What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?
The main difference between a care home and a nursing home is the type and level of care which they can provide to meet your specific individual needs.
Nursing homes and care homes both offer personalised, residential care and support to those living in the home, but because their care offering is different, it is important to choose the right option for you.
Nursing home vs care home – how do I know which one I need?
Even though the terms ‘nursing home’ and ‘care home’ are often used interchangeably, they mean very different things. The right care option for you will be the one which offers the type and level of care that you need to meet your daily needs and supports you in managing any complex or long-term medical conditions which you may have.
What can I expect from a care home?
Care homes are best suited to individuals who need a little extra support day-to-day, with the comfort and reassurance of knowing that specialist care is always at hand if they need it. Becoming a resident in a residential home can be the next step from receiving home care visits, or perhaps a choice to relieve the burden of running your own home.
Care homes offer:
- A home-from-home environment, with the opportunity to personalise your space to make it feel your own.
- High-quality, tailored care and support to meet your daily needs.
- Help with washing, dressing and personal care.
- Assistance with mealtimes and routine medication.
- All housework tasks, cooking and laundry are taken care of for you.
- A programme of activities, events and entertainment which you can choose to take part in.
What can I expect from a nursing home?
Nursing homes offer an enhanced level of care to that which can be provided in a care home, and can support individuals who are living with complex needs or long-term medical conditions. Specialist nursing care will be delivered by qualified nurses, who can offer 24/7 hospital-standard nursing care, within a more comfortable, and less clinical, nursing home environment.
Nursing homes offer everything you would expect from a care home, with the addition of:
- Specialist nursing care is delivered by a dedicated, consistent team of qualified nurses.
- An alternative to a more clinical hospital environment, with the same high standard of nursing care and the specialist equipment you may need.
- A higher level of round-the-clock support to help individuals live well with complex or long-term medical conditions.
Many nursing homes will offer residential care (such as that offered in a care home) in addition to specialist nursing care. This can be very helpful if you currently need a lower level of support, but expect your care needs to increase over time, as a nursing home will be able to put plans in place to continue to meet your increased needs in the future.
Your nursing home will regularly review your support needs to ensure that you are receiving the right level of care for your safety and well-being.
The perfect care solution
We offer specialist nursing care in our homes across Somerset, meaning that we have the location, the expertise and the tailored care you need.
