Westergate House Care Home - Barchester Healthcare

25/09/2025

It’s a special event day here at Westergate House. This afternoon we are hosting a Women’s Health & Well-being talk at 2.30pm, with the chance to chat with advisors Kim and Valentina, from Arun Well-being. Please join us for the informal talk, presentation, and refreshments prepared by Chef and his wonderful team.
RSVP

24/09/2025

🖌️ Virtual V&A Make-along 🎨

In celebration of National Day of Arts in Care Homes, residents and patients across the country enjoyed a wonderful V&A Virtual Make-along experience with Holly from the V&A Learning team and designer-artist Rafin Jannat.

Taking inspiration from the South Asia Gallery at the museum, everyone had the chance to experiment with paints and pigments made from everyday ingredients, creating their own unique artworks.

It was a calming, creative experience that everyone truly enjoyed. A big thank you to the Victoria and Albert Museum team for leading such an inspiring session!

Here are some of our favourite highlights. ✨

National Activity Providers Association

22/09/2025

⭐ We’re Finalists in the UK Customer Experience Awards ⭐

It’s awards season and we’re thrilled to share that our talented Customer Experience Team has been shortlisted in not one, but two categories in the prestigious UK Customer Experience Awards:

💡 Best Use of Customer Insight
💻 Best Use of Technology

We’re proud that Barchester Healthcare is the only company from the health sector to be recognised in either of these categories. The winners will be announced at Wembley in October – wish us luck!

Our nomination for Best Use of Customer Insight comes from our Tell Barchester survey, which gathers invaluable feedback each year from more than 13,500 residents, patients and their families. Every single piece of feedback helps us shape and improve the care and services we provide.

In the Best Use of Technology category, our new Connex CRM system, powered by Salesforce, has been recognised for transforming how we manage every customer interaction – making the care journey seamless.

We’re so proud of our team and grateful to everyone who shared their feedback with us.

21/09/2025

With the last days of summer upon us, we are making the most of the fine weather, and getting out and about in the Westergate House mini-bus. We took a lovely ride through the countryside to one of our favourite haunts, The Weald & Downland Museum, and made sure a visit to the fabulous cafe was high on our agenda 😊
The temptation of tea and cake was irresistible and, on this occasion, we sampled the lime and courgette cake. What a delicious treat! In good company, and with beautiful surroundings, we watched the world go by, enjoying the view of the lake and the historical buildings. A perfect outing! 🍰☕️😍

21/09/2025

World Alzheimer’s Day 2025 – Why It Matters More Than Ever 💜

World Alzheimer’s Day, observed annually on 21st September, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

With nearly 1 million people in the UK living with dementia, understanding, support and research have never been more important.

Alzheimer’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s, and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.

At Barchester, our commitment to dementia care goes beyond World Alzheimer’s Day. We strive to make a difference every day, providing compassionate support, innovative programmes, and expert care for residents, patients and families.

To find out more, please see our latest blog here: https://www.barchester.com/help-and-advice/world-alzheimers-day-2025-why-it-matters-more-ever-barchester

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18/09/2025

What better way to celebrate ‘National Housekeeping Week’ than to showcase our amazing Westergate House Housekeeping Team.

The girls in purple do an incredible job at maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards throughout the home, as well as contributing to our residents’ well-being by taking time to chat and spread cheer throughout each day.

Pictured are just a few of our amazing team of 7, with Head of Housekeeping Holly in the middle.

We would like to extend our thanks and gratitude for the fabulous work you all do, not just this celebrated week, but right through the year too.

Well done girls; a fabulous job 🤩🥰

17/09/2025

A delightful sign that autumn is on its way – the Macmillan Coffee Morning is nigh! On Friday 26th September, we are delighted to be hosting the annual event, with a coffee morning here at Westergate House from 10.30am in our Bistro. We are looking forward to seeing everyone; a lovely opportunity to get together and raise funds for people living with cancer. Please feel welcome to join us for a cup of coffee and a slice of something delicious 🍰🥰

16/09/2025

⭐ Happy National Housekeeping Week ⭐

This week we’re celebrating the fantastic housekeeping teams across our care homes and hospitals.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to recognise their dedication to keeping everything spotless and creating a welcoming environment for residents, patients, families and visitors.

Thank you to all our colleagues for their continuous hard work and support – you truly make a difference every day.

