Activities at Westlake House Care Home
Residents enjoy playing hoopla and bocce bowls, which combine exercise with the thrill of competitive sport. We invite entertainers and musicians to visit the home on a regular basis and residents very much enjoy watching them perform.
We also have our pet therapy dog, Marley, visit the home on a fortnightly basis, and residents love petting him. They also enjoy health and fitness days, where they get the opportunity to participate in armchair exercises and target games.
We always celebrate National Volunteer Week, which we use as a chance to say thank you for the wonderful work that our volunteers do that further enhances the quality of life for those who live at Westlake.
As well as continuing with our favourite activities, such as arts & crafts, bingo, knit & natter, Scrabble, board games, bridge, quizzes, pampers & manicures, reminiscence sessions and musical memories, we always like to launch new activities for residents, which give them the opportunity to socialise with their friends and families. These could be our own vegetable patches, flower arranging sessions, a book club or anything else that our imaginations conjure up.
Rosie Duhig
I joined the Barchester family in November 2024 and have instantly felt welcome and supported. As an activity coordinator, I am passionate about getting to know our residents and delivering person-centred care and activities to all residents, an approach supported by a holistic, whole-home view.
I have been in a Care support role since 2019 and an Activity Coordinator since 2020. I love that my role brings laughter and joy to others. It so wonderful seeing people engaging in an activity they enjoy and interacting with each other. I am very passionate about Intergenerational projects, as something magical happens when old and young get together.
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 Westlake House Care Home
Crafting club at Westlake House
Residents at Westlake House have been busy in their creative crafting workshop this week and have made a beautiful advent calendar in preparation for the festive season.
Having a chat over a cuppa and enjoying delicious home baked cakes, residents working with Mel and Connie created a lovely tree advent calendar. They chose different mediums to decorate the tree beautifully and then filled the draws with chocolatey treats.
We wonder who will be the lucky one to open the compartment for the day and enjoy the delicious treat inside.
Blessing the standard - Veterans event
This Remembrance Sunday we reflect on our lost Heroes at Westlake House. We were honoured to host the AFVBC Crawley & Horsham on Thursday who had the blessing of the standard service. The service was such as remarkable event befitting as we were approaching Armstice day and Remembrance Sunday.
Westlake House hosted a number of dignitaries including our own resident and veteran who’s 100 years old,Tony Snelling. Tony was helped to hand over the standard along with Dr David Skipp, Chairman of the Horsham District Council. The event was overseen by Rev Richard Caldecott of St. Mark's Church, Horsham who performed the blessing ceremony.
We would like to thank AFVBC Crawley & Horsham for choosing Westlake House. We were also blessed by our resident Isabel Richardson who played some hymns throughout the blessing ceremony.
Autumnal Art Session.
Residents at Westlake House had a fantastic Autumnal Art Session led by our wonderful Volunteer Maria Parkhouse. Our residents made colourful Firework paintings and used different mediums to create their art work.
We had a go at leaf printing and we really loved the results. Such a fun afternoon. thank you Maria. We always enjoy your sessions.
A dream come true for Ron.
Resident, Rodney “Ron” Green, at Westlake House wanted to see the Jazz Band he formed almost 20 years ago play. So staff at the home, with help from Ron’s family and friends, made his wish a reality. Staff first found out about Ron’s dream soon after he moved in and, ever since then, they have been dedicated to helping him achieve it.
The Ron Green Big Band musicians sneaked into Westlake House Care home so their performance would be a big surprise. One of the band members and dear friend of Ron’s, Mel Smith, travelled all the way from Somerset to play and be part of Ron’s special day. Ron’s friends and family joined the residents at Westlake House who were all in on the surprise.
In response to this wonderful surprise, Ron said: “It was so amazing. The band were fantastic. I wondered what was going on when they wouldn’t let me in the lounge to start with. Then when I saw the band it is such an amazing feeling to know that such a lovely group of people had arranged all this for me. They played some of my favourite songs, I had a tear in my eye. I was so happy.”
For more information on life at Westlake House please call 01403 270773
It's Showtime!
Another amazing afternoon of entertainment from Barry Stevens, Radio 2 "Voice of Musical Theater Finalist". Barry entertained residents at Westlake House with our favorite songs from our favorite musicals. As well as a repertoire of Frank Sinatra songs and a fabulous rendition of 'Sweet Caroline' which had us all singing along. It was a great variety show with jokes and humor that had us laughing and thoroughly entertained.
For more information on life at Westlake House please call 01403 270773.
Autumn sunshine at Sumners Pond.
This week residents from Westlake House made the most of the lovely Autumn Sunshine and visited Sumners Pond, a beautiful tranquil spot amongst acres of lakes, woodland and pasture.
We admired the views and watched the lovely wildlife. We enjoyed afternoon tea, chatted and just relaxed in the most beautiful of settings.
For more information about life in our home please call us on 01403 270773.
