A ‘groundbreaking’ new care home for young people with life-limiting conditions and complex needs has been launched. Based in Heaton Moor, Stockport, it aims to provide a comfortable and supportive living environment where residents ‘thrive and experience the joys of everyday life’
Converted from two-semi detached houses, 92 Barcicroft Road, boasts six bedrooms, a communal dining room and a lounge. There is also a special multi-sensory room, a bed lift, large shower room and bathroom. It is operated by Francis House Families Ltd and staffed by a team of highly trained professionals dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to every resident.
All those who come to live at Number 92- deliberately given an ordinary address to avoid sounding institutionalised - will continue to receive respite care and symptom control at Francis House Hospice. The majority will have taken up permanent residence by next month.
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Among them will be Dawn Tulloch’s son Paul, aged 20. Paul has severe cerebral palsy, seizures and complex needs and has been attending Francis House Children’s Hospice for respite care for more than 15 years.
Dawn said: “It will make a massive difference, Paul coming here as there is nothing else out there for him. It will also give myself and my other son Dylan a quality of life together. It’s hard work looking after a young person with complex needs and I have no respite other than what I get through Francis House. Coming here will make the time Paul and I have together even more treasured and special."
She added: “I can’t thank Francis House enough not just for this opportunity but the other opportunities that have come around in Paul’s life since he has been part of the Francis House family.” Dermot Murphy, registered manager of the care home, says it is ‘dedicated to giving it young residents an 'enriching and fulfilling life’.
“The aim of 92 Barcicroft Road is to provide a comfortable and supportive living environment where young people with life limiting conditions can thrive and experience the joys of everyday life,” he said. “Our team will work closely with each young person and their family to understand their individual needs and provide tailored support to help them live as full a life as possible.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide this new and innovative option for young people with life limiting conditions and complex needs, and we are confident that 92 Barcicroft Road will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of the young people who live there and their families.”
It comes after councillors gave the go ahead for the project back in 2021, describing it as an ‘excellent’ scheme.
David Ireland, chief executive of Francis House Children’s Hospice stresses it will be family orientated, with parents remaining 'very much involved' and young people able to go home at the weekends should they choose to. “What we are doing is ground-breaking and as far as I’m aware nowhere else has a facility like this," he added.
Sir Warren Smith KCVO KStJ JP officially opened the care home at 92 Barcicroft Road and Bishop John Arnold the Bishop of Salford blessed th project. Families and representatives of Francis House Children’s Hospice were among those attending the opening ceremony.
It is hoped the facility will build on the success of 463 Parrs Wood Road, a care home in Didsbury which has had a transformative effect on the lives of seven young people with life-limiting conditions since it became fully occupied in 2018.
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