Meallmore Confirms 30th Care Home with Eaglesham House Development
Scotland’s leading provider of older person and specialist care, Meallmore, is set to open its 30th care home in spring 2027.
Located in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, Eaglesham House Care Home will provide personalised nursing care and support for 50 people, including those with dementia and its related conditions.
The purpose-built, state-of-the-art care home will feature a range of amenities including private ensuite bedrooms, a cinema room, hair salon and champagne bar, all thoughtfully designed for residents to relax, socialise and enjoy everyday life.
Once open, Eaglesham House will provide in the region of 80 full-time equivalent jobs in a variety of roles, including nurses, care assistants, services team members, administrators, and managers. Recruitment for these roles will commence in September.
Built on the former grounds of Greenbank Church, the opening of Eaglesham House represents a £15m investment by Meallmore to the local community, supporting continued investment in local facilities. The development forms part of a wider approach to creating high-quality care homes that respond to Scotland’s ageing population and the growing need for modern care services.
Eaglesham House is Meallmore’s 30th care home in Scotland, and ninth within the Greater Glasgow and West Scotland region.
Earlier this year, Meallmore was named in the Top 20 Large Care Home Groups across the UK for the first time and is recognised for excellent standards of care for its residents, including those living with dementia.
Cillian Hennessey, CEO at Meallmore said:
“Eaglesham House is a fantastic addition to our care home portfolio. This modern, luxury home will be finished to the highest standards and is designed for people who want to live well, with the reassurance of expert 24-hour nursing care and support around them. It will provide a safe, comfortable and homely environment for residents, where they can feel part of a warm community. Our experience from managing eight other homes in this region of Scotland means we are very well-equipped with knowledge of the area and will look to continue building strong connections with local members of the public and community groups.
“We’re very proud to be opening what will be our 30th care home and look forward to welcoming residents to Eaglesham House next year.”
Meallmore currently operates 27 homes across Scotland: 21 for older people, five for adults with mental health needs and one for adults with learning or physical disability. Along with Eaglesham House, two other new homes are nearing completion, which will provide services for elderly people in Aberdeen City and Broughty Ferry.
Dedicated Luxury Care Apartments Launched to Halt ‘Forced Separation’ of Couples in Care
Family care provider Ardale has announced the launch of The Ashridge Apartments at Welwyn Grange, a collection of purpose-designed care suites created to support couples who wish to continue living together while receiving personalised care.
Comprising 13 penthouse-style care suites, the apartments provide couples with the opportunity to maintain shared routines and enjoy greater privacy and independence, while benefiting from access to tailored care and nursing support as their individual needs evolve.
The launch reflects the challenges many couples face when one partner's care needs become more complex. Differences in health needs, such as when one partner develops dementia while the other requires minimal support, can make finding suitable accommodation difficult. The Ashridge Apartments have been designed to provide an option for couples who want to remain together while each receiving the level of support they need.
A Home Designed for Couples
Located on the top floor of Welwyn Grange, The Ashridge Apartments combine independent living with access to 24/7 nurse-led care. Residents have their own private accommodation while remaining connected to the wider care community and professional support whenever required.
Key Features of The Ashridge Apartments
- Private apartment layouts: Each penthouse-style suite includes a separate bedroom, private lounge, kitchenette, and most feature a private balcony.
- 24/7 clinical support: Residents have access to an on-site nursing and care team, with support tailored to each person's individual needs.
- Shared amenities: Couples can enjoy Welwyn Grange's facilities, including a cinema room, hair and beauty salon, bar/café, interactive digital touch table and landscaped courtyard garden.
- All-inclusive fees: A single monthly fee covers care, meals, laundry, utilities and security.
"For many couples, moving into care can bring understandable concerns about whether they will be able to continue living together as their needs change.
"The Ashridge Apartments have been designed to offer couples a home where they can continue sharing everyday life while receiving flexible care that can adapt to each person's individual requirements.
"By bringing together private living space with access to round-the-clock support, we hope to provide reassurance for couples and their families as care needs evolve."
