Greenholme House has achieved the standards required for the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF), meaning they can provide enhanced person-centred care and support for former members of the Armed Forces in Burley.
To achieve their Veteran Friendly status, Greenholme House 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.
The aim of the VFF is to better support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community, in care homes across England, by providing training and resources to assess and improve the care they offer.
Greenholme House is proud to be officially recognised as a Veteran Friendly Home through the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF). The home is incredibly proud of this achievement, as it reflects their commitment to recognising, supporting and celebrating the Armed Forces community.
Since beginning the VFF journey, Greenholme have made a number of positive changes to ensure the military service and experiences of residents are recognised as an important part of their personal history. The home has identified veterans and veteran spouses within the home, introduced poppies to help identify veterans, created a dedicated VFF information area for residents, families and team, and developed the pre-admission process to ensure military service is identified and understood from the outset.
The relationships have been strengthened with the local Armed Forces community, including the Ilkley Veterans Breakfast Club and the Royal British Legion, and have welcomed opportunities for residents to take part in military-themed events, visits and activities. The VFF Champions are also continuing their training so that the home can provide the right support and signposting when it is needed.
Most importantly, becoming Veteran Friendly has helped create opportunities for veterans to share their experiences and memories with others. Conversations about military service can bring residents together, spark friendships and give people the opportunity to talk about a part of their lives that is hugely important to them. The veterans’ lunches and Armed Forces activities have created opportunities for residents to connect, reminisce and feel that their service is recognised and valued.
Being Veteran Friendly is about much more than achieving an accreditation. It is about making sure that every veteran who lives at Greenholme House feels recognised, respected and supported, while celebrating the contribution they have made to our country.
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 Greenholme House 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 Greenholme House 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 Greenholme House.”
