Boost for Armed Forces veterans living at Samuel House Care Home in Heanor, Derby
Former members of the Armed Forces in Derby will benefit from enhanced person-centred care and support after the care home they live in achieved the standards required for the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF).
The aim of the VFF is to better support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community, in residential care homes across England, by providing training and resources to assess and improve the care they offer. It will help tackle loneliness and has the scope to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the 25,000 veterans living in care homes in England.
To achieve their Veteran Friendly status, Samuel House Care Home was required to meet eight standards. These included: noting Armed Forces status within care plans; addressing social isolation; and signposting to support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch, and other charities that provide support for veterans or partners of veterans.
Lisa Tungate, General Manager at Samuel House Care Home, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have achieved Veteran Friendly status. It’s a proud moment for our home to be recognised for our commitment to our residents who have served.
“We’ve already made some wonderful changes, like building links within the local community and arranging visits to the home from the local scouts, air cadets, and the RBL and SSAFA. We’ve also incorporated the veteran friendly framework in our monthly resident and staff meeting agenda and include relevant questions when assessing new residents so we can best support any veterans moving in with us.
“It’s so rewarding to be able to honour the service of our veteran residents while they form new friendships and share their stories.”
The VFF is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
Kathryn Glass is the VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter and responsible for supporting and assessing care homes going through the scheme. She said: “We’re delighted that Samuel House Care Home achieved VFF status. This is a great commitment to their continuous improvement in the delivery of person-centred care for veteran residents and their partners. This programme will benefit both current and future residents, along with current and future staff at Samuel House Care Home, who are able to access enhanced training and guidance to better engage with the unique military experiences that their residents and partners have lived through. Being a VFF care home means that there is an increased understanding and recognition for the veteran community at Samuel House.