Robert Myers, Head of Care Pathways at Welwyn Grange
Jayne Connery, Founder of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, welcomed the initiative, saying:
"I have visited Ardale care homes many times over the years through my work with Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, and I have always been impressed by their commitment to transparency, safety, dignity and truly person-centred care.
"The new Ashridge Apartments at Welwyn Grange are a wonderful example of thinking differently about later life. Too many older couples face the heartbreaking prospect of being separated when one partner's care needs become more complex, particularly following a dementia diagnosis or the need for nursing care.
"It is encouraging to see the Ashridge Apartments offering couples the opportunity to remain together while receiving the care and support they each need, with privacy, independence and 24-hour nursing available whenever required.
"At Care Campaign for the Vulnerable, we believe safety, dignity and quality care must always go hand in hand with compassion. Love, familiarity, routine and the comfort of remaining together are just as important to wellbeing."
The Ashridge Apartments are now open for viewings and immediate occupancy. Couples, families and healthcare professionals interested in learning more can explore the apartment layouts and arrange a viewing via Welwyn Grange.
Ralph the Therapy Dog Makes a Paw-sitive First Visit to Heanton Nursing Home
At Heanton Nursing Home, a new four-legged visitor has already made a strong impression on everyone at the home.
Ralph, a therapy dog from Pets for Therapy, recently made his first visit to the home alongside his owner, Gemma Darke, spending time with residents (who the home fondly refers to as family members) and team members across the home. From the moment he arrived, Ralph quickly became a popular guest, bringing plenty of smiles as he made his way around.
The visit marks the start of regular visits, with Ralph now set to return each month. During his first visit, he enjoyed plenty of fuss and helped create natural moments of conversation. One family member, Roger, particularly enjoyed spending time with him, making the most of the visit and the chance to have Ralph by his side.
Abigail Denford, Home Manager, spoke about the value of introducing visits like these. She said: “Animals can often bring something different into the day. They can help people feel settled and can encourage conversations about pets from earlier in life. It was lovely to see how naturally people responded to Ralph and how much they enjoyed having him here.”
Therapy animal visits can play an important role in care settings, offering companionship, encouraging interaction and helping to create moments of familiarity. For some, it can also be a simple source of enjoyment and a welcome change to the day. At Heanton Nursing Home, introducing regular visits from Ralph is another way the home continues to create meaningful and enjoyable experiences for family members in everyday life.
Getting Noticed: A Guide to Care Home Marketing
Marketing can feel stressful and time-consuming – but it’s an essential part of running a care service. In this article, Lucy Henson Clark from Find Your Room shares some tips about how to market your care home and help customers find you.
Know your clients and their customer journey
Build up a picture of your prospective clients. What are their needs? Where do they spend time? How are they likely to contact you? When you know the answers to these questions, you’ll be able to plan your marketing so that you can reach the right people easily. Ask current residents and their families about what marketing worked for them, and vary your campaigns accordingly.
Make yourselves visible
Introduce yourself to prospective clients before they need you, and build relationships with people in your area. Make sure that you have a visible presence at community events, in local newsletters, and on relevant social media pages. Consider holding garden parties or hiring out halls or meeting rooms, if you have the available space and resources. If you’re known as the friendly and approachable care provider in your area, care seekers will come to you when they’re looking for support.
Get online
Most of our clients and their families spend time online – and that’s where they’ll look for care, too. Care seekers often want to see a professional and trustworthy website, as well as more informal “behind the scenes” shots on social media. You should list your services and vacancies on directory sites as well – after all, if your care home doesn’t have an online presence, prospective clients won’t be able to find you.
Don’t assume knowledge
For many of our clients, this will be their first foray into the social care world. They might not grasp the difference between a care home and a nursing home, know how to apply for funding, or even fully understand their own care needs. It’s important to explain things fully to them – without overwhelming them. Make sure that everyone who will speak to prospective residents knows how to signpost them to the right services, and reassure them.
