Boost for Armed Forces Veterans at The Lodge Care Home in South Shields

The Veteran Friendly Framework is designed to enhance the practical, emotional, and social support available to veterans in residential care settings across England. It provides care homes with training, resources, and guidance to assess and improve their care for ex-service personnel, helping to combat loneliness and improve health and wellbeing for the 25,000 veterans currently living in care homes.

A Commitment to Veteran Care

To achieve Veteran Friendly status, The Lodge Care Home had to meet eight key standards, including:

• Identifying residents with a military background and recognising their Armed Forces status in their care plans
• Addressing social isolation through specialist veteran support groups and activities
• Connecting residents with veteran-specific services and charities, such as The Royal British Legion

The Lodge Care Home: A Home That Recognises & Respects Veterans

As part of its commitment to supporting ex-military residents, The Lodge Care Home has introduced initiatives that honour their service, including:

• Identifying veterans with poppy symbols on their doors, acknowledging their military background
• Arranging visits from cadet groups to help build intergenerational connections
• Organising trips to the local Royal British Legion branch, where veterans can engage with their community
• Creating new friendship groups within the home, bringing together residents with shared military experiences

A spokesperson for The Lodge Care Home said: "We are incredibly proud to be officially recognised as a Veteran Friendly Care Home. Many of our residents have served in the Armed Forces, and we understand that their experiences are a huge part of their identity.

"Through this initiative, we are ensuring that veterans feel safe, understood, and able to share their stories with people who truly appreciate their service. Since adopting the VFF standards, we have seen first-hand the positive impact—residents have formed new friendships, reconnected with their military past, and enjoyed visits from cadet groups and veteran organisations."

What Makes a Veteran Friendly Care Home Special?

Veteran Friendly Care Homes provide specialist support and understanding tailored to the unique needs of former service members, including:

• Trained staff who understand military culture and challenges such as PTSD and combat-related injuries
• A sense of camaraderie and belonging, allowing veterans to connect with others who share similar experiences
• Access to veteran support services, including charities, mental health professionals, and benefits advisors
• Commemoration and military traditions, ensuring veterans continue to celebrate their service with respect

A Milestone in Veteran Support

The Veteran Friendly Framework is a collaboration between Royal Star & Garter, the Royal British Legion, and the NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The goal is to ensure that all veterans in care homes receive the dignity, respect, and tailored support they deserve.

Kathryn Glass, VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter, said:"We’re delighted that The Lodge Care Home has achieved Veteran Friendly status. This commitment ensures that both current and future veteran residents at The Lodge receive the highest standard of personalised care. Their efforts will also benefit staff, who gain enhanced training and guidance in understanding military culture, allowing them to engage meaningfully with those who have served our country."

Find Out More

Any care homes interested in becoming Veteran Friendly can visit: www.starandgarter.org/veteran-friendly-framework or email [email protected].

📍Visit Us: The Lodge Care Home, Farnham Road, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE34 0JR

Call Us: 0191 455 7012✉️ Email Us: [email protected]