A care home has been praised for the care and support it is providing a blind RAF veteran.

Staff at Royal Star & Garter’s Surbiton Home invited Blind Veterans UK to give them support and advice after former RAF policeman Jeremy Sellwood became a resident.

According to Jed, as he is known, and his family, it has helped him to settle in and enjoy life at the Home.

The praise for Royal Star & Garter comes on World Sight Day, 9 October, and during World Blindness Awareness Month, which is running throughout October.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care and support for veterans and their families, living with disability or dementia, through its Homes in Solihull, Surbiton, High Wycombe and Worthing. It also provides services reaching into the community, including Lunch Clubs, Day Care and a national Telephone Friendship Service.

Blind Veterans UK supports anyone who has served in the Armed Forces and is now living with significant sight loss.

Jed lost his sight after sustaining a serious head injury in 1987, aged 25. It happened while he was based at JHQ (Joint Headquarters) Rheindahlen in West Germany, and he was off-duty at the time.

With the support of Blind Veterans UK, he was able to live independently for more than 20 years. However, a series of falls resulted in Jed, now 63, coming to Royal Star & Garter in 2024.

It was after moving in that the Home’s dedicated Wellbeing Team reached out to the sight loss charity. Wellbeing Coordinator Lesley O’Driscoll said: “The team haven’t had to support someone who is totally blind and we wanted advice and to know what we can do to help his wellbeing.”

Blind Veterans UK provided a box of activities and advised on the set-up of Jed’s room. A case worker also meets Jed each month and Lesley added: “We’ve definitely been able to improve the support and wellbeing we provide Jed since contacting Blind Veterans UK.”

Jed said: “I think it’s excellent that Royal Star & Garter got in contact with Blind Veterans UK. It’s refreshing to see two organisations working together this way. Staff here always go the extra mile for every single resident.”

Jed’s sister Kim said: “Blind Veterans UK has been supporting Jed for a long time, so I was thrilled when Royal Star & Garter reached out to them to help with the support they can provide him.”

‘Share our expertise’

Mark Wheeler, from Blind Veterans UK said: “We are proud to have been supporting Jed for many years. It was fantastic to work with Royal Star & Garter to share our expertise and support them to provide the best care possible. It’s great to see two veterans’ charities working together for Jed’s benefit and we’re grateful that staff at the Home reached out to us. It’s good to know that Jed is now receiving such wonderful care and that he is happy.”

Speaking about Royal Star & Garter, Jed added: “This place feels like home, it’s absolutely fantastic. Everybody’s friendly and helpful, and I feel lucky to be here.”

Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton is also welcoming new residents. For more information on this, its other services or to work at the Home, go to: www.starandgarter.org/surbiton