5 January 2026
Claire has been coming to Summer Hill House since the early 1990s.
Over the years, it has become a place she knows well. As they drive in, Claire recognises where she is going. She makes sounds in the car because she knows she is arriving somewhere familiar.
“This is probably her most comfortable holiday place,” her mum Annette says.
For Annette and her husband, Summer Hill House has made things possible that once felt out of reach, like going away together on holidays. While Claire is here, she spends time with staff, joins in activities, and is surrounded by people who know her.
“Even today,” Annette says, “someone came out to the car and said, ‘Oh, is that Claire?’ They always know who everyone is.”
Because Claire is comfortable here, Annette does not feel guilty about leaving her.
“I know she is okay,” she says. “That makes all the difference.”
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