A Salford care home that has looked after veterans for more than a century has been awarded £120,000 by the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF). The grant will help Broughton House Veteran Care Village continue its specialist care for older veterans, many of whom live with dementia, both inside the home and in the wider community.
Funding specialist care for older veterans
Broughton House provides round-the-clock residential and nursing care for veterans, including those living with dementia. It also reaches beyond its own walls, offering dementia support to veterans who still live at home.
The grant from the ABF, the British Army’s national charity, is aimed at improving residents’ wellbeing and quality of life. Crucially, it also helps to close the gap between what high-quality care actually costs and what local authority fees and residents’ own contributions cover, a shortfall that many specialist care providers struggle with.
Where the money will go
The funding will support a wide range of services, including:
- the Admiral Nurse role held by Jacqui Hodgson
- in-house physiotherapy and chiropody
- dementia-friendly equipment
- the care home’s gym
- social events and military-themed activities for residents
- continued specialist support for veterans with dementia living at home, provided by Jacqui and a dedicated dementia navigator
Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who support both people living with dementia and the families caring for them. Having one on site, with a reach into the community, means veterans and their loved ones can get expert help before they reach crisis point.
More than a century of caring for veterans
Broughton House opened in 1916 and has cared for more than 8,000 veterans since. It is the only care home in the north west to offer veteran-specific residential, nursing, specialist dementia and respite care.
Following a redevelopment, the home now has 64 beds, including two 16-bed households designed specifically for veterans living with dementia, along with six independent living apartments. Almost 50 of its current residents are British Army veterans, living alongside veterans of other branches of the Armed Forces. Most are in their 80s or 90s, and many are living with dementia or cognitive decline.
A long-standing partnership
Karen Miller, chief executive of Broughton House, said the charity was very grateful for the ABF’s support. She pointed out that its community dementia service receives no statutory funding, so grants like this are what allow the work to continue.
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, chief operating officer of the ABF, described the charity’s relationship with Broughton House as a long-standing partnership. He said the ABF wants every veteran to be able to enjoy their later years with peace and dignity.
Why this matters now
The UK’s veteran community is ageing, and with that comes a growing need for dementia care that understands military life. As we reported recently, research at Bournemouth University is exploring how dementia affects UK armed forces veterans, with evidence suggesting military service may raise the risk.
Veteran-specific care can make a real difference. Living alongside others who share a similar background, with staff who understand service culture, can help residents feel at home, while familiar activities and memories of service can offer comfort and connection. Support for those still living at home matters just as much, both for veterans and for the partners and families who care for them.
If you or someone you care for is a veteran affected by dementia, help is available. The Army Benevolent Fund offers support to soldiers, veterans and their families, and Dementia UK provides advice through its Admiral Nurses. You can also find a range of support organisations on our Get help now page.
This article is based on a news report published by Cobseo, the Confederation of Service Charities. Read the original article on the Cobseo website.
