Cheadle care home invites community to celebrate prestigious accreditation

A Cheadle care home is inviting the community to a special celebration after being recognised for its standards of person-centred care for veterans.

Care UK’s Abney Court, in Abney Hall Park, has officially received ‘Veteran Friendly’ status and is inviting the local community, along with team members and residents from eight other ‘Veteran Friendly’ Care UK homes across the region, to a special event to celebrate its new accolade on Wednesday 4^th September, from 2pm-4pm.

Guests are invited to enjoy a barbecue and live entertainment, while meeting and chatting with like-minded members of the community.

There will also be the chance to learn more about veteran-friendly groups and clubs in the local area, as well as discovering how the team at Abney Court can support those who have served in the Armed Forces. 

The Veteran Friendly Framework (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.

To achieve its Veteran Friendly status, Abney Court 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 the local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans or partners of veterans.

Zoe Smart, Home Manager at Abney Court, said: “We pride ourselves on being warm and inclusive to all and with so many veterans in our home, it was important for us to ensure we can provide the right environment for them to lead fulfilling lives. We’ve learned so much in the process and have already started implementing activities to enrich residents’ lives further.

“The entire team has been working tirelessly to achieve the accreditation, and I’d like to say a big thank you to them all. We’re looking forward to welcoming more veterans from the community into our home.”

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 Abney Court 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. 

“This programme will benefit both current and future residents, along with current and future team members at Abney Court, 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 Abney Court.”

Abney Court has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives. The home provides full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. The care home incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities and includes its own cinema, hair salon and café.