When veteran May McLean moved to Erskine she got a welcome she didn’t expect.

Staff got down on their knees beside her wheelchair and told May, now 94 years old, she always had her family but now this was home and they were her Erskine family.

Erskine has cared for over 85,000 veterans in Scotland since it was formed one hundred years ago – dedicated care is still the driving force behind the charity.

Officially named the Princess Louise Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers, Scotland’s first large modern war hospital opened its doors in 1916 led by Sir William Macewen, a surgeon.

Erskine hospital went on to make, fit and repair artificial limbs for thousands of young soldiers wounded in the frontline.

Today Erskine has to be just as resourceful in its mission; the charity has to raise about £8 million a year to care for over 1,000 residents through nursing, respite and residential care across four purpose-built homes throughout Scotland.

That role is as vital today as it was when it was established as a hospital to treat maimed Scottish soldiers coming home from the trenches of World War One.

A Scottish charity, Erskine cares for disabled ex-service people from the British Armed Forces with injuries sustained during war and provides convalescent care for those recovering from illness.

Chief executive Steve Conway says caring is built in with the bricks. “Finding high-quality elderly care is never easy and finding somewhere where your loved ones can become part of a new family is even harder. At Erskine there is that sense of camaraderie engendered from military service.”

“The one aspect that has remained a constant is the very high standard of nursing care we provide.”

Conway served 26 years in the Royal Marines and is still motivated by the strength of comradeship, something he shares with Erskine residents.

“Knowing we could rely on each other absolutely in any situation always lead me to feel that is a relationship that should continue after service.”

“One of the key attractions to coming here is the camaraderie on which the armed forces survive. People want to maintain that sense of connection, that sense of support of being with others with similar military backgrounds.”

Erskine home, the flagship £16 million centre (pictured above right) that opened in 2000 and replaced the original hospital is the biggest ex-services facility in Scotland.

Still a pioneering charity, Erskine leads the way in care and rehabilitation. From its inception as Scotland’s first specialist war hospital, Erskine was about more than the physical treatment of disabilities; the ethos of caring for every individual as a person rather than a patient remains at the forefront.

Conway said: “I am motivated by knowing that we are supporting men and women who made great sacrifices at some point in their lives and it is now our time to say thank you for that service by caring for those that need it.”

From veterans in their 40s that served in recent conflicts to soldiers, sailors, airmen and women who served in the Second World War, Erskine’s role has expanded to meet the changing needs of war veterans.

The charity has made significant changes following a £20 million investment to modernize and take Erskine Scotland-wide. One of the biggest changes in recent years was the expansion of dementia care.

Erskine now provides specialist units in each of the homes as well as a bespoke dementia unit, Erskine Park; a third of beds in Erskine homes are for veterans with dementia.

“As we live longer we are more susceptible to dementia so we have had to increase our provision of specialist care to meet that increased need,” explains Conway.

“We do a lot of reminiscence and some of the performers who generously come to entertain the residents play wartime songs. “That strongly resonates with residents living with dementia.”

We want to address social isolation caused when veterans are living on their own and to help provide more accommodation for single veterans as well as families

Steve Conway

Conditions for veterans have changed since the first two world wars across healthcare, housing and support services however, one thing that hasn’t changed is the brutal transition to civilian life.

“What we see is that one of the main struggles for veterans is moving on from a life where everything is structured and organised for you to one where you have to do pretty much everything on your own initiative.

“We want to address social isolation caused when veterans are living on their own and to help provide more accommodation for single veterans as well as families. Housing is in ever-increasing short supply.”

Erskine hopes to turn the focus in future years to providing more accommodation and support for younger veterans, as well as elderly care.

Fifty veterans’ cottages in the old hospital grounds at Erskine were rebuilt to house ex-service members and their families and Erskine Mains site is up for consideration as a potential space to provide flats or build bespoke homes for independent living.

When Erskine started soldiers came home with shell shock. Today the charity cares for veterans suffering from a range of mental health issues. There are several residents in Erskine cottages that have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the charity provides a quiet and supportive environment.

Conway predicts that in 15 years Erskine will need fewer beds. “I think we’ve got a challenge coming and this is not something to change quickly, it is about trying to predict future demand and making sure we are ready,” he says.

Nearly one-third of the residents are now women, among them Second World War veterans in their 90s, spouses of veterans as well as former forces members.

Steve says the charity will continue to expand its role if it means meeting the changing needs of veterans.

“Great progress is being made to ensure veterans are not disadvantaged by their career in the armed forces such as access to housing and healthcare but we still need to ensure that is understood, and veterans know where they can go for advice and support.”