The Summer Foundation
In a bid to keep young people with disabilities out of aged care facilities, an organisation in Melbourne has launched a new type of portable house. The Summer Foundation which aims to solve the problem of young people in nursing homes. Thousands of people who became disabled from accidents or strokes, were left with nowhere to go after they were discharged from hospital as their homes were no longer suitable. This is where the Summer Foundation comes in.
Temporary stays in nursing homes usually become permanent.
For many people after an accident or stroke the only options were nursing homes. Although this was meant to be a temporary solution it usually became permanent. For a young person to be cared for in a nursing home can have an negative effect on their confidence and self-esteem.
This problem encouraged the design of a high-tech housing unit, which is a pre-fabricated flat. Once permits are approved, the unit takes around 4-6 weeks to build and is delivered almost complete. Within them you will find:
- Wide doorways
- Disability accessible bathroom
- Ceiling hoists in the bedroom
- Voice-activated appliances
- Height-adjustable benches and sinks
What’s That in the Kitchen?
We are thrilled to see our Uccello Kettle feature as one of the voice-activated appliances too. In one of the first accessible portable homes, Luke Nelson is seen in the kitchen about to make a brew.
Born with cerebral palsy and vision problems, getting about can be a challenge for Luke. He lives independently but admits that it was a long and difficult process to make his home fully accessible.
To learn more about the Summer Foundation project, click here now.
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