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
Photos of Light
As part of the Barchester virtual events that have taken place throughout the last eighteen months, and to mark National Photography Day, residents at Westergate House were treated to a live photography masterclass with top professional photographer, Damian Bailey.
We were guided through different photography techniques and compositions, and tips were shared on how to create special moments captured in a photograph.
Following the event, we were invited to enter a photography competition, which caught the imagination of staff and residents here at Westergate House.
We were keen to enter snapshots of serene sunsets and other unusual examples of light creating magical effects for the competition, which pitches us against care homes throughout the country. Entries can be seen in the pictures.
Charity Donation
we were pleased to make a visit to Sage House Dementia Hub, Tangmere, following a fund raising event at their garden party.
A raffle raised the sum of £166 and it was a pleasure to hand over the proceeds in support of the well-being and to improve the experience of local people living with dementia.
We understand the complexities of dementia and how unique the experience can be for every individual and recognise the facilities and services offered by Sage House as a fabulous resource for our local community.
Summer Garden Party
Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together to enjoy a summer garden party held in the home’s grounds. The grey skies did not deter the sunny atmosphere, and everyone made the most of an afternoon of entertainment, delightful refreshments and wonderful company.
Westergate House opened its garden gates at 1.30pm and the next few hours were spent enjoying the music of Ricky Zalez. Tunes from the decades had us dancing and singing along. It was a trip down memory lane and a chance for everyone to relax and enjoy a summer celebration.
Kay, our Activities Coordinator, hosted a fabulous raffle which was enjoyed by everyone who came to the event. Proceeds were donated to Sage House Dementia Hub. Residents June and Wendy, seen here in the picture, lent a hand preparing the raffle tickets. Thank you to everyone who donated prizes.
Staff at Westergate House made everyone feel welcome and were delighted to see different generations having fun together. Visitors enjoyed plenty of refreshments prepared by Chef Chris. There was a fabulous array of sandwiches, cakes and pastries including fresh fruit tarts, chocolate eclairs, Victoria sandwich cake, macaroons and strawberries and cream. A bar offered a range of beverages and tea and coffee were in plentiful supply.
Where Memories Matter
Westergate House sponsored Sage House to host an afternoon tea party last Wednesday.
Bernice Jenkins, Head of Memory Lane communities, and Kay Vevers, Activities Co-ordinator, attended the event with residents from Westergate House. It was a super afternoon. Sage House had created a wonderful atmosphere with a traditional afternoon tea and vintage singing from entertainer Dawn Gracie.
101st Birthday Celebrations
Celebrations were in full swing at Westergate House as one of its residents reaches 101 years old.
Joan was joined by her friends in Memory Lane and staff for a beautifully presented tea party with music, and a
stunning birthday cake which was made with cracked chocolate edging with a fresh fruit topping made by our Head Chef, Chris.
Antique Experts
It was a glorious afternoon when Westergate House hosted it’s very own Antiques Valuation Afternoon. London Antiques Expert, Mark Oliver, of Bonhams and Bargain Hunt fame, kindly agreed to visit the beautiful grounds at Westergate House and share his expertise with residents, relatives and guests to the home. Mark has enjoyed a fabulous career culminating in becoming the Head of the Decorative Arts department at Bonhams since the late 1990s. Mark’s specialist field of knowledge is Art Nouveau, Art Deco and 20th Century decorative art.
The valuations afternoon was a huge success. Residents from our residential and dementia communities enjoyed the sunshine and a delightful cream tea prepared by the Westergate House chefs Chris and Konnie. Relatives and guests from the community joined the event and brought in their treasures for Mark to appraise.
Time was spent chatting about provenance and value. Mark was delighted to offer insight and history to the pieces. Resident at the home, Dennis, was thrilled to hear the background to a much-loved decorative silver jewellery pot and to a Dutch water-scene oil painting. Visitor, Lesley, learned about the history of a pair of Chinese cats designed as a cruet set.