Your clients are your most valuable marketing tool
Prospective clients and their families want to know that they’ll be happy with your care service. Who better to reassure them than your current happy clients? Get testimonials and reviews from service users and their loved ones, and post them on your website and social media pages. If you’ve recently thrown a 100th birthday party, or helped a resident fulfil a lifelong dream? Share those good news stories online and with local media.
Allica Bank launches healthcare investment proposition for care homes and supported living
Allica Bank, the challenger business bank, has announced the launch of a new healthcare investment proposition to support investors looking to buy or refinance care and nursing homes.
Introduced in direct response to feedback from customers and brokers, the new proposition builds on Allica's existing support for established healthcare businesses. The challenger is now offering finance against select residential care properties on an investment basis - further strengthening its presence in a sector where investor demand for long-term, income-backed assets remains strong.
The proposition supports experienced landlords investing in residential care and nursing homes, as well as supported living and group homes, while also extending to properties let to local authorities or housing benefit-funded tenants under commercial lease structures.
The announcement marks the latest step in Allica's growing commitment to the healthcare sector. In April this year, the bank increased its maximum day one loan size to £15 million, extended loan terms to up to 30 years and broadened its Care Quality Commission evidence requirements to better reflect the realities of established healthcare businesses.
Together, these changes reaffirm Allica's ongoing commitment to support care operators in the UK - ensuring they have the flexibility and confidence needed to thrive.
Anthony Newman, Senior Specialist Relationship Manager for Healthcare at Allica Bank, said:
"Healthcare remains one of the most resilient areas of the UK economy, underpinned by long-term demand for quality facilities to support our ageing population. By expanding our proposition to include residential investment, we are opening up more lending options for operators looking to invest and grow.
"At Allica, we understand that established healthcare businesses often require a more specialist approach. We know the ins and outs of this sector, and so our focus is on pairing our expertise with the flexible finance needed to support the businesses that play such a vital role in communities across the UK."
Care Home Open Week: Catwalk to Connection
Bridges Between Generations
Some of the most memorable care home events are those that bring the wider community in, and Pine Lodge Care Home in Sittingbourne’s fashion show during Care Home Open Week did exactly that. It was not simply a display of clothing. It was a thoughtfully created experience that brought residents, staff, families, and visitors together in a shared moment that reflected the energy of modern care.
Setting the scene
From the moment guests walked in, the atmosphere felt celebratory. Disco ball decorations shimmered overhead, silver streamers caught the light, and disco lighting transformed the space into something unexpected and immersive. But while the décor set the tone, it was only the beginning. The real shift happened when the live music started.
The power of live music and movement
What set Pine Lodge’s event apart was how it moved beyond a traditional fashion show format. It became something far more dynamic. A live singer performing ABBA’s Dancing Queen turned the runway into a shared space of movement and energy.
The room came alive. Residents dressed in their best outfits began moving to the music, encouraged by staff who supported those who wanted to join in. What stood out was how naturally it happened. Many residents were not prompted so much as drawn in by the atmosphere.
One particularly touching moment was seeing an elderly couple dancing together. It captured the essence of the afternoon: simple joy, shared movement, and connection that felt both spontaneous and meaningful.
Family engagement that sets the tone
One of the strongest aspects of the day was how actively families took part. They were not positioned as spectators. They were fully involved, laughing, and sharing in the experience alongside residents.
This kind of engagement matters. When families are included in a genuine way, it strengthens relationships and reinforces a sense of belonging. It sends a clear message that this is not just a place of care, but a living community where people continue to make memories together.
The team at Pine Lodge created the conditions for this naturally. Nothing felt forced, and that made participation feel easy for everyone involved.
The rhythm of everyday life
Residents waving to friends on the runway, conversations flowing between dances, and laughter filling the room all contributed to an atmosphere that felt real rather than staged.
It was not a tightly controlled performance. It felt like community life in motion, full of energy, interaction, and small moments of connection happening all at once.
