WHY MARITIME IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY ARE ESSENTIAL TO SEAFARER CARE

Why maritime identity and community are essential to seafarer care.

By Captain David Dominy MA, RCDS, CEO, Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society

Careers in the maritime industry can be challenging. Apart from physical dangers, seafarers can experience a lasting sense of isolation after years away from loved ones. Missed family milestones and psychological pressures are commonplace. According to a Futurenautics survey, 76% of seafarers rarely or never go ashore whilst working. Another recent study by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust (ITFST) revealed that a significant number of seafarers continue to face restrictions on shore leave. These accumulated years of isolation and missed connections can have lasting effects, underscoring the need to provide appropriate care and support in later life.

Through our work, we  see how specialist care environments can transform the retirement experiences of former seafarers. At our care home, Belvedere House in Surrey, we’ve learned that preserving maritime identity and establishing community are fundamental to beating loneliness and enabling seafarers to befriend like-minded people.

Reflecting lives lived at sea

The importance of creating care environments that reflect residents’ life experiences cannot be underestimated, particularly for those living with dementia. When care teams understand the context of a resident’s seafaring career, they can participate in more meaningful conversations and develop a stronger connection.

For example, understanding that a resident served as a ship’s master, commanding vessels across international waters, allows our team to engage them in conversations about their navigation experiences and leadership at sea. In this way, the dementia care experience becomes rooted in a sincere understanding of maritime life.

The influence of shared experience

For retired seafarers and fishermen who may have spent extended periods isolated at sea, creating chances for connection in retirement is imperative. In the Danica Crewing Specialists Seafarer Survey for 2025, 44% of seafarers reported stress during their last contract (up from 35% in 2024) and 16% saying they felt mentally depressed. These challenges often persist into retirement, where the loss of routine and purpose can compound existing mental health struggles, making support and community connection even more crucial.

Considering this, we offer social spaces where residents can socialise in ways that make them feel comfortable and seen. The décor reflects a maritime heritage with incorporated nautical references throughout the Home. Residents can see memorabilia linking to seafaring backgrounds in their everyday environment, helping to ignite memories. These include downstairs lounges, a large activity room, and a bar, which residents can enjoy with their family members and fellow residents. Within care settings, communal areas can offer a place where residents can exchange life stories, find common ground in shared experiences, and communicate about their maritime roots to others who may not understand.

Honouring service and creating belonging

Building a sense of belonging reaches beyond routine interactions to how we honour seafarers’ service and maritime heritage. Commemorating notable maritime anniversaries such as Merchant Navy Day and International Day of the Seafarer helps maintain continuity with residents’ professional identities and reinforces recognition for their service and sacrifices. We earned Veteran Aware Accreditation from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance after signing the Armed Forces Covenant. This pledge ensures fair and respectful treatment for members of the armed forces and their families. It shows our team understands the lasting effects of military service and guides residents to specialist Armed Forces support. It also builds camaraderie, identity, and pride within the care team. To deliver further specialist care, we’ve pioneered a Maritime Acquaint Training programme for our staff. This program has helped our team better understand the seafaring needs of our residents, both during their seagoing lives and afterwards. When care staff understand the realities of life at sea, they can provide more responsive, person-centred care.

Many of our residents served in the Royal Navy or merchant fleet during conflicts, making sacrifices that deserve recognition. By embedding this respect in our approach, we help preserve the dignity that defined their careers.

Supporting families and building a home

An often-overlooked aspect of specialist maritime care is the importance of supporting spouses and families. Seafaring careers may deeply affect families who wait at home, as they manage households alone and endure the pressure of extended separations and often experience separation anxiety

A central approach to maritime specialised care should be to extend care beyond former seafarers to their families and community. Integrating accommodation for loved ones alongside their family member can create a shared space whilst alleviating the pressure on carers. This approach recognises that maritime families share a common experience and that the spouses of seafarers understand in ways others cannot.

When a seafarer’s loved one joins our community, they are among others who comprehend what it means to celebrate homecomings and endure farewells. This family-inclusive approach strengthens the sense of home. It means couples can remain together and widows can find a strong community.

Belonging and identity

Ultimately, specialist care for seafarers goes beyond only physical needs. It preserves and celebrates maritime identity, builds natural communities through shared experiences, includes and understands families, and honours the sacrifices of seafaring life.

When we get this right, we create homes where former seafarers can thrive, surrounded by understanding, camaraderie, and genuine belonging.