As the leaves turned and the days grew cooler, autumn brought with it a wonderful sense of togetherness across all three of our Eothen Care Homes. From gentle seasonal outings and creative activities to moments of reflection and laughter shared with friends, this autumn has been filled with warmth, connection, and meaningful experiences.

Eothen Gosforth Care Home

At Gosforth, residents embraced the spirit of the season with a variety of enriching activities and outings. A particularly special moment was attending the Harvest Festival at All Saints Church, where residents enjoyed traditional hymns, prayers of thanks, and beautiful displays celebrating the abundance of autumn. It was a peaceful and reflective occasion that many found deeply uplifting.

Back at the home, friendly competition brought plenty of smiles during lively games of dominoes. The afternoons were filled with laughter, conversation, and good company, reminding everyone that simple pleasures often bring the greatest joy.

Eothen Wallsend Care Home

Life at Wallsend this autumn has been both active and wonderfully cosy. Residents gathered regularly for armchair exercise sessions, where low-impact routines helped boost mobility while keeping spirits high. The room was often filled with laughter as everyone joined in together.

Pamper sessions were another firm favourite, with residents enjoying gentle hand massages and nail painting. Choosing their own nail polish colours added a personal touch and made everyone feel that little bit special.

Creative moments continued with baking activities, where the smell of home-made treats filled the house, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere ahead of afternoon tea. Knit & Natter afternoons also provided a lovely space for creativity and conversation, with the gentle rhythm of knitting needles accompanied by friendly chatter.

Eothen Whitley Bay Care Home

Whitley Bay residents made the most of autumn with both indoor fun and outings into the local community. A cheerful visit to Al Bear café proved popular, as residents enjoyed coffee, cake, and plenty of laughter in a lively setting.

Back at the home, a lively puppet show captured everyone’s attention, with residents eagerly watching their favourite characters come to life on stage. The humour and interactive moments made it an event that was, as always, very well attended.

Residents also turned their attention to nature, preparing bird feeders in the garden to care for local wildlife as the colder months approached — a thoughtful activity that brought a strong sense of purpose and connection to the outdoors.

A Season to Remember at Eothen Care Homes

Across all our care homes, autumn has been a season full of meaningful moments from shared laughter over tea to peaceful reflection, creativity and care for one another. These everyday experiences are what make life at Eothen so special and we’re grateful to our residents, staff and wider community for making this autumn one to remember.

We look forward to continuing to create warm, joyful memories together.

As we continue through 2025, we’re delighted to look back on another busy and joy-filled season at Eothen Care Homes. Across our care homes in Whitley Bay, Wallsend, and Gosforth our residents have enjoyed a wide variety of activities, celebrations and special visits that have brought plenty of smiles and cherished memories.

Eothen Wallsend Care Home

Over in Wallsend, creativity and community have been at the heart of life this season. Residents took part in a virtual visit to China, exploring culture, traditions, and sights from across the world all from the comfort of the home.

Our Gardening Club has also been busy with new additions to the outdoor spaces, particularly the planting of fresh tomato plants. It’s been wonderful to see residents nurturing the garden and taking pride in watching their efforts grow.

Eothen Whitley Bay Care Home

At Whitley Bay, residents have been making the most of the summer atmosphere with a wonderful mix of events and social gatherings.

International Dog Day was a particular highlight, as our residents welcomed some four-legged friends who brought endless joy and affection. It was a day full of wagging tails, happy faces, and lovely moments.

With the warm weather, there’s been no better way to cool down than with refreshing cocktails and milkshakes enjoyed together in the garden, a real treat for all!

We were also delighted to welcome back The Puppets, whose lively show filled the home with music, laughter, and entertainment.

Eothen Gosforth Care Home

At Gosforth, Father’s Day was a special occasion, celebrated with warmth and appreciation for the wonderful dads in our community.

