Facilitating Domestic and Civic-Style Activity in the Later Life of Army Veterans: The Influencing Culture of the Royal Hospital Chelsea

The Royal Hospital Chelsea has been home to veterans of the British Army since 1692. Opportunities to remain physically active throughout the life course of its residents include participation in numerous hobbies within the quasi-military environment, and in the civic engagement representational role of the Chelsea Pensioner. This study examines the influence the Royal Hospital Chelsea culture has on resident opportunities to remain active. A non-traditional mixed-methods convergent design was used across three participant groups. Staff and established residents engaged in semi-structured qualitative interviews, with established residents and a cohort of new residents completing Quality of Life questionnaires. The findings indicate established Chelsea Pensioners experienced a sense of pride and purpose, elevated social status, and increased life satisfaction as a result of engaging in multiple activities. New Chelsea Pensioners demonstrated a trend towards increased quality of life after six months’ residence at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Further research is required to explore the transferability of similar interventions into other residential establishments.