Finding the right place for ourselves or loved ones to spend later years is a difficult decision - but some care homes around the North East have excellent reputations.
Amid a wider staffing crisis in the social care sector, these are the care homes that have maintained the highest standards over the last few years. Most have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since 2020, with just a few on this list having last been checked over in 2017 or 2018.
The CQC grades each facility based on five criteria, giving them a score for being safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led. During the Covid-19 pandemic the inspectors have also had a keen eye for infection control. Possible grades are inadequate, requires improvement, good and outstanding.
Read more: The 26 GPs' practices in the North East rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission
The care homes below care for different sectors of society. Some look after the elderly, others with vulnerable younger adults with disabilities - whether physical or not. See the linked CQC profile for more information on each one.
For each of the seven local authorities, these are the top-rated care homes locally:
Newcastle
Bradbury Wing, The Minories - Rosebery Crescent, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE2 1EU - last inspected March 2022.
Tyne Grange - Grainger Park Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 8RR - last inspected April 2022.
Ashleigh - 3 Elmfield Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE3 4UX - last inspected January 2022.
Brooke House - Ronald Drive, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne And Wear, NE15 7AY - last inspected February 2022.
The Manor House Gosforth - 80 Greenfield Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE3 5TQ - last inspected October 2020.
Brunswick House - Brookside Avenue, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE13 7DP - last inspected November 2019.
Gateshead
Northbourne - Durham Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 5AR - last inspected January 2022.
South Chowdene - Chowdene Bank, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 6JE - last inspected February 2021.
The Manor House Whickham - The Bank Top, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE16 4AT - last inspected January 2022.
Blaydon Lodge - Shibdon Road, Blaydon On Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE21 5AS - last inspected February 2022.
South Tyneside
Harton Grange - Boldon Lane, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 0LZ - last inspected January 2020.
North Tyneside
Redesdale Court - Rake Lane, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE29 9QS - last inspected February 2019.
Chad Ltd - Cordingley House - 22 Linden Terrace, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 2AA - last inspected February 2018.
Northumberland
Jane Percy House - Brockwell Centre, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 1XX - last inspected March 2020.
Tynedale House - Tynedale Drive, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 4LH - last inspected December 2020.
Percy House - 50-52 Beaconsfield Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2DS - last inspected December 2019.
Ridley Park - Forster Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3BG - last inspected September 2021.
Elpha Lodge Residential Care Home - Elpha Lodge, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 9RR - last inspected August 2017.
The Old Vicarage - 26 Cottage Road, Wooler, Northumberland, NE71 6AD - last inspected May 2018.
Birch Hill Care Centre - Norham, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2JZ - last inspected August 2018.
Sunderland
Northview Lodge Nursing Home - Northview Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 3AF - last inspected August 2020.
Laverneo - Pennywell Road, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, SR4 9HX - last inspected April 2019.
Beechwood - 29 Thornholme Road, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, SR2 7LZ - last inspected March 2020.
Falstone Court - Cliffe Park, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR6 9NQ - last inspected October 2020.
Belle Vue House - 1-3 Mowbray Close, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, SR2 8JA - last inspected February 2022.
Marigold Nursing Home - Leechmere Road, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, SR2 9DJ - last inspected November 2020.
County Durham
Hawthorn House - St Godric's Close, Durham, County Durham, DH1 5PJ - last inspected December 2019.
River Cottage - 5 Shotley Grove Road, Consett, County Durham, DH8 8SF - last inspected December 2019.
Belmont Grange Nursing and Residential Home - Broomside Lane, Durham, County Durham, DH1 2QW - last inspected October 2020.
Bradbury House - Care Home with Nursing Physical Disabilities - Worthington Close, Crook, County Durham, DL15 8NL - last inspected October 2020.
Jack Dormand Care Home - Fourth Street, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 4LD - last inspected November 2020.
Lothian House Care Home - Clyde Terrace, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 7SG - last inspected December 2018.
Tenlands Care Home - Wood Lane, Ferryhill, County Durham, DL17 8JD - last inspected January 2022.
Resolve - Low House, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 8AW - last inspected February 2020.
Highview House - Low Road, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 7JT - last inspected December 2017.
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