Paddington care home achieves veteran-friendly status
A care home in Paddington has been recognised for its commitment to the armed forces community.
Care UK’s Forrester Court, on Cirencester Street, has officially received Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status – certifying the enhanced care and support for veterans living at the home.
The VFF initiative was launched in 2023 with the aim of tackling loneliness and isolation and delivering improved health and wellbeing outcomes for over 25,000 veterans living in care homes across England.
To achieve its accreditation, Forrester Court was required to meet eight standards, including 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.
The care home has also introduced a range of activities including launching a veteran-friendly breakfast club, hosting D-day and Veteran Day celebrations, and holding regular wartime reminiscence sessions.
Ionela Savulescu, Home Manager at Forrester Court, said: “We’re so proud to have become a VFF-approved care home.
“We pride ourselves on being warm and inclusive to all, so it is important for us to provide the right environment for veterans to thrive here. We’ve learned so much in the process and have already started implementing activities such as our veteran-friendly breakfast club and wartime reminiscence sessions.
“The entire team has been working tirelessly to achieve the accreditation, and I’d like to say a big thank you to all of them. We’re looking forward to welcoming more veterans from the community into our home.”
Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence, Forrester Court incorporates plenty of space for hobby and leisure activities, and has its own hair and beauty salon, activities room and café. The highly skilled team provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.
To find out more about Forrester Court, contact Activity Lead Nadia Cox on 02072 663174, email [email protected] or visit careuk.com/forrester-court