What Is the Difference Between a Nursing Home and Care Home?
One of the most popular questions that we get asked at our care home in Hampshire is, "What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?".
This is an interesting question to answer because the real question should actually be what is the difference between a residential home and a nursing home? This is because the term "care home" is a general umbrella term that is used to describe homes that care for people.
The confusion is understandable, as there are many similarities between a care home and a nursing home. However, some key differences should be understood to help you figure out whether you should be looking for a residential or nursing home.
What Is The Difference Between A Residential Care Home And A Nursing Home?
Both a nursing home and a residential home provide a safe place for living for those who are no longer able to live independently. This could be for a myriad of reasons, including general deterioration from ageing or a specific health condition.
A nursing home and residential home will provide 24-hour care that will ensure their residents are safe and looked after. But it is the type of care that can be offered by these homes that differentiate them from each other.
A nursing home will be able to provide medical care 24 hours a day as they will have a medically trained nurse on shift at all times. Often, a nursing home will have a specialist condition or set of conditions that they care for, from dementia and Parkinson's to Multiple Sclerosis and post-stroke care. This enables their staff to be specialists in the care they provide.
Meanwhile, a residential home will provide general care but will not be able to offer 24-hour medical care.
Most of the time, if a care home is a nursing home, it will also be a residential care home and accept residents who simply need support with their personal care and movement.
Old Alresford is a nursing home specialising in dementia care. We are also a residential home with long-term residents who need assistance with everyday tasks rather than specific medical care.
What Services Does a Nursing Home Provide?
A nursing home will provide a medical service as it will have a staff of qualified nurses on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These team members will be able to conduct any medical treatments needed and will be able to assess care plans and update them when needed.
Nurses will be trained to identify symptoms and changes in a resident's health and conditions and will have the knowledge and experience to react to these changes in a timely and relevant manner. This could be adjusting medication or adapting their routine.
Being able to offer medical care often allows the opportunity for a higher level of care, as medical and personal needs are all covered by one team under one roof. However, this expertise often means paying a slightly higher price.
Discover how Old Alresford caters for medical needs in Hampshire with our medical care team at our home.
Speak to a member of our team by calling 01962 734121 today.
What Services Are Provided By A Residential Care Home?
While 24-hour care is also offered by residential care facilities, their staff are not trained to offer certain medical treatments. As a result, care is provided for routine activities like eating, dressing, and washing.
These homes are perfect for people who are unable to live independently as they age because of common problems like mobility impairments that make it difficult for them to take care of their personal hygiene or well-being.
Although they aren't trained to recognise particular changes in symptoms or conditions, residential care home staff members are frequently trained to assist residents with their basic medical needs.
As this care doesn't include medical care, you will often find that a residential home is slightly cheaper than a nursing home.
Despite predominantly being a nursing home for most of our residents, we also offer long-term care for those who need support with eating, washing or moving.
Which Care Service Is Right For You?
No matter whether you are looking at a nursing home or a residential home, they will both create a lifestyle that will give their residents the best quality of life possible. This will include planning a range of activities for residents and adapting them to each participant's needs.
Knowing this should remove one question from your mind when trying to determine which type of home your loved one might need, as it eliminates the question of which one will provide a better quality of life.
When choosing between a nursing home and a residential home, you should ask, "What are my loved one's medical needs?" as this will help you work out the level of care required. If they require complex medical attention or have a specific health condition, you should be looking for a nursing home.
However, if they don't require specific medical care, then a residential home would accommodate their needs.
Why Choose Old Alresford Nursing Home?
Old Alresford is a country house located on four acres of land on the outskirts of Winchester.
The landscaped garden makes for a beautiful backdrop for the range of activities each week and enables our residents to enjoy the summer sun when it decides to show.
Each of our rooms is fully furnished and full of character, yet each one can be customised to make it feel like home for our residents.
At the heart of everything we do is socialising and quality of life, so we encourage our residents to make the most of the facilities available. This includes our communal dining room, where they can dine with other residents, friends and family, and the lounges, where they can relax.
The best way to discover why our nursing home in Hampshire is ideal for your loved one is to visit, as this will give you an opportunity to speak to our staff and residents and get a feel for our home.
Arrange a viewing by giving us a call at 01962 734121 or emailing us at OACadmin@oldalresfordcottage.co.uk.