CLAWC Choir

Bravo! Bravo! Another big round of applause for our Country Living at Westview Commons Choir. This kindred assembly of individuals step forward voluntarily to voice songs performed in their own residence at Westview Commons and at Westview Health Care Center on a monthly basis. These sing-a-long sessions are jovial and joinable, playful and participatory—and they always bring big smiles to our audience of patients, residents, and staff members. This Holiday season saw their entertainment efforts expand to the delight all members of our multi-generational facility family. The Westview Commons Choir Holiday Tour brought them to Westview Child Care Center, Westview Health Care Center, and back to their home community to perform at a Westview Commons’ Christmas party.

Their festive featurette consisted of classic holiday tunes, seasonally selected poetry readings, and interactive performances to add to their inclusive impact. Administrative Assistant/Activities Specialist Nancy Blake gleefully leads this group throughout the year. She and the happy harmonizers from the Dayville, CT independent and assisted living facility delivered merry melodies, tinsel tunes, and overall Christmas charm to our audiences in December. At Westview Child Care Center, bells were handed out to our students and many danced about as the jolly songs rang forth; jiggling and jingling all the way! Patients and residents at Westview Health Care Center and Westview Commons each received lyrical songbooks to hit every note along with the choir—but most knew all of the songs by heart!. Staff members stepped into the performance spaces to share in the good tidings and spread the cheer even further throughout our campus.

At Westview Child Care Center, catchy, upbeat songs such as “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Here Comes Santa Claus” graced the space. The darling interactions between the Westview Commons Choir members and the young students were plentiful. Choir Member Gwyneth read a playful poem titled “Snowball” to the children, and choir Leader Nancy Blake engaged their minds with holiday musings and encouraged them to join in the musical merriment.

The choir came a-wassailing among the patients and residents at Westview Health Care Center and Westview Commons with a set list that included a wider range of Christmas hits and hymns. The familiar lyrics of songs such as “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Deck the Halls,” and “Joy to the World” captivated the whole room in song and dance; expanding to the excitement of many more residents and Westview staff members in the adjacent hallways. Visual cues by the singers enhanced a very lively rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas” and coir member Roger offered his drumming to the tune of “The Little Drummer Boy.” The audiences at both of these locations enjoyed contemplative poetry read by choir members Gwyneth and Pat. Verses of “Christmas Giving” and “A Friend’s Greeting” lifted up hopes and praise for all of the people around us in the season of giving. Westview Commons Choir members Roger and Morrey took to the microphone to perform verses of “White Christmas,” with the choir providing supporting vocals.

When the choir ultimately returned to their own home of Country Living at Westview Commons, it was billed as a fixture of their Christmas week celebration. A small group of Westview Commons residents got together to bake several delicious racks of cookies for the anticipated audience later in the day. Their inspired effort to carry their voices to others throughout the year and throughout the Westview campus crescendos with their holiday highlight tour. This past yuletide season was their most ambitious—and created more precious Christmas scenes for the whole Westview family. We thank all of the members of the Westview Commons Choir and Choir Leader Nancy Blake for their commitment to warming our hearts by song all year around. This special set of engagements during Christmastide is a treasured ornament in our memory.

Country Living at Westview Commons is a 75-unit independent and assisted living community conveniently located in picturesque Northeastern Connecticut. Affiliated with Westview Health Care Center, a nationally-ranked nursing facility according to CMS and U.S. News and World Report for the past years, Westview Commons is a 115,000 square foot catered living facility dedicated to a genuine 5-star experience including outstanding service, culinary expertise and professional in-house entertainment. Located in Dayville, CT, Westview Commons combines convenience, tranquility and comfort; providing a lifestyle that seniors deserve.