Knutsford care home secures prestigious accreditation

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

Care UK’s Cranford Grange, on Hall Lane, has officially received ‘Veteran Friendly’ status. 

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.

The initiative was launched in 2023 to tackle loneliness and isolation and deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for over 25,000 veterans living in care homes across England.

To achieve their Veteran Friendly status, Craford 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.

The care home has also introduced a range of activities, including regular trips to historic sites such as the IWM Manchester War Museum, welcoming the Knutsford Cadets, and celebrating events like D-Day, VE Day, and Armistice Day with the community.

Daniel Cole, Home Manager at Cranford Grange, said: “We’re so proud to have become a VFF-approved care home. It is such a wonderful way to end the year and great news for our team.

“We pride ourselves on being warm and inclusive for all, so it is important for us to provide the right environment for veterans to continue leading fulfilling lives.

“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 fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Cranford Grange provides residential, dementia, nursing and respite care, and incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The home has its own cinema, pub and hair and beauty salon, and has been configured into a series of neighbourhoods to facilitate the creation of close-knit communities and encourage interaction among the residents.