Birmingham care home achieves veteran-friendly status

A care home in Birmingham has been recognised for its commitment to the armed forces community.

 

Care UK’s Edgbaston Manor, on Speedwell Road, 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 more than 25,000 veterans living in care homes across England.

To achieve its accreditation, Edgbaston Manor 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 and their partners.

The care home has also introduced a range of activities, including hosting a veteran café on the last Friday of every month at 3 pm, where guests will be provided with food, drink and a space to chat. 

Zoe Steventon, Home Manager at Edgbaston Manor, said: “We are 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 VE and VJ celebrations, remembrance day.

“The entire team has worked 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.”

Edgbaston Manor has been designed to deliver the very best standards of care and enable residents to live active and fulfilling lives, while also promoting independence. The home provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care, and has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage social interaction among the residents. There is also plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.