A Day Care service for veterans and their partners has launched at a Surbiton care home.

The sessions, which will run several days a week from Royal Star & Garter and include dedicated days for people living with early-stage dementia, began in May.

To mark the launch, the charity is offering a free Day Care session at its Surbiton Home.

The service will support veterans and their partners who live with disability or dementia but are not in need of full-time residential care. Furthermore, it will offer valuable respite to their carers, who are often older people themselves.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, and has launched several new services reaching out into the community.

Day Care is already running in Royal Star & Garter’s Solihull and High Wycombe Homes, and has received high praise from people using it.

As well as tackling social isolation which can be a significant issue amongst the veteran population, it will also promote wellbeing by providing home-cooked food, activities and structure to the week.

The arrival of Day Care at Surbiton is the latest move by Royal Star & Garter to increase the number of veterans it helps. All three Homes now provide the service and, in 2023, the charity launched Lunch Clubs and a Telephone Friendship Service to help combat loneliness and isolation in the Armed Forces community.

The offer of a free taster session runs until 31 August. Booking in advance is required and places are subject to availability. There is no obligation to continue using the service later.

People using Day Care will be kept busy, joining permanent residents in activities including quizzes, outings, entertainment, art therapy, and movement to music. Emphasis will be placed on rekindling memories and creating connections, including making new friends over delicious and healthy meals.

‘It’s lovely here’

Among those using Day Care at Surbiton is Sadie. She said: “It’s lovely here. I’ve enjoyed meeting other people and taking part in activities. And I’ve been spending time in the beautiful garden, there’s so many varied flowers and plants.”

Helena Maher is the Home Manager at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton. She said: “We know there is demand for Day Care, so I’m delighted to have launched this service here at our Home. We’ve had a lot of enquiries already, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more members of the Armed Forces community through our doors.”

Further information about Royal Star & Garter Day Care in Surbiton, and the free taster session, can be found here: https://starandgarter.org/our-homes-and-care/types-of-care/surbiton-day-care-service/

For specific Surbiton Home enquiries, including Day Care and the free taster session, email surbiton.enquiries@starandgarter.org or call 020 8339 5100.

Royal Star & Garter is welcoming new residents into each of its three Homes. For more information on this, or to work for the charity, go to www.starandgarter.org