A technological innovation has made a huge difference to many of the disabled residents at St Teresa’s Care Home in Penzance.

A standing wheelchair has been bought to support the many wheelchair users at the Leonard Cheshire Disability home. With just the press of a button residents are given greater mobility and independence. One of the greatest additional benefits is they can make eye contact with people they’re speaking to.

St Teresa’s service manager Diane Scrivener said: “It makes such a difference to those service users with disability, who are wheelchair users, to be able to stand and stretch. It has great benefit, both psychological and with physical health, relieving pressure and improving circulation.”

Mark Osborne, who is one of those to have benefited, said: “Being able to use a standing wheelchair has changed my life. If I get to stand up for an hour a day it really lifts my spirits and it has definitely improved my overall health.”

A local Penzance man, Joseph Blewett, kindly left a gift in his will to Leonard Cheshire Disability that enabled the standing wheelchair to be bought.