A new project has been launched which will benefit the tens of thousands of Armed Forces veterans and their partners living in care homes across England.  

The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF), launched 19 October, will tackle loneliness and isolation, and deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for over 25,000 veterans. 

The VFF is a two-year collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter, Royal British Legion and NHS Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. 

RAF veteran Michael has been a resident at Royal Star & Garter for three years. He said: "I think the Veteran Friendly Framework is a marvellous idea. It will provide support to thousands of veterans living in non-military care homes across the country. 

"At Royal Star & Garter, this is something I really value, and I'm delighted that veterans in other care homes will benefit from this."

The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) will support veterans living in care homes across England. (Royal Star & Garter)

The aim of the VFF is to better support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community, in residential care homes across England, by providing training and resources to assess and improve the care they offer. 

Care providers must meet eight standards to complete their accreditation. These include: noting Armed Forces status within care plans; addressing social isolation; and signposting to support services. 

Staff and residents at Maurice House, a Royal British Legion care home, celebrate their VFF accreditation. (Photo: Supplied)

Royal Star & Garter CEO Andy Cole said: "We're very proud to be launching the VFF… In 2018, Royal Star & Garter set out our plan to significantly increase the number of veterans we support, and the VFF is a major step in achieving this. 

"We have over a century's worth of experience caring for the nation's military family, and we are delighted to be sharing it with care homes across the country, so that veterans in other homes can receive outstanding support."

Out of 15,000 care homes in England, only 20 offer specialist support to those who served in the Armed Forces and their partners.

Following a pilot, 10 of these care homes are now VFF-approved. A further 20 care homes are in the process of gaining accreditation. In total, 670 veterans and partners have already benefitted from improvements. 

The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) will support veterans living in care homes across England. (Royal Star & Garter)

Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP, said: "The Veteran Friendly Framework will make sure that veterans living in care homes understand and are fully aware of the services that are available to them. It's all about making this the best country in the world to be a veteran. 

"I pay tribute to Royal Star & Garter, Royal British Legion, VCHA and everyone who has helped with this." 

Royal British Legion Director General Charles Byrne said: "Most veterans are cared for in civilian homes that in some cases, may not fully understand their social, emotional or physical needs. The exciting potential of this project is to raise the standards of care received by all members of the Armed Forces community living in all care homes." 

Any care homes interested in receiving more information about the VFF can visit www.starandgarter.org/veteran-friendly-framework, email [email protected] or call 07435 326070.