A NEW day care service for veterans living in the High Wycombe and the surrounding areas has been launched by Royal Star & Garter.

The service will run from the charity’s new state-of-the-art High Wycombe Home, offering care for veterans and their partners who are living with disability or dementia who do not yet require full-time residential care.

Guests at the new day care service will be kept busy and active, joining permanent residents in activities including quizzes, outings, outside entertainment, yoga, art therapy, and movement to music.

Emphasis will also be paid on rekindling memories and creating connections.

Well-being and health checks will also be available and guests can be picked up and dropped off if required.

The aim of the service is to help tackle social isolation encountered by older people and promote well-being by providing social contact, activities and structure to the week. The service offers valuable respite to carers, who are often older people themselves.

The charity already has its first day care guest, with others currently being assessed to join.

Once fully operating, it will run Monday-Friday and cater for up to eight people per day.

Day care will be led by day care hosts Vanessa Brooks and Jade Dockerty.

A healthcare assistant for 30 years, Vanessa said: “I am really looking forward to welcoming our day care guests, and making their time with us enjoyable. It will be a place to socialise and improve their well-being, to meet new people and maybe try new things. We will always be developing the service to meet the needs and wishes of guests.”

Day care is part of Royal Star & Garter’s strategy to double the number of veterans it is able to support by 2025.

As well as day care, the charity will also launch a Home Care service, and bespoke residential services for younger disabled veterans.