Activities at Westergate House Care Home

It was time to celebrate long service at Westergate House yesterday.  General Manager, Paul Middleton-Russell, presented two staff members with vouchers, gifts and Barchester Healthcare reward badges to recognise their commitment and loyalty to Westergate House. 

Bernice Jenkins, our RMN, has completed 20 years’ service.  She is the Head of Memory Lane Communities and sees Westergate House as her second home.  She is devoted to our residents and ensures their day-to-day health, happiness and security. 

Marc Freeman, an RGN who works with our residential residents, has worked at Westergate House for 10 years.  Marc is calm, caring and dedicated to his role - with the additional skill of entertaining residents and staff with magic tricks!  Congratulations and best wishes to both Bernice and Marc.  We hope you spend several more decades with us!

With our very own resident artists at Westergate House, we were glad of help when it came to painting cups and saucers to put in goodie bags for NHS staff. Dennis and June were only too willing to share their wonderful artistic skills and create beautiful designs on the crockery.

It was a lovely activity which resulted in unique gifts to put in each of the bags. The Big Tea fundraising event took place at Westergate House on Monday 5th July to celebrate the NHS' birthday where residents, relatives and staff enjoyed a garden tea party with entertainment from Jodie Shemmans. The completed gift bags were delivered to St. Richard's Hospital.

Residents at Westergate House celebrated the NHS’s birthday on Monday with a delightful garden tea party supporting the NHS Big Tea National event.  The celebration was arranged to share gratitude to every member of the NHS who has put themselves on the line this year to keep us and our loved ones safe.   A 1950s tea party was fitting for the theme and singer Jodie Shemmans created a wonderful atmosphere with popular songs throughout the decades.  ‘Let’s twist Again’ was a favourite and residents, relatives and staff engaged with the music and sense of fun.  Westergate House chef Chris put on a wonderful cream tea with beautiful cakes, strawberries and Pimms to tempt us all. 

To raise funds for the NHS a raffle was held which included donations from Vicky Heron Adams, the Community Engagement Manager at Morrisons Bognor Regis and Gary McGuire from Tesco Bognor Regis.   We arranged a craft stall for the residents living with dementia, where goodie bags were made up for staff at St. Richard’s Hospital.  The bags included boxes of tea, skin care products and the beautifully decorated cups and saucers that the residents painted during the afternoon.

General Manager Paul Middleton-Russell said “This has been an incredible afternoon.  A wonderful atmosphere where our residents and their relatives have been able to engage in a worthwhile cause and enjoy the delights of a super summer tea party.”

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon on Saturday 26th June and Westergate House were delighted to commemorate the service men and women of Britain with a garden party for Armed Forces Day.  With events happening all over the country, it was lovely to feel part of the celebration; acknowledging the work of the UK Armed Forces who, throughout the year, defend the UK and its interests around the world by delivering aid, promoting peace and providing security. 

Westergate House did it in style.  Residents from the dementia communities joined the party with the staff and enjoyed a cream tea in the grounds.  Singer, Alice Mayhead, created the perfect atmosphere with well-known tunes from the 1940s and 1950s.  It was a trip down memory lane for us all.

General Manger, Paul Middleton-Russell, said “This afternoon has been an absolute delight for our residents at Westergate House.  We have all joined in singing songs from decades gone by, and it has been lovely to see our residents taking part in such a super occasion.”

The rain didn't dampen enthusiasm last Friday when Westergate House took a stall at the farmer's market in the centre of Chichester.  Keen to enjoy the company of passers-by, Kay and Laura brightened the stall with Barchester balloons and Westergate House banners.  It was a fabulous day.  Lovely to be out in the neighbourhood!  Chichester locals were interested to hear about the Manager's Open Day, this coming Saturday, and one of the summer's main events, our Antiques Valuation Afternoon Thursday 29th July.  General Manager, Paul Middleton-Russell, spent time manning the stall and taking part in the delightful community day.  We are looking forward to returning to the market on the 16th July.  See you there

With beautiful sunshine for a trip out, General Manager Paul Middleton-Russell, drove to Elmer to establish a connection with PRN Care.  Following a time where all care services have been affected by the pandemic, we feel it is important to share resources and connect with the local community.  Paul met with Jo and Peter Whiteley of PRN Care, a family run business established in 2007.  Goodie bags from Westergate House were given to the staff to celebrate Carers Week, and we discussed ways in which we can support one another.  It was super meeting Jo and Peter as local care providers in the community and to know that our connection can enhance service provision