Supporting veterans through Living Well services

Project overview

Rowans Hospice has several veterans in its local community, and there are a range of local services for veterans. However, it can be difficult for those who need support around the end of life to access the help they need.

The Rowans Living Well Service (LWS) runs two groups for veterans at its Living Well Centre. One supports people who have been bereaved, and one supports people living with a terminal condition. These groups are facilitated by a Rowans LWS nurse, with a volunteer who is a veteran themselves.

Outcomes

The Living Well Service (LWS) support groups provide a space where veterans of all ages can share their experiences with other people who understand their background.

It has taken a while for the groups to develop, but participants report that they are incredibly helpful. The atmosphere is warm and supportive, helping members feel less socially isolated. There is also a true sense of camaraderie through the group in a safe space.

Members have built strong relationships. For example, there was a lovely celebration when one participant had their 100th birthday! The group have also pulled together to support a member who was showing the signs of dementia and when a member started to show signs of deterioration.

Key facilitators

The hospice has attained Veteran Aware Accreditation. This has really helped them think about how they engage with veterans who are patients, carers, staff and volunteers.

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity currently provides grant funding to the LWS veterans support groups.

Challenges

There are very few women who take part in the veteran support groups. Rowans’ LWS staff and volunteers wanted to find out why women were less likely to engage with services and how this could be improved. They attended a focus group that was led by the Female Veterans Transformation Programme and local organisations.

They found that women are less likely to see themselves as ‘veterans’. They do not necessarily want to join a group that was already male dominated, but would prefer a new network with a small nucleus of people, and an activity to do together.

The LWS analysed where attendees to the veterans groups lived, and realised that most people were coming from Waterlooville, the area closest to the hospice.

To make it easier for people across the hospice’s footprint to attend, they have begun a new group at a community hub in Gosport and are planning two more drop-in groups in Portsmouth and Hayling Island.

The Childwick Trust have supported this community outreach work through grant funding.