Devon (North) – Braunton

Self Catering Holiday Accommodation for People with Profound Disabilities

Starfish Breaks offers unrivalled holiday accommodation for adults and children with severe disabilities.  This lovingly refurbished bungalow on the edge of the North Devon village of Braunton is only a few minutes drive to the beach, so very popular with families and a great place for a well-deserved break.

Alexandra House has been set up by the owner Lynda, to provide holiday accommodation that caters for both children and adults with profound and multiple disabilities and their families or carers.

Lynda spent many years providing respite and foster care for children with a wide range of disabilities and associated needs.  Lynda also adopted children with profound and multiple disabilities with life limiting conditions.

Lynda previously found finding holiday accommodation that catered for the needs of the children with disabilities she cared for extremely difficult and often found that there was a lack of appropriate facilities, even in accommodation that stated it was suitable.  This is how Alexandra House came about.

The Bungalow

Alexandra House is equipped to the highest standards to provide holiday accommodation for people with both profound and multiple disabilities, but despite specialist equipment remains a relaxing and comfortable home from home.

The property consists of the following;
· Parking for one car in front of house and ample parking on street.
· Level sloping path to front porch and tumble drier.
· Inner front door.
· Open plan living area with plenty of turning space, with large flat screen TV/DVD, radio/CD player, 2 large sofas, one a sofa bed for 2 people and a selection of DVDs, CDs, books and children’s games.
· High/low physio plinth/day bed
· Fixed ceiling hoist.  
· Open plan into dining area with large dining table and chairs.
· Double french doors leading into garden.
· Continuing open plan into a well equipped kitchen, with built-in electric double oven/grill, gas hob, microwave, toaster, kettle, fridge, freezer, washing machine and all the usual kitchen utensils – glasses, cutlery, plates, etc.
· Level access through french doors to the private level paved area and garden, with wooden gazebo to relax in the shade.  There is a large garden table and chairs for dining and various seating areas to relax and enjoy this lovely peaceful garden.

Two bathrooms:
·One is a wet room with a widened doorway and wheel-in shower chair.  Plus toilet, hand-basin and electric towel radiator.
· The second is a large bathroom with a widened door and ample turning space and storage cupboards, hand basin, utility basin, radiator and electric towel rail.
· Extra long high/low bath with attached shower/changing tray.
· Fixed ceiling hoist above the bath.
· Toilet with drop down hand rail.
· Fixed ceiling hoist above the toilet.
· This bathroom has a fixed sensory mirror-ball to create a uniquely relaxing atmosphere.

 Three bedrooms:
· A double bedroom with double bed, wardrobe, bed-side shelves and dressing table.
· *If there proved to be a need, a fixed ceiling hoist could be installed.
· The special needs bedroom with a high/low profiling bed with low safety rails.  This bed also has the luxury of a turning facility, great for single carers.  This bed can also be programed to turn at intervals throughout the night to avoid pressure.
· Fixed ceiling hoist.
· Ample electrical sockets, fitted wardrobes, a movable trolley/bed-side table, radio/CD player. 
* There is space for a Z/camp bed which can be provided if required.

· The third bedroom has two single beds, a wardrobe, chest of drawers and a radio/CD player.
· *A mobile hoist can be provided if required as the room has been set out to provide ample turning space for second wheelchair user and mobile hoist.
· Central heating and constant hot water throughout with safety temperature controls on the showers
· Travel cot, high chair and Z/camp-bed can be provided on request.
· The owner is happy to be informed of any extra needs or concerns as she understands each family has very individual needs and wishes to be able to provide for these as much as possible.
· As slings are provided for individual needs these are not provided so could each family bring their own from home.

The whole bungalow has been adapted to provide all the care facilities of their own home, providing ample space for longer, reclining wheelchairs and bathing facilities for those who cannot support themselves.

Special Needs Facilities in detail

Alexandra House has level access accommodation with widened doorways and hallway, with double French doors to the level access garden.

The Physio Plinth

In the living room there is a short high/low physio plinth which has previously been used as a day bed for immobile children who needed to rest but remain with the family.

A fixed ceiling hoist in the living room enables transfer to the day bed or to lay and play on the rug.

The Special Needs Bedroom

The special needs bedroom has a high/low profiling bed with low safety rails.  The bed has two tilt facilities for reflux and circulation.  It has a gentle turning facility that can be programmed to turn at intervals throughout the night to relieve pressure.

The bed also has a separate stronger turning facility to help with changing and dressing which is especially helpful for single carers.

There is also a fixed ceiling hoist.

The two separate bathrooms means there is less time constraint on the special needs bathroom.  The wet room providing everything needed for the more able clients.

The Special Needs Bathroom

The bath with shower/changing tray is all one unit.  It can be raised to the height the carer needs.  The shower tray drains into the bath or the client can be hoisted slightly, the carer lifts the lightweight tray into the upright position and the client is lowered into the bath.  The fixed ceiling hoist allows for quick and easy transfer.

There is a separate fixed ceiling hoist above the toilet in this bathroom with a drop down hand rail.

Location

Alexandra House is on the edge of the lovely village of  Braunton, claimed to be the largest village in Britain and is a short walk along flat, well maintained pavements all the way to the centre of the village. The village itself provides a wealth of great restaurants and bars as well as all the usual food shops, supermarkets and arts & craft shops. Saunton Sands beach is located on the outskirts of Braunton and is just a 5 minute drive from Alexandra House. There are surfing facilities, surfing lessons, a café and shop and access onto the renowned sand dunes of Braunton Burrows.  Saunton Beach has an easy gradient ramp access to the beach.  A motorised beach buggy is available to hire for the more able bodied wheelchair user.

Alexandra House, is also perfectly situated as a base to explore the delights of North Devon;

The coastal towns of Ifracombe and Woolacombe are only a short drive away and the renowned surfing village of Croyde is 2 miles around the coast.

Barnstaple, the main town of the area is 5 miles away and offers a huge variety of restaurants, fast-food outlets, shops, an indoor Pannier Market, The Queens Theatre, a multi-screen cinema, with disabled access for some screens and much more.

If you venture further afield and towards Cornwall, you can visit the beautiful villages of Appledore, an arts & crafts paradise, Instow across the water from Appledore, Bideford and Westward Ho! and further down the coast to Hartland and Clovelly.

Availability & Booking  

Whilst the new website is being built please visit our holding page for details. www.starfishbreaksnorthdevon.co.uk

For more information about how to book this wonderful holiday please call ; Harry or Rick on 0845 680 5431 or email hello@starfishbreaksnorthdevon.co.uk.

Change-over day is Saturday and guests are asked to leave by 10-30am and arrive no earlier than 3-30pm.

All bed linen and towels are included in the price (please bring beach towels if required). All the rooms are central heated and it is included in the price.

There is  high chair and travel cot on request.

Starfish Breaks can provide specialist care if the carers feel like a break as well.

This is provided by Braunton Care and if required please contact Helen Joyce direct on 01271 814010 or 07733 890528 or ask us for details.

Email – helen@brauntoncare.co.uk