FOUR FRIENDS FIND NEW HOME TOGETHER THANKS TO VISION UK

Newest and most up-to-date unit for people Living with learning disabilities opens in Exeter

There were some very happy ladies this week after four disabled friends moved into their new purpose designed home together at Sainthill Cottage on Cowick Lane in Exeter.

Natasha, Jenny, Annie and Cathy were facing an uncertain future when their care home announced it was closing with the possibility they could have been separated.

However, a total refurbishment of Sainthill Cottage by leading healthcare provider Vision UK has provided state-of-the-art care facilities and individual living space for the new residents.

Vision UK’s Healthcare Executive, Nina Griffith, said: “We are thrilled to be instrumental in providing a new home for these four ladies”.

“We never compromise on the quality of care, facilities or the built environment that we provide, and our aim is to ensure our clients have and maintain optimum choice with respect and dignity”. 

“We don’t see Sainthill Cottage as Vision UK’s care home, it is very much a home where Vision UK can support them in their daily lives.”

The 10 week refurbishment by Vision UK’s building and maintenance team, provides a home for up to five people living with disabilities, each with bespoke en-suite bedroom accommodation, with shared kitchen, lounges and patio areas.

Nina Griffith added: “One of the main priorities of these clients was to find accommodation where they could remain living together, continuing their companionship and friendship. The needs and wishes of our residents came first and they wanted to stay together.  Having achieved that, we were able to involve them in the process of refurbishing Sainthill Cottage helping them to achieve a real sense of ownership, including choosing the colour schemes”.

“Two of the ladies had been together throughout their lives so we designed their bedrooms to interconnect with a bathroom so they could share their private space during the day.  In fact everything has been customised to ensure they can live their lives as normally as possible”.

“We were able to achieve this very happy outcome because Vision UK has been at the forefront of the care sector’s personalization agenda and we have been able to deliver exactly the care environment that individual clients need”.

”This is a ground-breaking development and a model for others to follow.”