Lofthouse care home celebrates reopening with special Remembrance Day event

Mayor of Wakefield, Coun Brian Moorhouse, opened the care home’s new Remembrance Garden at a special Community Open Day, held on Monday (November 9).

Created by Alex Farrar and her team, the garden offered a peaceful place to pause and remember those who have fallen.

The celebration saw staff, residents and visitors enjoy an afternoon of live performances from the Minden House Buglers and Jessica Poole.

Throughout the afternoon, the Mayor chatted with residents and staff to also celebrate how far West Ridings has come over the past year.

Speaking at the opening, the Mayor said: “It is an honour to be invited to this ceremony that means so much to staff and residents.

“A lot of work and effort has gone into the display and the home itself.”

The Lofthouse care home was rated "Inadequate" and placed in special measures following inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May and October 2025.

Because of this, over the past year, vulnerable residents were forced out and staff were made redundant.

However, since then, staff have banded together to ‘save’ and revamp the home.

Following a drop from 180 beds to 30, manager Lauren Hayward and her staff began to put focus on what could be done to improve residents’ experience and their day-to-day care.

After an assessment in September, the CQC upgraded the home's rating to "Requires Improvement"- noting signs of progress.

24 residents currently live on the premises, with more joining through a phased administration.

Home manager Lauren Hayward praised the staff and their community for their support in getting the care home back up and running.

She said: “It’s been a journey, but days like this remind us exactly why we do what we do.

“A lot of hard sweat and tears have gone into it but the staff and local community have all come together to help get us where we are today.

“We’ve stripped it all back and have started again.”

Numerous events and activities for residents are also back up and running.

This includes a weekly exercise class, with residents also set to take part in a wreath making workshop later this month.

Lauren continued: “Looking after the people in our care is our priority but we also want to make sure they’re not just sat in a room.

“We’ve got so much more planned for the home to make it the best it can be for residents.”