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.
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 Westlake House Care Home
Thank you to our Volunteers
We invited in our wonderful volunteers for some home baked cakes, tea, coffee and some fizz whilst listening to the wonderful entertainer, Matt Embling. Our Resident Ambassadors, Norman Clarke and Betty Waterhouse said a few words at the end of the event to express their gratitude for the volunteer’s support of them and the home. Our lovely Cares took some time out to show their support as well. The whole home came together to support this event and leant their time and expertise to making it a successful event for our lovely volunteers and residents.
Horsham Park
This week some of our wonderful Westlake House residents travelled to Horsham Park where the Friends of Horsham Park volunteers meet every Wednesday morning to work on specific areas of the Park. Today the residents were lucky enough to see the fantastic Sensory Garden being worked on. The residents delivered some cakes and a bottle of fizz to thank the volunteers for the outstanding job they do each week on keeping Horsham Park looking so well kept for all the visitors and dog walkers to enjoy each day. The Friends of Horsham Park volunteers were extremely welcoming and have invited the residents back.
Simon Visits
Simon visited Westlake House residents to talk about his new children’s book. Simon has written several highly acclaimed books for young people, including Silenced, which was shortlisted for multiple awards, comin 2 get u, a novel about cyberbullying and World War Two which is read widely in German schools, and Firewallers, chosen as one of The Independent’s children’s books of the year. He is also the composer and lyricist of eleven musicals for primary schools, was an actor who once starred opposite Judy Dench in a theatre production and was also a stand-up comedian. Simon lives in West Sussex with his wife Deborah and an ageing cat called Pax.
Sumners Pond
For those residents who didn’t manage to go last week, we had a second trip to Sumners Pond for coffee and cake The sun was shining and the scenery was beautiful. Everyone enjoyed the trip and they are looking forward to going back again soon.
Easter Fair
Westlake House held an Easter Fair for the residents, family and friends, which was opened by Reverend Richard Coldicott of St Mary’s Church Horsham. The event was well supported by 1015 Squadron RAF Cadets based in Horsham who helped throughout the Fair. We had stalls where sellers had lovely Easter goodies to purchase and music from the Pleasure Singers and the Horsham Accordion Group.
Baxter's visit brings joy to canine loving residents!
We were delighted to welcome Baxter, a delightful Springer Spaniel for another visit to meet residents this week accompanied by David, a member of the homes maintenance team.
David, who volunteers for the Cinnamon Trust to walk Baxter for his owner in the community was impressed by Baxter’s calm nature he approached the home to see if he could be a regular visitor for the residents. Taking a tour round the home stopping in residents rooms with Baxter, so they could give him a treat before joining a group of residents in the lounge, he certainly enjoyed all the attention from all the team too. Animal therapy has been proven to have a calming effect on those living with memory loss together with helping to alleviate symptoms of low mood and lowering blood pressure.
Rosemary, resident at Westlake House, joined David and Baxter for a walk round the neighbourhood in the sunshine before afternoon tea with the residents, David said “I know so many residents who had their own dogs previously and they shared stories of the fun and companionship they enjoyed, it was a pleasure for me to bring Baxter to spent time here and he will be back again soon!”
