Michael’s Story of Life

When Michael was told in 2024 that he had only six months to live, he and his wife Sharon began preparing for the hardest goodbye. Doctors had declared him palliative, and together they started thinking about how to make the most of the time they had left.

But sometimes, life has a different plan.

Since moving into United for Care and making a home in one of our vertical village communities, Michael’s health has taken a remarkable turn. With the right support, healthier routines, and the encouragement of people around him, his doctors recently gave him news no one expected: his life expectancy has been extended by at least five years.

For Michael, that’s not just more time. It’s more meals with Sharon. More cricket to watch. More karaoke nights to belt out his favourite tunes. It’s more connection, more belonging, more living.

Celebrating life — and living it

To celebrate this incredible milestone, Michael and Sharon organised a Celebration of Life party. Together with the United for Care team, Michael pulled together one almighty event!

It was a powerful and uplifting moment — not just for Michael and his family and friends, but for his United for Care community too. The celebration showed exactly what makes United for Care special: people coming together, lifting each other up, and proving that this is more than a home.

More than a home

For Michael, the difference hasn’t just been medical care —it’s been about finding more than a home.

At United for Care, our vertical village model is designed to offer exactly that. Yes, it’s high-quality supported accommodation. But it’s also a place where people connect, where neighbours become friends, and where health and wellbeing are part of everyday life.

From shared meals to group activities, from the support of staff who genuinely care to the comfort of knowing you’re not alone, our villages bring together all the pieces that make life richer.

Michael is living proof of the impact this model can have. While his intellectual disability has sometimes posed challenges, it has never defined him. Supported to live in a way that’s healthy, social, and full of purpose, he continues to show what’s possible when people are given the right environment to flourish.

Making the most of every day

It’s these everyday moments that matter most. Living well isn’t only about adding years — it’s about making those years count. Michael’s story is a powerful reminder to embrace each day, seek out connection, and celebrate the things that make life meaningful.

A community proud to stand beside him

For our team, supporting Michael has been a privilege. Watching him regain strength, embrace life, and share his journey so openly reflects the heart of what United for Care is all about.

We’re proud of Michael. Proud of Sharon. Proud of their resilience, humour, and determination to keep going. And proud that United for Care’s vertical villages could give them more than a home — a place to belong, to heal, and to live fully.

Learn more

United for Care’s vertical village model is changing the way supported living looks and feels. It’s not just about accommodation. It’s about creating spaces where people with disability can live independently while surrounded by community, connection, and real care.

Michael’s story is just one example of what’s possible when people have the right support around them.

👉 Be part of our next Lunch & Learn and find out more about Vertical Village living: Register here

👉 Discover what makes our Vertical Villages unique in supporting independence and wellbeing: Read more here.

‍