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
Easter
Easter was such a wonderful time at Westergate House. We hosted a fun bunny hunt for the children and the residents enjoyed a great weekend and some delicious eggs!
A special birthday spread!
The fabulous chef and his kitchen team prepared a beautiful spread for a special birthday party hosted here at Westergate house. The event was enjoyed by everyone!
Pallant House Gallery and Westergate House
Residents at Westergate House have been busy creating wonderful pieces of art inspired by the homes beautiful surroundings. The workshop is provided by Pallant House Gallery in Chichester.
This fantastic monthly workshop sees residents taught some new skills and techniques by the Gallery’s ‘In House’ artists. Over the last couple of months they have been able to work with Water Colours, Collages and now scratch boards and chalk. Next month residents will be working with clay and sculpting some wonderful creations.
Lifestyles Lead, Lee Austin, explained the benefits of being part of this community project. “Emily and her team at Pallant house have been great and the workshops they have provided work so well with our residents. We have built up a great relationship with the gallery and this week, some of our residents went to the gallery as part of our Minibus outing to look around, and see some works of art on display. This creative and enjoyable experience for everyone involved will continue through the summer, giving everyone a chance to learn new skills and create some art work that they can display in their rooms.”
These workshops provided by Pallant House help improve and learn new skills in a relaxed enjoyable environment encouraging communication and laughter between residents.
Burns' Night Celebrations
Westergate House care home in Fontwell prepared a traditional Burns Night lunch for the residents and staff in the home, to the backdrop of traditional Scottish music. Lifestyles Lead, Lee Austin, was involved in a number of activities to mark the Scottish institution, including giving the time-honoured address to the ‘Great chieftain O’ the pudding race’ – the haggis.
General Manager, Paul, said: “Burns Night is always a fantastic event at Westergate House, it’s so important to continue these traditions. Our residents enjoyed a hearty meal of Scotch broth, and a choice of Haggis with neeps and tatties, Scottish salmon, and Braised Beef Brisket all prepared by our stellar Chef, Chris Gray Grana-Priego. We also had great fun discovering how much, or is some cases how little(!), we knew about Scotland with our brilliant Scottish quiz.”
Antiques Expert Mark Oliver visits Westergate House
Westergate House hosted an Antiques Valuation afternoon this week, with London Art Expert Mark Oliver, who, of Bonhams and Bargain Hunt fame, kindly agreed to visit the home to share his expertise with residents, relatives and guests. Mark has enjoyed a fabulous career culminating in becoming the Head of the Decorative Arts department at Bonhams since the late 1990s. His specialist field of knowledge is Art Nouveau, Art Deco and 20th Century decorative art.
It was a super afternoon, and while no one seemed to be sitting on a small fortune quite yet, great fun was had bringing a selection of heirlooms and antiques for Mark to appraise. He did a fabulous job of explaining provenance and date, and then gave the eagerly awaited news on the value of the precious items. Mark was delighted to offer insight and history to the pieces. At the end of the afternoon, residents and staff collectively agreed that sentimental value was by far the most important, and that the delicious high tea served by Head Chef Chris and his team, had contributed to the ambience of the event.
Chinese New Year
Staff and residents at Westergate House welcomed in the Year of the Rabbit with a day of celebrations and activities.
Inspired by Chinese culture and traditions, fortune cookies were exchanged and the home was decorated with hanging red lanterns. Residents learned all about the traditions and superstitions of Chinese New Year, and took part in Chinese brush painting. Head Chef Chris served an oriental lunch, which was followed by traditional music and dance, and then a class of Tai Chi seated exercise to round off the afternoon.
Ann, a resident at Westergate House said: “I loved the music, the vibrant costumes and trying my hand at the Chinese brush painting. I find it fascinating to learn all about different traditions.”
