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!

Who else is enjoying the snow? A resident at our home in Gosforth certainly is.

Our residents at Gosforth were celebrating Burns Night yesterday. All were treated to a live bagpipe performance in the garden.

A little piece of good news from our Whitley Bay home…They have been awarded 1st place in the Community/Group Effort category of North Tyneside in Bloom. Well done all. What a fantastic achievement.