16/09/2025

At Westergate House we have been stretching out this morning. With a monthly visit from the charity RISE, Raising Spirits, Reaching Goals, residents in our Memory Lane community participated in a seated sports session led by the amazing Donna. There was a tangible air of competition as everyone engaged in the interactive activities that encourage movement, exercise and social connection. Teams Bluebirds and Red Arrows fought it out for number one spot and Bluebirds won the game of bowling 🏆 Each of the activities is tailored to ability, and to improve hand-eye coordination, team-building, and the learning of new skills. This is achieved through adaptation of traditional sports such as cricket, football, hockey, tennis and bowls. Needless to say, a vibrant and exciting atmosphere ensued, as did the chatter! Refreshments after the session were much appreciated 🥰

To find out more about life at Westergate House, please give us a call on 01243 544744 or visit our website https://www.barchester.com/home/westergate-house-care-home

15/09/2025

Our very own Lifestyles Lead, Lee of Westergate House, could be seen out and about this weekend, taking part in the fabulous Goodwood Revival festival. Roaming the venue with his fellow performers, Lee helped to contribute to the wonderful immersive atmosphere by dressing in vintage style and singing popular hits from past decades. Well done Lee, a great job. We love retro! 🥰

12/09/2025

🎉 Lotus Manor is Now Open 🎉

We’re excited to share that Lotus Manor Care Home in has opened its doors in style, with a Grand Opening performed by the Deputy Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Jane Tyson, in front of invited guests from the local community.

Our CEO, Dr Pete Calveley, and General Manager, Candy Guo, hosted the event and invited guests to view the stunning new 64-bed care home.

Designed with residents’ comfort in mind, Lotus Manor Care Home will offer residential support, respite stays and specialist dementia care, all delivered by a dedicated and passionate team of trained professionals.

Take a look at some of our favourite moments from the event. ✨

12/09/2025

We love a good book at Westergate House, regular reading strengthens the brains connections and provides a powerful tool for cognitive health. We had a lovely time where we could all take a break and read a book of our choice. Charlie, Activities Assistant, made sure everyone could be involved with the activity, by printing off some extracts and short stories. We took turns at reading passages, and sharing memories of the stories we’ve loved over the years. Nothing nicer than relaxation in good company, with a favourite story and a cup of tea 🥰 😊

11/09/2025

🚑 Celebrating Emergency Services Day 🚒👏

Residents, patients, colleagues and visitors marked this year’s Emergency Services Day in style, recognising the contribution of local emergency services, volunteers and heroes.

Our homes and hospitals hosted a variety of community events, from coffee mornings to afternoon garden parties, inviting emergency services personnel to join for hot drinks and delicious home-made cakes.

Everyone had a wonderful time, visiting local emergency services sites, engaging in conversations and sharing inspirational stories of emergency services heroes, both past and present.

09/09/2025

Understanding Dementia: 5 Common Myths

There are still many misconceptions about dementia, which can make it more difficult for people to feel supported or properly understood.

As part of World Alzheimer's Month, which takes place every September, we're raising awareness by addressing some of the most common myths surrounding the condition.

You can read the full article here: https://www.barchester.com/help-and-advice/blog/common-myths-surrounding-dementia

09/09/2025

A watercolour workshop at Matt Black Barn, Fishbourne, was a popular event for Westergate House residents. A short ride on our minibus took us to the super venue, an educational centre set up by sculptors Andrew Sabin and Laura Ford, where anything artistic is possible! With the lovely light setting, our residents had the opportunity to explore the medium of watercolour, and create artwork to be proud of. The benefits of mindfulness and focus were combined with the enjoyment of social interaction and productivity. A fabulous morning! 😍😊

To find out more about life at Westergate House, please give us a call on 01243 544744 or visit our website https://www.barchester.com/home/westergate-house-care-home

08/09/2025

✨ Celebrating Veteran-friendly Status ✨

Staff and residents at Wimborne Care Home in are celebrating because the home has achieved veteran-friendly status!

Wimborne has strong links to the military and is home to several ex-servicemen and women. At the start of 2025, the home proudly pledged its support to the Veteran-Friendly Framework and has been working towards Veteran-Friendly Status ever since in order to best serve its military residents and their families.

The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) was launched in October 2023, with the aim of tackling loneliness and isolation, and delivering improved health and wellbeing for over 25,000 veterans living in care homes across England.

Sarah Peach, General Manager at Wimborne Care Home, commented: “There are eight different standards to work through in order to achieve Veteran Friendly Status so you do need to be committed. But if like me and my team, you are passionate then it is a joy to complete and very informative. We have all loved doing it, meeting new people and taking part in charity events for veterans. We all thought it was an important step for a home like ours with so many links to the military and I know our team are delighted that we have been able to do this for our residents and their loved ones.”

What a fantastic achievement. Congratulations, Wimborne Care Home - Barchester Healthcare! 👏

08/09/2025

Our Tell Barchester Annual Survey is LIVE!

