number of live virtual events in the home on a regular basis through a number of partnerships with places of interest and world class performance companies
Life at Westergate House Care Home
Visiting Chichester College
Kay Vevers, Head of Activities, and Laura Giudici, Learning and Development, from Westergate House, were thrilled to be invited to Chichester College last week to meet the Level 3 students studying Health & Social Care. The morning began with a discussion about career opportunities with Barchester Healthcare and different avenues that are open to students who pursue health and social care studies. Kay then introduced the role of ‘Activities Co-ordinator’ and engaged the students with a range of activities that are available to residents to promote their physical and mental well-being. Exercises on activity-planning were carried out and there was time to reflect on how activities would be altered if an individual has a health impairment. The students were fabulous to work with and several are planning to visit Westergate House for their work experience placement later this month.
Booster Vaccinations
All staff and residents are delighted to have received their third booster COVID-19 vaccinations. Staff from Croft Surgery spent the day at Westergate House and ensured everyone received the additional protection.
Halloween Hounds
Thursday was an exciting day at Westergate House. It was a chance for our four-legged friends to dress up in scary attire and compete against one another for a prize.
Staff and visitors dressed for the occasion and entered their hounds into a Halloween competition for best-dressed dog, and our residents judged the winners.
With clement weather, we were able to sit outside and enjoy the autumn sunshine. Chef, Konnie, treated everyone to a feast of delicious cakes, which we enjoyed with a hot drink.
Harvest Festival
The sun shone and we were thrilled to get out into the gardens and enjoy the lovely weather. T42 entertained everyone with delightful tunes, and ot wasn’t long before residents, relatives and staff were singing along.
Abigail from the Aldingbourne Trust ran a tombola which was very popular. A super tea laid on by our chefs was enjoyed with a glass of fizz.
Donations of non-perishable items will be given to the Anna Chaplaincy church group for local distribution.
The afternoon drew to a close with the staff getting together and singing a few harvest-themed tunes.
World Heart Day
There was a delightful twist to World Heart Day at Westergate House: our activities team came up with the idea of hanging cheery red hearts on a memory tree on the Memory Lane Community.
Residents living with dementia decorated red hearts, and Julie asked them about special memories.
This reminiscence activity had everyone chatting and the memories were written on to the decorated hearts. It wasn’t long before the branches of the tree displayed an array of colour, representing special times.
Macmillan Cake Sale
Staff and residents at Westergate House held a charity cake and bake sale in their garden on 24th September to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
It was the perfect chance to catch up with relatives and friends and buy a slice of something delicious for a great cause. Julie, our Activities Assistant, did a fabulous job serving the delightful cakes and treats. The money raised helps everyone with cancer to live life as fully as they can.
Residents enjoyed spending time with their loved ones and members of the local community. Head chef, Chris, had baked lots of lovely cakes and pastries for everyone to sample and for guests to buy to take home. Staff joined in and added their creations to the stall; everyone was spoilt for choice!
