Finding the Right Residential Care Home for a Veteran

Guidance on choosing a residential care home with respectful, accredited support for veterans’ unique needs

Looking for residential care for a loved one is often complex and emotional. Still, for families with a relative in need of care who has served in the military, this can become even more challenging. Many require a care centre with experience supporting veterans, where they can trust that the care offered will be empathetic and respect the life achievements of the individual.

For many veterans, their careers form a central aspect of their identities, in some cases in a positive way. In others, time served in the military can be associated with physical injuries, traumas, and difficult memories, all of which need to be carefully managed.

The Forest Healthcare group, an established network of care and nursing centres which has achieved Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) accreditation across all its facilities, shares insights from the specialists to help families navigate this difficult decision-making process.

Considerations for Families Searching for Dedicated Care Support for Veterans

Forest Healthcare has long advocated for person-centred care, looking beyond the basics of personal care, engaging activities and comfortable, safe accommodation, to learn about the personalities, passions, stories and interests of every resident to support the highest possible quality of life.

When we speak with families who need care assistance for a loved one who has served in the military, we recognise that this is a major factor.

An older relative may, for example, be struggling to live independently due to their age, health or cognition, but must be cared for with respect for their achievements, and ensure they maintain familiar routines, community connections and relationships.

We decided to embark on our journey to network-wide Veteran Friendly Framework certification because many veterans who live in residential care experience physical health concerns and mental health conditions that directly affect care planning, with known underdiagnoses of conditions like PTSD, especially in older veterans.

There are also correlations between traumatic brain injuries, trauma, dementia and other cognitive conditions, which means we, as care providers, need to be fully aware of the specific needs of every resident, and weave this understanding into our care planning to cater properly for the emotional and physical well-being of each individual.

What Are Veteran-Friendly Framework-Accredited Care Homes?

The VFF was launched in partnership between the Armed Forces charities, the Royal British Legion and Royal Star & Garter, and the NHS Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, supported financially by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. It was created to tackle prevalent issues, including isolation and loneliness, in veterans living in English care and nursing homes.

As a private group of care centres, we saw this as an opportunity to enhance our own knowledge and support systems for the veterans living within Forest Healthcare centres. We began work on achieving the eight accreditation standards throughout our network – something we're delighted to have now completed.

Care centres that hold VFF approved status offer diverse types of support. That can mean recognising important and meaningful dates, commemorations and celebrations in a veteran’s calendar, and maintaining and improving bonds and access to community groups.

Another priority is around working in partnership with local charities and statutory services who provide support for veterans and signposting or providing access to these groups.

We ensure, for example, that all Forest Healthcare centres make provisions to identify the best ways to uphold the welfare and comfort of veterans and their families. We also incorporate Armed Forces status into our care planning, work proactively to address isolation, and offer specialist support, such as through companionship or visiting therapists.

What to Look for in a Care Centre Placement for a Veteran

If we had to highlight one key aspect for families comparing care centres and concerned about ensuring a loved one who has served is respected, it would be community. That is because companionship, family, and other veterans with a shared history are vital to veteran welfare.

Families are a hugely important part of life at Forest Healthcare, and we actively encourage loved ones to play an active role in care planning. Loved ones can visit as often as they are able, join in with celebrations and activities and build open dialogues with our teams to ensure we're always in communication and on the same page.

For veterans, loved ones can provide us with vital information, especially if a person with Armed Forces status is less able to tell us their wishes or needs.

They could mean always addressing a resident by their rank if this is their preference, knowing whether or not a resident likes to share their memories of the time they served, and advising on whether the person would like their medals and photos displayed, or whether these can trigger difficult memories of bereavements or injuries.

Community connections outside of the care centre are equally important, because many veterans consider remembrance services and dates like VE Day, D-Day, Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day essential, with some wishing to attend public memorials and services, and others wanting to spend these dates with their peers or loved ones.

Advice on Making Sensitive Care Arrangements for a Loved One With Armed Forces Status

We’d of course recommend looking for care and nursing centres with VFF status, as this is the easiest way to verify that a residential care facility has put time and energy into meeting the eight accreditation standards, and demonstrated their commitment to delivering outstanding care for veterans.

Families are welcome to organise in-person visits to any Forest Healthcare centre. We’ll be happy to provide a tour around the spaces and gardens, answer questions to ensure each family has all the information they need and describe the care planning and provisions implemented for other veterans to clarify how this works to meet individual needs.

Finally, we'd suggest that if a prospective care centre resident is able to contribute to their care planning, this should be encouraged as much as possible, ensuring we work closely with families and veterans to respect their wishes, understand their needs, and safeguard their happiness and comfort.

Read more about Forest Healthcare - Forest Healthcare Care Village Unveils Hygge Interior Design Revamp to Boost Calm and Wellbeing

About Forest Healthcare

Forest Healthcare is an established care provider dedicated to consistently delivering an outstanding quality of life to the residents they serve. With a network of care centres across South-East England, Forest Healthcare specialises in catering to a wide range of care requirements, including; residential, nursing, dementia and specialist care. The organisation’s mission is to provide a family feel to the exceptional care they deliver by valuing, respecting and caring for each and every person who lives and works at Forest Healthcare.