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
Celebration of 25 years at Westlake House
Our Care Assistant Hazel has received a prestigious 25 Year Service Award in celebration of working at Barchester Healthcare for twenty five years.
Hazel Light, a dedicated carer, started at Barchester in December 1996, just 1 year after the Westlake House opened and has worked with residents and their relatives to ensure that their needs have been met over the years. Presented with her award by Cllr Dr David Skipp Hazel said: “I just love working here with the residents and my colleagues, we are a family.”
Jane McFarlane, Employee Services Director at Barchester said: “I’m always pleased to hear stories about the long service of Barchester staff and am delighted Hazel has achieved this milestone. It is dedication like this that ensures our residents are provided with a happy place to live.”
Kate Day, General Manager of Westlake House said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 25 years of loyal service with Hazel. She has demonstrated her dedication and loyalty to this home and its residents year after year. I speak for all of us here at Westlake House when I say that I’m looking forward to many more years of working with Hazel!”
Local Business Networking!
Our General Manager, Kate met with Ben at Gwyns Bakery in Horsham this week to talk about local business and share ideas as we approach Christmas.
Ben also donated 10 cakes for us to give to some local children who are visiting the home to sing some traditional songs in the garden for residents to enjoy.
Christmas Decorations go up!
Decorating our Christmas trees around the home has been a team effort this week! Unpacking the decorations and choosing the bauble colours for each tree has been great fun. With festive music to accompany our reminiscence of Christmases past and what we are looking forward to this year its good to be with friends
Christmas Lights switched on!
Residents took a trip in our mini bus on the first night of the Christmas lights at the King's home in Cottingham Avenue today! As darkness fell the display looked very festive, the weather was not so kind as it started to rain but we will be out to see more Christmas lights locally
Birthday Choir sing to Norman!
Resident Norman celebrated his 92nd birthday today and we were delighted to welcome the wonderful Cantatrice Voices Choir our Christmas Fete who sang a special 'Happy Birthday' to him! Head on over to our Facebook page, @BarchesterWestlakeHouse to listen to the video
Our Christmas Fete!
What a joyous afternoon at our Christmas Fete where we enjoyed shopping at the many stalls selling festive gifts while sipping on mulled wine and eating mince pies and homemade gingerbread! Opened by Chairman of the Council Dr David Skipp residents spent time with their friends and relatives and listened to choir song and carols. A definite success for all and one to be repeated!
