Chester care home secures prestigious accreditation

 

A Chester care home has been recognised for its standards of person-centred care for veterans.

Care UK’s Deewater Grange, on Chester Road, has officially received a ‘Veteran Friendly’ status, and is inviting the community to learn about the history and development of the Royal British Legion on Saturday 7^th September, from 2pm-4pm.

On the day, guests will have the opportunity to meet Ruth Jones, Poppy Appeal Manager for the Royal British Legion, and enjoy refreshments specially prepared by Lloyd Harrison.

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 their Veteran Friendly status, Deewater Grange 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. 

Sally Cooper, Home Manager at Deewater Grange, said: “We’re so proud to have become a VFF-approved care home.

 “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 learnt so much in the process, and we are excited to host the first of many veteran-friendly events in the local community.

“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 Deewater Grange 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 Deewater Grange, 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 Deewater Grange.”

Deewater Grange is a state-of-the-art home which provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care. The home has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, and incorporates space for hobby and leisure activities, including its own café, bar, cinema as well as a hair and beauty salon. The layout of the building is configured into a series of individual suites, each having a dedicated lounge/dining room to help facilitate the creation of close-knit communities.