Sunrise Senior Living US  is selling its UK care homes ”to focus its growth and development within North America”.

UK operators Care UK and Signature Senior Lifestyle (Signature) will be taking over the leadership and management of all of Sunrise Senior Living UK and Gracewell Healthcare’s homes.

Care UK and Signature say they are are an “excellent fit” for the Sunrise and Gracewell portfolios “given their focus on providing the highest standards of care and operational excellence, and their complementary geographic footprints”.

The three parties say the transfer of the homes is anticipated to take place towards the end of the year.

Andrew Knight, CEO of Care UK, said: “The Sunrise and Gracewell homes provide an exciting addition to our portfolio and will enable us to extend our reach into new local markets and continue our mission to provide safe and stimulating environments in which residents are supported to lead fulfilling lives.

“The teams in the Sunrise and Gracewell homes have a strong reputation for delivering excellent care and we have a huge amount of respect for the work they are doing.”

Aidan Roche, CEO of Signature Senior Lifestyle, said:  “Adding 20 new homes to our portfolio is the latest stage of the growth story that began when we started the business in 2006 and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Signature team. We will be working towards a seamless transition for staff and residents and are hugely excited to be taking these next steps together.”

Natalie-Jane Macdonald, UK CEO of Sunrise Senior Living and Gracewell Healthcare, said: “I have every confidence that Care UK and Signature will build on our strong foundations, ensuring our homes continue to be wonderful places to live and work.”