Perhaps the biggest highlight was a visit from Saviours Haven Sanctuary, who brought along Zante the fox and a few of his animal friends. Residents were thrilled to meet these unique visitors, with the afternoon full of smiles, curiosity, and gentle animal antics.

Celebrating 75 Years of Eothen

This year is particularly special for us, as Eothen celebrates its 75th anniversary. Across all our homes, we’ve been reflecting on the incredible journey so far and the many lives touched over the decades. It’s a milestone we’re truly proud of, and we’re excited to continue creating wonderful memories with our residents, families and staff.

It has been another season of joy, community and celebration at Eothen Care Homes. We look forward to many more special moments as the year continues.

Eothen Homes Partners with Newcastle University to Champion Research in Dementia and Later Life Care

Eothen Homes is proud to announce its partnership with Newcastle University through the Care and Research North East initiative – a pioneering research-practice partnership that aims to place research at the heart of care home life.

Care & Research North East is one of three new Research Practice Partnerships (RPPs) in the care home sector, as part of a national project funded by NIHR. The RPP model focusses not only on research informing practice but also on practice informing research, improving the use and usefulness of research.

As a registered charity dedicated to providing high-quality care for older people, Eothen Homes is delighted to be working alongside one of the UK’s leading universities to further improve care practices and ensure residents receive support that is both compassionate and evidence-based.

This exciting collaboration is centred around the co-creation of research that reflects the real-world experiences of residents, relatives, and care staff. The partnership is designed to make research more meaningful and accessible care home teams, residents, families and academics to work together to address some of the most pressing challenges in residential and dementia care.

At Eothen, we are committed to a Christian ethos where everyone is valued and treated with dignity. Our dementia care home, based on the ‘Butterfly Household Model of Care’, focuses on creating a small household environment where residents feel loved, needed and truly at home. This ethos, along with our relaxed, relationship-focused approach to care, makes Eothen Homes a natural partner in this innovative research journey.

Staff and residents enjoy a relaxed atmosphere where connections flourish, and where routines are shaped around individuals rather than the other way around. Through our involvement in the partnership, we hope to share and enhance this model of person-centred care.

Speaking about the partnership, a representative from Eothen Homes said:

“We see this as a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the care we offer through collaboration and learning. Our residents, staff and families are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re excited to be part of shaping the future of care home research in a way that truly reflects their voices and experiences.”

The project recognises that care homes are not just places of care but communities full of life, stories, and wisdom. By bringing research into these communities in a respectful and collaborative way, it aims to bridge the gap between academic study and lived experience.

Eothen Homes looks forward to the next stage of this partnership, working alongside Newcastle University to inspire innovation, promote best practice, and ultimately enrich the lives of older people across the region.

For more information about the partnership click here.

It’s been a busy start to 2025 here at Eothen Care Homes, and we’re taking a moment to reflect on the first-quarter highlights from our three care homes in Wallsend, Whitley Bay, and Gosforth. Each of our homes has its own unique atmosphere, and this quarter has been filled with memorable moments and activities that have brought our residents together in the most wonderful ways.

Eothen Wallsend Care Home

Eothen Wallsend is known for its welcoming atmosphere, where residents are always encouraged to engage in creative and social activities. The first quarter of 2025 has been no exception.

• Residents have enjoyed arts and crafts sessions, where they could express their creativity and relax while creating beautiful pieces of art.
• Despite the cold weather, many residents embraced the outdoors with invigorating winter walks, enjoying the fresh air and the  winter landscapes.
• Glass decorating activities have also been a hit this quarter, with residents delighted by the opportunity to create their own unique glass pieces.
  ‘Such a lovely activity!’ ‘Superb!’ ‘Wonderful!’
• Some of our residents also took part in a scavenger hunt around our beautiful gardens, which was a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors.

Eothen Whitley Bay Care Home

Eothen Whitley Bay is known for its lovely surroundings and community. Our residents love to socialise and take part in various events that bring joy and laughter.

