New day care service for veterans who have a disability or dementia launches in Buckinghamshire
A new day care service for veterans living in High Wycombe and the surrounding areas has been launched by the Royal Star & Garter.
The service will run from the charity’s new High Wycombe Care Home, offering care for veterans and their partners who are living with disability or dementia who do not yet require full-time residential care.
Guests at the new day care service will be kept busy and active, joining permanent residents in activities including quizzes, outings, outside entertainment, yoga, art therapy, and movement to music. Emphasis will also be paid on rekindling memories and creating connections, including making new friends over delicious and healthy meals, says the charity.
Well-being and health checks will also be available and guests can be picked up and dropped off if required.
According to the charity, its new service will help tackle social isolation encountered by older people and promote well-being by providing social contact, activities and structure to the week. Furthermore, the service offers valuable respite to carers, who are often older people themselves.
The charity already has its first day care guest, with others currently being assessed to join. Once fully operating, it will run Monday-Friday and cater for up to eight people per day.
Bernadette Ashcroft, Interim CEO at Age UK Buckinghamshire, welcomed the arrival of service, commenting: “It’s fantastic to see Royal Star & Garter are continuing to support veterans and their partners into later life. This new development reaches out to people who have shared experiences to swap stories, access peer support and have fun in a friendly, welcoming environment.”
The launch follows the successful trial of day care at the charity’s Solihull Home. Guests and relatives at the West Midlands home said it also led to increased confidence and opportunities to be more independent. The day care service is now a permanent feature at Solihull.
Royal Star & Garter has three homes providing care to ex-servicemen and women and their partners who live with disability or dementia. The High Wycombe Home opened in April 2019.
Day care at the High Wycombe home will be led by day care hosts Vanessa Brooks and Jade Dockerty.
Vanessa said: “I am really looking forward to welcoming our day care guests, and making their time with us enjoyable. It will be a place to socialise and improve their well-being, to meet new people and maybe try new things. We will always be developing the service to meet the needs and wishes of guests.”
Day care is part of Royal Star & Garter’s strategy to double the number of veterans it is able to support by 2025, and offers greater choice and flexibility to beneficiaries. As well as day care, the charity will also launch a home care service and bespoke residential services for younger disabled veterans.