Beyond the catwalk
After the dancing, party food was served, which helped extend the sense of occasion. It encouraged people to stay, talk, and continue sharing time together. It was a simple detail, but an important one. It turned the event from a scheduled activity into a natural, ongoing social experience.
What reminiscence really looks like
The event also highlighted something care professionals often aim for, but do not always fully capture. True reminiscence work is not only about revisiting the past. It is about reactivating identity, emotion, and enjoyment in the present.
The 1970s disco theme, the familiarity of ABBA, the chance to dress up, and the presence of live music all created touchpoints that connected residents to meaningful parts of their lives. More importantly, those feelings were not just remembered. They were experienced in real-time.
The care home as a community hub
Perhaps the clearest message from Pine Lodge’s fashion show is that care homes thrive when they operate as community spaces rather than closed settings.
When families are welcomed in, when residents are supported to participate in ways that feel natural, when staff are actively involved, and when entertainment is chosen with a real understanding of residents’ preferences, the atmosphere shifts.
At Pine Lodge, that shift was visible throughout the day. Visitors did not simply attend an event. They experienced a community at its most open, connected, and alive.
Founded in 1979, Eleanor Healthcare Group is one of London's largest independent health and social care providers, supporting thousands of people across the country. The group delivers a wide range of services, including residential and nursing care, home care, extra care housing, supported living, learning disability day centres, live-in care, prison social care and hospital logistics. With a strong focus on person-centred care, Eleanor is committed to helping people lead fulfilling lives through compassionate support, meaningful experiences and services tailored to individual needs.
Lowmoor Nursing Home Hosts Successful Blue Light Breakfast to Thank Local Blue Light Card Holders
Lowmoor Nursing Home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, welcomed Blue Light Card holders to its second free Blue Light Breakfast on Friday 5 June 2026.
The event, held between 9am and 11am, welcomed representatives from the NHS, ambulance service, social care sector and other frontline services. It was organised as a gesture of appreciation for the dedicated individuals who support local communities every day.
The event was also attended by Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield, who took time to meet guests and learn more about Lowmoor Nursing Home and its community activities.
Following the event, Lee Anderson MP said:
“It was great to visit Lowmoor Nursing Home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield this morning. It was lovely to meet the management and directors of this great local facility. This is a great event and a chance to chat to other blue light workers.”
The Blue Light Card scheme provides discounts and benefits to members of the NHS, emergency services, social care sector, armed forces, veterans and other eligible workers.
Manjas Lidder, Managing Director of Lidder Care, said:
“Our Blue Light Breakfast is a small way of saying thank you to the dedicated individuals who care for our community. We are proud to work alongside a range of key emergency service personnel every day.”
Since opening in 1994, the family-run nursing home has been at the heart of the Kirkby-in-Ashfield community, delivering specialist nursing and dementia care to its residents.
Manjas added:
“We were delighted to welcome so many guests through our doors, including Lee Anderson MP, which shows the continued local support for the initiative. As a care provider that has been in Kirkby-in-Ashfield for over 3 decades, supporting local people has always been at the heart of what we do.”
Lidder Care has been serving individuals across Mansfield and Ashfield for more than 30 years. The family-run care provider operates Newgate Lodge Care Home in Mansfield, Lowmoor Nursing Home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Lidder Care, a home care service supporting people across Nottinghamshire.
Paragon funds Chester care home scheme in first of series of deals with North Bay Group
Paragon Development Finance has completed a £13.3 million facility with North Bay Group to fund the delivery of a new purpose-built care home facility in Chester.
The loan provided an initial advance against the land and will support the full development of the scheme on Boundary Lane, including construction and fit out.
Once complete, the scheme will deliver a 75-bed care home providing residential and nursing care. All bedrooms will be fitted with private wet rooms, with the development targeting an EPC A rating. Construction began in the first quarter of 2026 and is expected to complete in late 2027.
The project is being delivered in a location underpinned by strong demographic demand. Cheshire West and Chester have a population of more than 370,000, with over a fifth of residents aged 65 or above, a proportion that is expected to increase further over the next decade - supporting ongoing demand for modern, high-quality care provision.
