Dementia care provider Vida Healthcare has opened a specialist unit to support people living with Huntington’s disease.

Lindsay House, based at Vida Healthcare’s Harrogate care home Vida Court, opened its doors on 8 May for people living with Huntington’s disease. The house will provide nine people with a high standard of person-centred care, including medication management, a sensory room  and access to local community services including a GP and community multidisciplinary teams.

Vida Healthcare has recruited 36 new nurses and carers and brought over existing staff from its other houses to support the new residents. Staff working in the unit will undertake an extensive induction course delivered by Vida Healthcare’s training platform Vida Academy, in partnership with the Huntington’s Disease Association. Staff will also be able to access CPD supported by the Huntington’s Disease Association.

Huntington’s disease is a progressive brain disorder caused by a defective gene which affects movement, mood and thinking skills. Symptoms most commonly develop between the ages of 30 and 50. 

James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, said: “At Vida we are always looking into gaps within the care industry and subsequently identified a lack of support available for people living with Huntington’s disease. Our ability to adapt and meet other specialist needs is one of our greatest assets, and we wanted to use this expertise to expand our offering and support more people living with long term conditions. We believe that our values and vision strongly align with that of the Huntington’s Disease Association and we are looking forward to working closely with them to ensure we’re providing the best possible care.”