Activities at Westvale House Care Home

Staff, residents, relatives and the local community came together at Westvale to enjoy a Christmas Fete that was held in the home’s grounds on Saturday 7th December.

Westvale hosted a variety of activities throughout the day, including a visit from Santa himself who delivered presents to everyone. Throughout the afternoon everyone was able to wander the various stalls to purchase those last minute gifts before enjoying musical entertainment and refreshments which were enjoyed by everyone who came to the event and the guests from the local community.

Residents of Westvale recently welcomed the children from local nursery, Stepping Stones, to help them decorate their Christmas cake in preparation for the home's Christmas Fair. Each resident with the help of their visitors chose the icing and which sprinkles they wanted to decorate.

It was hard not to eat as they worked – there was a choice of delicious toppings to choose from. They finished decorating just in time to enjoy some festive treats.

Residents often spend time decorating cakes as it’s an activity that can remind them of past hobbies and family life. Here at Westvale we always try and carry on with hobbies that each of our residents did in the past.

They spend time talking with each other and their loved ones about what makes them happy and incorporate that into daily life in the Home.

Residents from Westvale visited local garden centre, Dobbies to admire the Christmas displays. As residents headed to the local garden centre to get in the festive spirit, the ladies admired all of the decorations and browsed the Christmas displays before heading for some lunch.

The ladies chatted over lunch and smiled as they watched children playing in the play area next to the café, one Resident commented that it was a lovely way to get in the festive spirit. Sarah Morley, Activities Coordinator said: “I am pleased the ladies have had a great day, we are looking forward to enjoying lots more festive activities in the run up to Christmas.”

Residents of Westvale commemorated Remembrance Day on Sunday 10th November, where they joined the rest of the United Kingdom in holding a two-minute silence at 11am.

As well as marking Remembrance Day by wearing poppies and watching the televised service, some residents were taken to the local cenotaph to commemorate the members of the armed forces who died in the line of duty.

In the days leading up to Remembrance Sunday Residents participated in Remembrance arts and crafts and an afternoon live performance from vocalist, Debby who took everyone down memory lane and had them all singing along before the church service.

Residents, families and staff welcomed Jewish Counsellor, Geoff Pearl from St Helens to the home as part of their regular afternoon teas as their guest speaker to come and speak who shared the history of the Jewish Festival Yom Kippur, also known as Day Of Atonement.

The residents learnt that it is the holiest day of the year for the Jews and its central themes are atonement and repentance and how they traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Everyone enjoyed the informative talk and group session.

Residents at Westvale enjoyed an afternoon of singing and dancing as they welcomed popular local entertainer, Debby into the home for an afternoon of country music, before settling back to enjoy a slice of home-made cake and refreshments.

Carol Dwyer, General Manager, said: “Everyone had a lovely time singing their favourite songs. When they weren’t singing they were dancing. It was a lovely way to spend an afternoon.