Jack Sears Rehabilitation Unit is a 29-bed rehabilitation service in Paignton that helps people recover following illness, injury or a decline in their health. The service supports people to regain confidence, rebuild everyday skills and maximise their independence so they can return home safely wherever possible.
People may be admitted from hospital or directly from the community, often following falls, fractures, infections or a loss of mobility. A multidisciplinary team works alongside each person to set rehabilitation goals and support their recovery journey.
Since opening in June 2024, the unit has supported 434 people. Most admissions have come directly from hospital, and nearly three-quarters of people have been able to return to their own home following rehabilitation. The average length of stay is 25 days.
The service continues to evolve, with increased therapy input, regular exercise groups and plans to introduce cognitive activity groups to further support recovery and independence.
Every rehabilitation journey is different. The stories below demonstrate how personalised rehabilitation and support can help people regain confidence, rebuild independence and return to living well at home.
I was referred to Jack Sears Rehabilitation Unit from my own home after a fall left me unable to stand up from the sofa without assistance. I needed support from two carers to help me move around safely.
When the Intermediate Care Therapy Team visited me, they suggested that a short stay at Jack Sears could help me regain my strength and independence. The aim was to help me recover safely at home and reduce the risk of needing to go into hospital if I fell again.
During my three-week stay at Jack Sears, I worked closely with the therapy team every day. This included attending exercise groups and using the gym facilities, where I practised walking with support from the parallel bars.
Over time, I became stronger and more confident in my mobility. The regular therapy sessions encouraged me to start and support from my family all helped me make progress towards my goals.
While I was at Jack Sears, my family also made some changes at home, creating more space and making the environment safer for me when I returned.
By the time I was ready to leave Jack Sears, my mobility had improved significantly, and I felt much more confident. I was able to return home with support from one carer three times a day.
The support did not end when I left the unit. Community teams continued to visit me for two weeks after my discharge to help me maintain the progress I had made and continue my rehabilitation plan.
An Occupational Therapist also arranged for a level-access shower to be installed, helping me remain safe and independent at home.
"My stay in Jack Sears was excellent in all areas. I felt confident and ready to return home, and I am very grateful for all the help and support I received."
I was admitted to hospital after experiencing a seizure at home, during which I unfortunately broke my arm. Living alone, I felt very anxious about returning home because of the seizure and the difficulties I was experiencing with my injured arm.
I was referred to Jack Sears Rehabilitation Unit to help me regain my confidence, improve my independence and prepare for a safe return home.
When I arrived at Jack Sears, the therapy team took time to understand what was important to me and what I wanted to achieve. My goals were to walk independently again using a stick and to be able to get in and out of bed without assistance, which had become challenging because of my broken arm.
The team worked closely with me throughout my stay. They liaised with my GP to review my pain medication, which helped me manage my injury more comfortably. They also recognised that I was struggling to eat and made sure I had soft foods that I enjoyed and could manage easily.
Following the seizure, I had lost confidence and was worried about it happening again. To help me feel safer at home, the Occupational Therapist arranged for a falls sensor that would alert someone if I needed help. A key safe was also installed to ensure emergency services could access my property if required. Knowing these measures were in place helped me feel reassured and more confident about returning home.
When I was ready to leave Jack Sears, I returned home with a care package to support me while my arm continued to heal. The therapy team accompanied me home to help me settle back into my environment and show me how to use the equipment that had been provided.
I continue to receive support from a physiotherapist, and my arm is healing well. Most importantly, my confidence has grown and I feel safe and supported living at home again.
"The support I received helped me regain my confidence and feel safe returning home. Knowing that help was available if I needed it gave me reassurance and allowed me to focus on my recovery."
Jack Sears Rehabilitation Centre celebrated its first anniversary in June 2025. In the video below, former patient Sabine Bueker and her daughter Gesche Bueker share their experience of the service and the difference rehabilitation made to Sabine's recovery journey.
Below highlights feedback from people who have used the service and their families. Their experiences help us understand what is working well and where we can continue to improve.
We're proud of the feedback we receive from patients and families who have used the Jack Sears Rehabilitation Unit. Here are some of the comments people have shared about their experience.
"Thanks to all my helpers, you're heroes"
"A huge thank you to absolutely everyone at Jack Sears House for your kindness, support and help in getting IVI back on his feet. You made the whole family feel welcome and went the extra mile to make V's stay and recovery such a positive experience"
"Staff marvellous, privacy and dignity always excellent, showers lots of respect, couldn't have gone to a better place, never been such a loving and happy atmosphere, meals are super, so lucky to have come here"
"To all you amazing people! Thank you all so much for your kindness and loving care. I will miss all of you so much"
"I literally don't have a single bad thing to say and that's not like me"
"Such an amazing place and anybody who comes here are very lucky"
"My stay was wonderful; I couldn't have asked for more and I will always remember each and every one of you"
"You are all friendly, smiley, wonderful bunch of people and we were happy to be part of your family for the short while"
"This place is better than a 5-star hotel"
"I could live here; you have the most amazing staff"
"I felt I must write and say a very sincere thank you for the care given to me during my recent stay with you. I entered Jack Sears feeling very lost and upset but left having recovered a lot of strength after two weeks. I had no idea what I would be offered and after a period of settling in I made many friends, and I am sure you contributed to my new sense of wellbeing"
"This place is an amazing place; I've never been anywhere quite like it and I've been to a lot of places. Everyone here is lovely"
"Thank you all so much for looking after me with such loving care during my stay with you, always with a smile on your faces which meant a lot to me. You all deserve a medal"
"A big thank you for looking after T so well! You were all so friendly, kind, thoughtful and caring. You worked so hard at getting T back on their feet again and well enough to come home, which we are so grateful for. Thank you each one of you for all you have done"
"I thank each and every one of you for all the love, care and attention you gave me. I will always remember you all. I have told all my friends how wonderful you are"
"I would like to thank you for the amazing care that you have given my mum. You are a wonderful, skilful and caring team and my mum's progress during her time with you has been amazing. With huge respect and gratitude"
"The carers and people that work here are the loveliest you will find"
"It's like a 7-star hotel here and I have been treated like royalty"
"I'm going to miss you all; it's been like my own home to me"
"Thank you so much for how well you looked after D for us. You've been nothing short of inspiring. Knowing he was being looked after in such a caring and professional manner made the whole ordeal much more bearable"
Feedback consistently highlights the positive impact of rehabilitation, the kindness of staff and the support people receive to help them regain confidence and return home.
Most people recover better at home. If you experience illness, injury, or a loss of independence, rehabilitation can help you regain confidence, rebuild everyday skills, and return home safely. Our aim is to support people to leave hospital as soon as it is safe to do so and receive the care and rehabilitation, they need to remain independent and live well in their own communities. Through services such as the Jack Sears Rehabilitation Unit, we help people regain confidence, restore independence, and achieve the best possible recovery closer to home.