The deal was led by Adrian Reeves, Senior Relationship Director at Paragon Development Finance, supported by Senior Portfolio Manager, Lilly Sargeant. It is Paragon’s first completed deal with North Bay, with a further scheme already approved and three additional opportunities progressing through the pipeline.
Adrian Reeves said: “Delivering modern, fit-for-purpose care homes is critical to meeting growing demand in areas with an ageing population. Chester and the wider Cheshire region demonstrate clear long-term demand fundamentals, supported by population growth and a rising proportion of older residents.
“North Bay combines development expertise with an established operating platform, which is a strong foundation for schemes of this scale. We are pleased to support this first transaction, with more in the pipeline, and look forward to building on this relationship.”
North Bay Group was established in 2007 and specialises in developing and operating high-quality care homes. The SME developer now operates 48 facilities across the UK, totalling over 2,500 beds, having earned a strong track record in both delivery and long-term asset management.
Richard Hoggart, CEO at North Bay Group, said:
“This development represents another significant milestone for North Bay Group as we continue to expand our portfolio of high-quality care homes across the North of England. Chester is a location with strong demographic demand and an increasing need for modern, purpose-built care environments.
“With our fully integrated model of developer and operator we ensure we are developing highly sustainable care homes with renewable energy and Solar PV achieving a high grade EPC A. This scheme is a strong example of our long-term commitment to delivering facilities in communities where demand for quality care continues to grow.
“We are delighted to be working with Paragon Development Finance on this project. Their understanding of both the development and operational aspects of the care sector has helped create a funding solution that supports our ambitious growth plans, and we look forward to building on this relationship as we bring forward further schemes in the future.”
Joanne Fogg, Managing Director, Highgate Care, added:
“The Chester development represents an exciting next chapter in Highgate Care’s continued growth and our commitment to expanding into areas where demand for high-quality residential, nursing and dementia care is increasing.
“As we grow, our focus remains on delivering exceptional care environments that place residents, families and communities at the heart of everything we do. Our ethos that ‘Kindness Is Key’ underpins every aspect of our homes, from the quality of care we provide to the welcoming and supportive environments we create.
“We are looking forward to bringing that approach to Chester and providing a care home that will support local families for many years to come, while helping to address the increasing need for high-quality care provision across the region.”
To find out more about Paragon Bank’s Development Finance offering, visit: www.paragonbank.co.uk/devfin.
How Find Your Room is Transforming Care Access
The team behind Find Your Room explains how their platform is streamlining the connection between care providers and care seekers through real-time availability and simplified search.
Find Your Room is a new app and website solution enabling care seekers to find services with current availability. Whether they’re looking for care or nursing homes, supported living, or home care, care seekers can search by location and care type to find suitable services – without worrying that their chosen care provider will be unavailable.
Founded by Nathan Coowar, a care home owner with years of experience in the sector, Find Your Room aims to provide a solution for the problems faced by care seekers and care providers.
Nathan, who developed Find Your Room while running his own care home in Surrey, says: “These days, the high costs for advertising make it difficult for care providers. And if you’re looking for care, it’s increasingly hard to find the right placement. We get so many calls from care seekers in the community, as well as local authorities and hospital discharge teams – even in neighbouring counties.
“Our goal is to provide the infrastructure that care seekers and care providers both need. We’re all used to getting live availability for everything these days – property listings, hotels, and even restaurant bookings. Our website and app hope to provide a similar service for care seekers and care providers.
“Real-time availability listings can be absolutely invaluable for people who need immediate care, as well as providers trying to fill care home rooms.”
Helping care providers
As care providers all know, it can be both difficult and expensive to advertise your care home to the right people. However, Nathan hopes to keep costs low for care homes.
Currently, Find Your Room charges just £24 per month for care providers to register a property or service with them, and registered charities and non-profit services can sign up for free.