• One of the highlights this quarter was the visit from The Puppets, who entertained our residents with their vibrant and fun-filled puppet shows.
• The Valentine’s celebration was a special occasion, the atmosphere was filled with warmth and cheer.
• Residents have also spent plenty of time appreciating the beauty of the gardens, particularly in the sunshine.
  ‘Beautiful gardens, in every Eothen establishment.’ 
• Our Mother’s Day celebrations were another highlight, where we honoured the wonderful mothers in our community with a magical day of love, appreciation, and thoughtful activities.

Eothen Gosforth Care Home

Eothen Gosforth is a home filled with happiness, with residents always looking forward to new experiences. The first quarter of 2025 has been filled with fantastic outings and activities that have brought joy to all.

• One of the most exciting events was celebrating Newcastle’s victory in the Carabao Cup. Our residents were thrilled to cheer on the team, and the atmosphere was electric as we celebrated together.
• We also organised a coastal visit, which was a huge success.
  ‘Fantastic.’ ‘Everyone had a lovely time.’ The residents thoroughly enjoyed the fresh air and the stunning views of the coastline.
• The “Wake and Shake” session was another fun activity that got everyone moving. It was the perfect way to start the day with energy and enthusiasm.
• A particularly heartwarming moment was the hatching of new chicks, which brought a sense of wonder and joy to the home. Residents loved watching the chicks grow, and it created a beautiful connection with nature.

It’s been a quarter filled with joy, creativity, and community at all three of our Eothen Care Homes. We look forward to more fantastic memories in the months to come!

Please enjoy this story from the Chronicle, on Cliff and Cath Snowdon, who enjoyed a special Valentine’s Day treat at our Wallsend home.

A couple who have been married for more than five decades enjoyed a romantic candlelit Valentine’s Day dinner after care home staff decided to make their day “a little bit special”.

Cliff and Cath Snowdon, both 79, have been married for 55 years. However, they knew each other long before they tied the knot, having met on Tynemouth Beach when they were both just 15 years old.

Cath moved to a specialist dementia care home, Eothen, near the couples home in Wallsend 14 months ago, and since her move Cliff has missed just a handful of days seeing her. This lunchtime, the loved-up couple were treated to a private, candlelit lunch at Cath’s care home, as they were serenaded with love songs from the 50s and 60s.

Cliff and Cath are as much in love as they were when they were teenagers, and they even walk around the care home hand in hand. They have a daughter, Victoria, 51, and a grandson, Matthew, 12, who also come to visit.

But Wednesday was all about the happy couple. Cliff told ChronicleLive: “It’s a cliché but Cath was one of those people who thought about other people before herself, she would do anything for anybody.

“She was always there not only for family, but her friends as well. She’s a wonderful person.”

“I see Cath every day. I look forward to seeing her every day, but Valentine’s Day is just that extra bit special.

But every day’s special, so Valentine’s day is just a little bit more so!”

Former industrial chemist Cliff admitted he has struggled since Cath moved to Eothen. He said: “I took it badly, being on my own.

“I still suffer because it’s horrible coming into an empty house at night, particularly in the winter. But at least the nights are getting brighter, so I’m hoping things will improve.”

Cliff is at least able to take heart that Cath is in the best place for her. He said: “Cath settled in very early, the staff are magnificent, the facilities are wonderful, and she gets really wonderful care.

“It’s more than just a care home, it’s a family atmosphere and you feel part of that family whenever you visit. I’d like to say a thank you to the staff who are wonderful.”

Christine Henderson, 44, is the home manager at Eothen. She and her team set up the romantic dinner for Cliff and Cath, decorating the table-for-two in the home’s dining room with flowers and chocolates.

Christine told ChronicleLive: “It’s important to celebrate days like this, whatever your age. I think it’s so important that these special days aren’t forgotten.

“Cliff is absolutely dedicated to Cath, he comes in almost every day without fail to see her. They’re very much still a married couple, it’s so lovely – he just adores her.”