Health & Wellbeing

Community, Comradeship & Care

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to a close-knit community of Army veterans, known as Chelsea Pensioners. They live here with a shared sense of purpose, fostering comradeship and care for one another. 

At the heart of the Royal Hospital is a commitment to supporting the Pensioners in leading active, fulfilling lives. Our Health & Wellbeing department offers a wide range of care and support services to ensure this is possible.

Ceremonial Life

With strong links to the military, the local area and with communities of veterans from all three services nationwide, Chelsea Pensioners take pride in representing the Royal Hospital and the wider veteran community. 

Overseen by the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), the ceremonial aspects of life here are highly valued. The highlight of the year is our annual Founder’s Day parade, but Chelsea Pensioners also play a vital role in national events, such as the Remembrance Day service at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cenotaph.

Throughout the year, the RSM coordinates Pensioner participation in numerous external events, both in the UK and abroad, where they represent the Royal Hospital and, at times, the nation itself in their iconic scarlet uniforms.

Supporting the RSM are the Company Sergeant Majors, drawn from the Pensioner community. They serve as an important link between the Pensioners and the Royal Hospital, ensuring that their voices are heard. These leaders also help shape recruitment, ensuring that new Pensioners align with the core values of the Royal Hospital; Respect, Pride, Belonging, and Enjoyment.

Additionally, the Royal Hospital retains the historic role of Captain of Invalids, retired Army Officers who look after the welfare of Pensioners within their respective companies. Their role is both ceremonial and welfare-based, with duties ranging from formal events to ensuring Pensioners receive the welfare support they need.

The RSM is also the lead for recruiting new Chelsea Pensioners.

Communications

Communication is essential in a community with individuals ranging in age from their late 60s to over 100 years old. To meet the varied needs of our Pensioners, we use multiple channels. While word of mouth is key, it is supplemented with written communications, in-house radio, video channels, and regular company meetings. For those with sensory impairments, we provide additional support to ensure they remain informed and engaged. We also provide suggestions boxes for the Pensioners to put forward any ideas or suggestions for improvements.

We maintain a weekly bulletin, similar to the military’s “Part One Orders,” which contains vital information on events, schedules, and news. This familiar structure helps ground the Pensioners and bind the community, providing a sense of continuity from their military service.

Activities

There are many things to do at the Royal Hospital and the Pensioners can be busy every day, if they want to.

Life at the Royal Hospital Chelsea is vibrant and full of opportunities. Our dedicated staff and volunteers organise a wide range of activities for the Pensioners to enjoy. From arts and crafts in our purpose-built activities centre (opened in 2023) to museum visits and fishing trips, there’s always something to participate in.

Should a Pensioner wish to pursue an activity not currently offered on-site, we will do our best to arrange for them to experience it outside the Hospital.
 

Welfare Support

Our multi-disciplinary welfare team, including Company Captains, is here to support the Chelsea Pensioners with a wide range of services. While we encourage Pensioners to maintain their independence, our team is always available to assist when needed - whether it’s helping navigate online applications, providing practical advice, or resolving personal concerns.

The Company Captains (Captain of Invalids) are responsible for the overall welfare and conduct of the Pensioners in their companies, serving as the first point of contact for any issues. They also maintain communication with Pensioners’ friends and families, ensuring everyone stays connected and informed.

Whenever possible, we empower Pensioners to manage their own affairs to preserve a sense of autonomy and purpose. However, when life becomes more complex, the welfare team will step in to provide the necessary support. 

We also offer transport assistance through a dedicated minibus service for Pensioners needing help attending hospital appointments, opticians, or dentists.

Registered Care

We are committed to supporting the Pensioners in leading their best possible lives in our supported living environment. As the needs of the Pensioners evolve, we offer a range of healthcare services through our on-site Medical Centre, staffed by a GP and nursing team, all regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 

The centre also includes a therapies department offering Occupational and Physiotherapy services, focusing on mobility, strength, and rehabilitation through gym-based equipment and group classes, such as Pilates, Tai Chi, and seated aerobics.

For Pensioners who need extra support but wish to remain in their own rooms (known as berths), our Domiciliary Care service is available. The service allows them to stay in the familiar environment of the Long Wards with their fellow Pensioners, who they may have known for many years, while receiving assistance with personal care, medication, and recovery after hospital stays.

Services offered by the Domiciliary Care Team include:

• Planner personal care, such as washing & dressing
• Prompting and administering medication
• Prescribed dressings, as directed by the Medical Centre
• Safety or health monitoring, in conjunction with healthcare professionals
• Support after a stay in hospital, where a move to the Infirmary nursing ward is not appropriate or desired.

For those whose needs increase further, we offer residential care with nursing at the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary, which includes a dementia care ward and end-of-life care. This facility, opened in 2009 by His Majesty King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, allows Pensioners to receive high-quality care in their final days, surrounded by family, staff, and fellow Pensioners.

The care home also offers short-term care, enabling Pensioners to return to the Long Wards after a period of focused care, if desired. It also allows Pensioners to transition from external hospital visits back to the Royal Hospital more quickly. 

Families are welcome to visit any time, and close relatives can stay overnight when a Pensioner is seriously ill.

Our care home and Medical Centre are regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission. Our latest inspection report can be found here.