Care Home Achieves Veteran-Friendly Status
The team and residents of Sanctuary Care’s home in Chesterton are beaming with pride after achieving Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status!
Broadmeadow Court Residential Care Home has been awarded prestigious VFF status, in recognition of the team’s dedication to supporting the practical, emotional and social needs of the armed forces community.
As part of their commitment, the dedicated staff, who currently care for two veterans, established close links with local armed forces community groups, creating important bonds and connections.
One of their residents for whom this means so much is 88-year-old Jim Holding, who served with the Royal Horse Guard with the Household Cavalry at Knightsbridge Barracks in London. Jim said: “One of my proudest photographs is of me as standing with my horse and The Queen on parade.
“We went through months of training for these parades, mainly in the dark so people could not see. The training was tough, but they soon whipped us boys into shape – it taught you such discipline and the regiment is your family for life.”
Speaking about the home’s VFF status, Jim, who moved into the not-for-profit Sanctuary Care home in Broadmeadow Court two years ago, said: “I’m glad we’ve got this, as it may bring other veterans into the home.”
As part of their dedication to providing truly person-centred support to all of their veterans, the team ensures that any external healthcare professionals are fully aware of their service status, discreetly placing poppies outside their bedroom doors to remind visitors.
The home also has dedicated champions, who have undertaken specialist training, which they then use to train their colleagues on how to provide the very best support to their veterans and their loved ones.
Christine Singer, manager of the Sanctuary Care home and proudly part of a military family, herself shared: “Achieving Veteran Friendly Framework accreditation is a milestone we hold with immense pride.
“This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to honouring and supporting those who have served. It strengthens our ability to enrich the lives of our residents and ensures that the veterans in our care receive the personalised support and understanding they truly deserve.”
The VFF is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter, Royal British Legion and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA).
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 Sanctuary Care’s Broadmeadow Court Residential Care Home has 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.”
