This week marked an important and very proud step for our home as we officially began working towards the Veteran Friendly Framework and signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Veteran Friendly Framework has been created specifically for care homes and helps teams recognise, understand and support residents who have served in the Armed Forces, as well as their partners. It encourages care homes to learn more about residents’ Service histories, understand what matters most to them and ensure they can access appropriate veteran-specific support when needed.
Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is another important part of this commitment. The Covenant recognises the contribution and sacrifices made by those who serve, or have served, in the Armed Forces and their families, and promotes fairness, respect and appropriate support for the Armed Forces community.
For us, this journey is about much more than achieving a status. It is about getting to know the people we care for on an even deeper level. A resident’s time in the Armed Forces may have shaped their friendships, experiences, routines, interests and memories throughout their life.
Over the coming months, we will be developing our knowledge, completing training, identifying residents with Armed Forces connections and finding new ways to recognise and celebrate their Service.
We are incredibly proud to have taken this first step and look forward to sharing our progress as we work towards becoming a Veteran Friendly care home.
Most importantly, we want every veteran who lives with us, now and in the future, to know that their Service is recognised, their experiences are valued and their story matters