Residential Care and Nursing Residential Care: What’s the Difference?
Choosing the right care for yourself or your loved one can be a very overwhelming process and often leave you feeling frustrated if you don’t understand the different terminology used within the care industry.
When searching for a care provider you’ll find lots of different types of care homes that offer different levels of care and facilities. Here we discuss the two main types of care, residential and nursing, and explain their differences so you can decide which care solution might be best for you.
There are similarities between the two, with both providing 24-hour care and support. However, the main difference between them, is that nursing residential care provides a higher level of support, as there is always one registered nurse on site 24 hours a day.
What is Residential Care?
Residential care is a great option if you are looking for around-the-clock support to help complete daily tasks, such as dressing, washing or eating, and don’t require daily nursing care. Some residential care centres can provide their residents with nursing support, but they are normally only called to the home if assistants is required.
Carers who work in residential care centres are fully trained to provide different types of care for their residents, from help with physical disabilities to more specific mental health support. Most care facilities aim to provide their residents with as much dignity and independence as possible, allowing them to still feel in control.
What is Nursing Residential Care?
Often a more expensive option, nursing residential care aims to provide residents with 24/7 expert medical support. These care centres are normally run by a team of Registered Nurses who are then supported by Care Assistants that are trained to identify symptoms and spot changes in residents’ conditions. Nursing residential care is typically suited to residents with long-term health issues, who require constant monitoring and specialised medical support.
If your loved one should need additional nursing, they are most likely to already be under the care of a medical professional. Sometimes this level of care starts to become inadequate, and a more permanent solution needs to be considered. As this is typically a more expensive care option, there are several schemes within the NHS to help with funding nursing residential care.
Many factors go into choosing the right care centre for you or your loved one's specific needs and requirements. If you would like to chat about the different care options we provide, then contact our team today!