Each month, the site gets more than 100,000 impressions. So, when care providers register their properties, they’re putting themselves in front of thousands of potential clients, making it that much easier to fill their vacant rooms and provide a great service for the people who need it.
As care seekers can search by availability, registering with Find Your Room won’t increase a care home’s workload when it’s fully occupied. Prospective residents will know about vacancies before they make contact. Administrators, receptionists, and care managers need not worry about an increase in phone calls or emails when they’re fully occupied.
Helping care seekers
Looking for care for yourself or a family member is stressful. It can take a long time, too; your local authority might suggest some nearby care services, or you may have recommendations from family and friends, but you’ll have to contact all of these properties individually to find out if they have availability.
The burden of finding appropriate care placements can be even more time-consuming for social workers, hospital discharge teams, and other health and social care professionals. They often spend hours on the phone or waiting for responses to enquiries about availability, while potential service users are waiting in hospital or not receiving appropriate care at home.
With the Find Your Room app and website, however, care seekers can search for nearby care services and filter by availability – saving a significant amount of time, as they only need to contact services with vacancies. Whether you’re a busy discharge co-ordinator or an anxious family member, you can make sure that the individual who needs care is supported as quickly as possible.
Care is a family business
Nathan grew up immersed in the adult social care sector, as his family owned a care home. Now, he runs the home himself, alongside working on Find Your Room. He says: “I was brought up with both parents working in the adult social care system, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how so many changes have come in over the years – some good and some bad.”
Find Your Room is a group effort, too. Nathan has assembled a team of experts around him, both care professionals and other specialists.
Included on the team are Partnerships Director Beth Fitzgerald, who draws on experience across a variety of sectors, and Alka Bagga, who brings more than 35 years of development and programming expertise to lead app and website development. Lucy Henson Clark has worked in adult social care for 15 years and draws on that experience to advise care seekers on the site’s info hub.
However, Nathan is clear on who’s really in charge: his daughter Sadie. “She’s the real boss. She’s the one who gives me the direction and drive that I need to make Find Your Room the go-to destination for care seekers and care providers!”
Continuing Faith, Community and Connection at a North Devon Care Home
Faith is something many of us have held onto throughout our lives, something we’ve turned to in moments of worry, loss and hope, something that has helped make sense of things when life hasn’t always been easy, and something that has connected us to a community, where people know us, remember us and we feel they belong.
When a move into a care home begins to feel like something that may soon need to be considered, we of course start by asking the practical questions about the location, care needs, food, activities, but then there are the more personal parts of life like faith, and the sense of connection that comes with it and whether those things will still be there, especially at a time when so much is changing and that sense of familiarity can matter more than ever.
For those that live at Heanton Nursing Home, that connection remains close.
St Augustine’s Church, the 13th century parish church for Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, sits beside Heanton Nursing Home and has been part of the village’s parish life for many years.
Reverand Glyn Lewry is Priest in Charge at St Augustine’s, and he visits Heanton as a familiar and reassuring presence for many people living at the home.
People who call Heanton home can continue to visit the church if they wish. Some attend services, others spend time sitting quietly inside or in the churchyard. For those who have always had faith, these small continuations matter. Hymns are still recognised. Prayers still hold meaning, and the sense of being part of something beyond the home remains.
Rev Lewry shared “there was someone who used to come regularly from Heanton, people knew him and he was part of the church community and that sense of being known does not disappear.”
A Continued Connection Through Life’s Difficult Moments
There are moments in life when that continued sense of connection can mean even more.
Rev Lewry supports people across the local community through some of life’s most difficult and emotional moments, often simply by being there when words are hard to find.
During more emotional and uncertain times in life, it is often that quiet presence and reassurance that matter most. A known voice, someone sitting beside you, or the comfort of being recognised can mean a great deal.
In those moments, faith can offer comfort. A prayer, a reading, or simply someone being there without expectation. Not to lead, but to sit alongside.
Moving into Heanton doesn’t mean leaving those parts of life behind, they continue, just in a different way.