For the 5th consecutive year, our annual customer satisfaction survey Tell Barchester is OPEN!

The survey gives our residents, patients, their friends and family the opportunity to tell us how they feel about their experience, helping us learn, improve and celebrate what people love about life at Barchester.

Residents and patients are able to complete the survey with our teams, invitations to take part are emailed to all friends & family members we have contact details for – have you received yours? It’s also possible to take part in our homes and hospitals using the QR posters on display.

Tell Barchester is quick and simple to complete, your time is much appreciated and this feedback shapes the care and service received across Barchester.

In the meantime, if you have feedback you would like to share you can talk to us at any point, our door is always open.

04/09/2025

⭐ LaingBuisson 2025 Award Finalist ⭐

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been shortlisted for the ‘Care Home Group of the Year’ category at the prestigious LaingBuisson Awards.

Now in their 20th year, the awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in the UK health and social care industry.

With more than 400 entries submitted across each category, being named a finalist is a real honour.

This recognition is a true reflection of the dedication, hard work and compassion of all our teams and colleagues across Barchester – a big thank you for everything they do each day! 👏

The winners will be announced on the 20th November 2025 at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

LaingBuisson LaingBuisson News

04/09/2025

At Westergate House we ensure we have a variety of activities and events for our residents to take part in. Every fortnight we have a visit from Father Paul from Eastergate Church, who provides us with an in-house church service. The regular service is well-attended, providing spiritual comfort for our residents, with the added benefit of social interaction, maintaining a sense of purpose, and helping to trigger memories, especially for those living with dementia, through the familiar music and rituals. Father Paul does a wonderful job in creating a safe and valued experience for our residents, and with coffee and refreshments to follow, there’s little wonder the event is so popular! 😊

To find out more about life at Westergate House, please give us a call on 01243 544744 or visit our website https://www.barchester.com/home/westergate-house-care-home

03/09/2025

✨🎭 Bringing the Fringe to Strachan House ✨🎵

Residents, families and visitors at Strachan House Care Home in enjoyed an afternoon of fantastic performances as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Care Fest.

Now in its third year, the Fringe Care Fest brings the magic of the Fringe directly to care home residents who can no longer visit the festival venues.

Talented singer and pianist Jacqui Randa warmed up the crowd with her excellent keyboard skills and cheeky anecdotes. After a short break for more prosecco in the sun, everyone relaxed to the wonderful voice of Duane Forrest.

It was an amazing experience, complete with a special party menu from the home’s kitchen team, plenty of drinks – and of course, lots of dancing.

A big thank you to all involved in making this event such a success. 👏

02/09/2025

⭐ A Perfect 10! ⭐

We’re thrilled to share that Iverley View Care Home in has received a 10 out of 10 score on the independent care home reviews site, carehome.co.uk, after a series of glowing reviews.

This fantastic achievement places Iverley View 7th out of 7,238 care homes across England and 1st in their county.

A big thank you to the team who work incredibly hard to provide the highest standard of care and support to residents and their families. Truly well deserved. 👏

.co.uk

02/09/2025

This coming Monday 8th September, Barchester will be launching the ‘Tell Barchester’ customer survey for the 5th consecutive year! The Tell Barchester Champions for Westergate House are our very own Lee and Paul.

At Westergate House we take our responsibility of offering the best quality of care seriously, and always strive to do our best to support families, and to care for our residents, in a way that helps ‘Celebrate Life’. We also know that it is really important that we listen to our customers, to help us keep improving.

The survey remains online with a small number of questions for our residents and their families to share their views with us. We are very much looking forward to the feedback about how you feel about Westergate House and the support we provide. Thank you in advance for your participation, we look forward to hearing from you! 😀

01/09/2025

⭐️A Date for the Diary!⭐️

Open Day at Westergate House

Our friendly team are here to welcome you to our Open Day on Saturday 6th September 2025 from 10:00am.

Book a tour with our Senior General Manager Paul, or feel free to pop along on the day if you would like to view our beautiful home and enjoy our delicious homemade delights. Come and discover what life is like at Westergate House; we look forward to welcoming you 😊

To find out more about life at Westergate House, please give us a call on 01243 544744 or visit our website https://www.barchester.com/home/westergate-house-care-home

29/08/2025

🐾 Residents Welcome Furry Friends 🐾

Our care homes and hospitals recently marked National Dog Day in style by hosting a range of activities for all to enjoy, including dog shows, pet therapy sessions and community events.

From four-legged companions to wagging tails and friendly competitions, it was a wonderful day that brought joy and smiles to everyone.

Take a look at some of our favourite moments. ✨