Are Care Homes and Nursing Homes the Same Thing?
Choosing the perfect care home for you or a loved one is an extremely challenging decision, especially with there being a range of facilities available in the area. Understanding that not all care homes are the same and their specific differences can help alleviate any stress and provide clarification when making a decision.
In short - care homes and nursing homes are not the same thing. In this blog, we will explain the definitions of both care facilities and their main differences.
What is a Care Home?
A care home is a facility that provides support to older individuals who struggle with certain daily tasks or would benefit from a group living environment. It is often also referred to as a residential care home. Typical support would include assistance with day-to-day tasks including clothing, bathing, eating and moving around. Care homes provide a comfortable setting where individuals can thrive, but are ideal for those that can live independently for the most part.
What is a Nursing Home?
A nursing home is similar to a care home but is for a higher level of medical needs, catering to individuals who require ongoing nursing care and frequent medical treatment due to physical health issues or more complex medical needs such as dementia, a complex medical condition, severe physical disabilities and any mental health issues. Nursing homes also have qualified nursing staff available around the clock to monitor and manage residents' medical requirements.
What is the Difference Between a Care Home and a Nursing Home?
While it is important to know that a care home and nursing home are not the same, it is also essential to understand the specific factors that set them apart.
Care Needs
Care homes provide support for individuals who need help with personal care and daily activities, but residents do not usually require medical attention beyond routine health monitoring. Nursing homes, on the other hand, cater to individuals with more advanced health issues who need regular medical supervision or specialised nursing care throughout all hours of the day.
Costs
The cost of care homes and nursing homes can vary significantly, with nursing home costs typically being more expensive due to the higher level of medical care provided. The overall average weekly cost will also depend on the location of the care home or nursing home. It’s important to consider the type of care required when weighing up the cost differences of different facilities. Depending on personal circumstances, there are options for financial support such as funded nursing care or local authority funding.
Staff Training & Requirements
For nursing homes in Croydon, staff members are required to complete a CBT (Computer-Based Test) and OSCE (Practical Objective Structured Clinical Examination) to become a qualified nurse. This will show their competency when handling different situations that may occur regularly. However, residential care homes don’t have any specific requirements for their care assistants.
When undergoing training, staff in a nursing home will have more specialised, intense training to deal with the developing medical needs of residents compared to care assistants in a care home. Nurses will also be likely to have more regular training days due to the complex needs of residents.
When Should You Begin Considering Which Care Home Would Be Best for You or a Loved One?
You should begin considering care home options when you or a loved one starts experiencing difficulties with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, or moving around independently. If there are increasing concerns about safety, well-being, medical conditions or social isolation, it may be time to explore care homes or nursing that offer tailored support. Early planning for care homes or nursing homes can help ease the transition and ensure the best care environment is chosen.
Transitioning Care Types
Often, residential care homes and nursing homes offer one type of care so if an individual’s care needs change, they would need to find another facility that can support these. Some facilities are known as all-inclusive or dual-registered care homes, which allow residents to transition between all different types of care as their needs evolve. This can provide residents and their loved ones with peace of mind and continuity of care.
Before moving in, the care home or nursing home team will work closely with residents and their family members to carry out a needs assessment and create a personalised care plan. This will be monitored regularly and changed if an individual's needs were to develop, creating seamless transitions between care types.
Experience High-Quality, Personalised Care in Croydon
At Haling Park Care Home, we offer unrivalled levels of Residential Care, Nursing Care, Dementia Care and Respite Care. We are located in the quiet residential area of South Croydon and strive to create an environment where our residents can continue to live their best lives.
We provide a variety of high-quality facilities that all of our residents and their loved ones are invited to enjoy, as well as a stimulating activities programme of which our residents are always encouraged to take full advantage.
Our care home has been tastefully designed to be a home away from home where medical care and overall well-being needs are exceeded. We will meet with residents and their loved ones to carry out a needs assessment and create a comprehensive care plan that will follow them during their care journey.
Book a Tour Today
Contact us today to schedule a tour around our first-class care home and see firsthand how Haling Park can provide the right level of care for your loved one. Our team of registered nurses have a wide breadth of knowledge and can answer any questions you may have about our care types, different care home options or our first-class facilities and amenities.
