Celebrating life at Barchester

We have welcomed the Northeast Nursery back to our home at Lochduhar, after the Christmas break. Our residents were very happy to see the children return.

The children had remembered some of our residents' names and one of our residents said that made him feel very special. We all did some colouring in of snowmen, sunshine and numbers. We then sang together a snowman song. We had some snacks of cheese and biscuits made by our kitchen team and had some juice. We were read a story by their teacher, and then we all sang together the goodbye song. The children went to put on their coats and waterproofs and said goodbye to the residents, and they said,see you next week. We chatted when the children left and the residents said they were looking forward to seeing the children on their next visit.  

There's nothing like a little bit of retail therapy to soothe the mind so when Freda and Mary said that they would like to go and have a look around the local supermarket, we were only too happy to oblige.

We had a lovely wander around and after the ladies had bought what they wanted to we headed back to Bayleaf for a coffee and some cake.

At Westergate House we had a fabulous morning working with felt! Sarah from Matt Black Barn, the creative arts and crafts studio in Fishbourne, paid us a visit and ran a delightful workshop exploring the medium of felt to create some unique pieces of art with our residents. Working with the colourful fabric was wonderful – there was no end to possibility in the range of colour and design, and the resulting artworks were beautiful. 

Sarah demonstrated the techniques of needle-felting, where the felt was pressed into fabric with a small circular stamp, creating a textile effect, and wet-felting, where the felt was wrapped around a spherical shape, and then worked into a three-dimensional design. The time flew – we were so engaged in our craft – and the finished pieces were to be proud of.

A lovely Westergate House outing this week. Some of our residents enjoyed a relaxing minibus trip to the Aldingbourne Country Centre for morning refreshments. Super to have family join too! The café offered a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with delicious homemade cake and freshly brewed coffee that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

From the comfort of our table, we had wonderful views overlooking the farm where we could watch the animals go about their day.
It was a lovely outing filled with laughter, good company, and a chance to enjoy the peaceful countryside. We're already looking forward to our next visit.       

Our reception area was transformed into a nostalgic wonderland today as we welcomed the lovely Rebecca from Sweet Memories of Hadleigh!

The home was filled with the wonderful scent of old-fashioned sweets as Rebecca set up her traditional stall. It was a true blast from the past, with favourites sold by the quarter and weighed out on classic scales.

General Manager Elina House said "from pear drops to midget gems, the selection was incredible! All our residents, visitors, and staff stopped by to browse, and the smiles and delight on everyone’s faces truly said it all".

There is nothing quite like a familiar treat to spark a happy memory and a great conversation. A huge thank you to Rebecca for bringing such a sweet touch of nostalgia to our day. We can’t wait to have you back!

What a joy it was to have the lovely nursery school children back to the home for a fantastic visit, with bingo games with lots of winning numbers, story reading , magic painting and of course the sweet voices singing songs.

Our residents are so grateful for the visits which brings such joy into the home from the moment those little feet cross the threshold until they departed with a sing song chorus of goodbyes as they left the home.
 

We know that intergenerational activity is hugely beneficial to all involved as it encourages communication and social skills. Intergenerational contact also helps to develop language and reading confidence through shared activities, as well as increasing confidence and self-esteem. Lastly it helps children to develop empathy, care and kindness, helping them to understand and talk more positively about ageing and older people.

Barchester Healthcare don’t just care for our wonderful residents and their families—but also care deeply about our incredible STAFF too! 

We want to hear what our staff have to say about their experience working with us and the wider Barchester Healthcare family. That’s why Barchester have launched the “Your Voice” Survey, and to make it extra special. As a thank you to our staff, we have set up our very own Carenival Station (yes, with an extra ‘e’ for the extra care we give!) in the home.

We are asking our staff to have Their Say and provide feedback which is important, by scanning the main survey via the QR code at the station set up in the main lounge. There is also a BIG BONUS,  the extra bonus survey—staff could win a massive £1000! 

Our lovely General Manager has also provided Sweet Treats in a relaxed space for staff to scan their QR code to complete the survey.

Our incredibly talented Chef, has created a truly fabulous Carnival Cake! It’s on display right now in the home. Come and take a look!! Staff can grab a coffee and cake while you scan and share your thoughts.
Your voice matters. Let’s make it heard!

The skies above Westergate House were lit up in a blaze of colour and cheer as residents, staff, volunteers, family and friends gathered to enjoy our annual fireworks extravaganza. A wonderful evening where laughter and ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ filled the air, and bursts of red, gold, blue and green danced overhead in showers of colour.  

Adding to the pizazz of the night, Chef Konnie and her amazing kitchen team kept everyone well-fed with sizzling hotdogs, homemade soup and cups of hot chocolate – perfect for keeping the chill at bay. Residents kept snugly and warm, wrapped in blankets, and enjoyed the display with their loved ones. It was an evening of sparkle, community and joy, where smiles lit up faces as brightly as the fireworks overhead.   

The skies above Westergate House were lit up in a blaze of colour and cheer as residents, staff, volunteers, family and friends gathered to enjoy our annual fireworks extravaganza. 

A wonderful evening where laughter and ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ filled the air, and bursts of red, gold, blue and green danced overhead in showers of colour.  Adding to the pizazz of the night, Chef Konnie and her amazing kitchen team kept everyone well-fed with sizzling hotdogs, homemade soup and cups of hot chocolate – perfect for keeping the chill at bay. 

Residents kept snugly and warm, wrapped in blankets, and enjoyed the display with their loved ones. It was an evening of sparkle, community and joy, where smiles lit up faces as brightly as the fireworks overhead.