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Jack Sears Rehabilitation Unit

Jack Sears – Patient Stories

Jack Sears is a 29-bed rehabilitation unit in Paignton which opened in June 2024. It aims to support people to recover and regain independence to be able to return home.

People can be admitted from hospital or if they are struggling at home. Common reasons for admissions are falls, fractures, infections and reduced mobility due to illness. Staffing in the unit consists of a team of carers and a therapy team (physiotherapist, occupational therapist, assistant practitioner and support worker).

We also have visits from nursing, pharmacy, GPs and dieticians. Assessments are carried out by the therapy staff on the day of admission and rehabilitation goals are jointly agreed.

Since Jack Sears opened, we have admitted 209 patients. 87% were admitted from hospital and 13% from the community. The average length of stay for a patient is 22 days and 75% of patients were able to return to their own homes. 2% of patients were transferred to a long-term care home placement.

My story: Mr C

My admission

I was admitted to hospital following a fall and unfortunately fractured my hip and required surgery. Following my surgery, I was only able to stand up with the help of two staff and I was not able to walk. The hospital recommended I go to Jack Sears rehab unit to have intensive therapy to help me walk again.  On the day I arrived, I was feeling very low in mood and tearful. My wife had recently been admitted to a care home due to her dementia and I missed her. I had not been able to visit her since before my fall. The staff in Jack Sears immediately arranged for me to speak with my wife by a video call. They also arranged to take me to visit her at the care home a couple of days later, even arranging flowers and a card to celebrate our anniversary. I felt that the staff understood what mattered to me and this helped me to feel more positive about my future.

My rehab

I was assessed by the therapy team, and they discussed what my goals were with me. I wanted to be able to walk with a frame and to be able manage the stairs to return home.  The therapy team and the carers helped me to achieve this within a few weeks. They also took me home for a visit and to decide what equipment may help me at home. The team also discussed with me what help I may need at home initially and we agreed I would benefit from four carer visits a day initially and hopefully this would reduce as I settled, and my confidence increased.

My discharge

I returned home with my care package to support me and was also visited regularly by the community therapy team. I told them I wanted to be able to walk outside and be able to take a taxi to visit my wife. They gave me an outdoor walker to use and practised this with me. I was able to visit my wife within a week of returning home. My confidence increased and I was able to manage my personal care independently and no longer needed the care package. I now only have twice a week visits for cleaning and domestic help which I arranged myself. I am so happy with how I have improved. Everything in Jack Sears was amazing.

 

My story: Mr B

My admission

I was admitted to hospital with a chest infection. I was very poorly and needed to stay in bed for several days. As I have Parkinson’s disease my ability to walked declined very quickly and I was pleased to be able to come to Jack Sears to help me walk again.

My rehab

The physiotherapist came to see me and checked my chest as well as my mobility.  I was given exercises to do which the carers helped me with. They also helped  me to practise walking.  I needed two people to help me stand up initially and I could only take a few steps.  A dietician also came to see me as I had lost a lot of weight. My wife and I had a meeting with the team to plan for me returning home and what support I may need.

My discharge

I returned home after 10 days.. I was able to walk with a frame by myself and I could manage the stairs. The community team visited me to help with showering and I was soon able to manage this with just support from my wife. I am so grateful for my time at Jack Sears. I will always remember how caring the team were, particularly on my first night when I was anxious and a carer sat and talked with me to help me feel calm; I never felt alone. This was so important to me at that time.

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