Residential Care vs Home Care
When an older relative begins to need extra support, one of the first decisions many families face is…
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Navigating elderly care can be extremely overwhelming when encountering terms that seem synonymous. Many homes offer nursing or residential care, and it is likely you have heard these terms used interchangeably. Sometimes, nursing homes and residential care homes are completely separate establishments.
These terms are not synonymous. Instead, they describe two distinct levels of support. Understanding the nuances of each level of care will be invaluable in ensuring your loved one receives the medical services and social care they require.
What is Residential Care?
Residential care is founded on supporting people with daily living tasks. It is tailored for individuals who are mostly independent but may require assistance with certain daily tasks. This could be a struggle to manage one’s health and their home simultaneously. Attempting to do so will quickly become difficult and exhausting, potentially worsening any existing health issues.
Residential care prioritises a safe environment and social opportunities to support the daily lives and overall well-being of the residents. This care is ideal for those who are mobile and cognitively well, but struggling with loneliness or the physical demands of household chores.
A residential care setting will have a professionally-trained care team available 24 hours a day to assist with:
- Washing and dressing.
- Managing medications and reminders to take them.
- Prepared meals.
- Scheduled activity and social outings.
By choosing residential care, residents gain back control and freedom that living independently had stripped from them. Our Astley Grange, Southfield Court and White Rose House homes are ideal for individuals who require a little extra support with their health and well-being. We provide residential and specialised dementia care for residents across these three homes.
What is Nursing Care?
Nursing care is much more medically-focused than residential care. These homes still provide a socially active, homely environment. However, they are specifically designed for individuals with complex, ongoing medical needs. Nursing care is for those with medical conditions that require the constant presence of qualified medical professionals.
If your loved one has high-dependency needs, physical disabilities, or chronic illnesses that require professional medical help, then nursing care is the best option. By choosing a nursing home, you ensure that qualified nurses will be on-site 24 hours a day.
By living full-time in a nursing facility, the nursing team will develop a comprehensive understanding of each resident’s medical and personal needs.
Nursing professionals in these care homes will be able to assist with:
- Residential needs, such as washing and dressing.
- Preparing meals and supporting specialised requirements such as PEG or RIG.
- Management of advanced neurological conditions.
- Quick medical response and close monitoring of unstable health conditions.
- Management of medications.
- Scheduled activity and social outings.
Nursing care is available in our Astley Grange and Southfield Court homes.
Key Differences
| Feature | Residential Care | Nursing Care |
|---|---|---|
| Who is it for? | Those needing daily support. | Those needing clinical/medical care. |
| Staffing Qualifications | Trained care assistants. | Qualified nurses and care assistants. |
| Medical Needs | Minor (e.g., help with tablets). | Complex (e.g., chronic illness). |
| Key Focus | Wellbeing and independence. | Clinical support and symptom management. |
Future Concerns
Choosing a care facility for your loved one is a very stressful and emotional ordeal. This is completely understandable when transitioning to trusting someone else with the care and well-being of your loved one. As a loved one’s health declines, one of the greatest worries is the steady progression of this decline. Eventually, they may require a higher level of care than a standard residential home.
Due to this, many people in need of residential care will choose a home with nursing facilities available in case of medical decline. Homes that provide both care levels are a safety net to fall back on if needed.
Moving to a new care facility can make the reality of declining health more difficult to deal with. Dual-registered homes eliminate the stressful move and readjustment when already dealing with a difficult situation. They will remain in a familiar community, with friends and staff who already understand their needs, whilst receiving the new care that they require.
At Mulberry, our Astley Grange and Southfield Court are dual-registered homes. If you are planning for future health declines, choosing residential care at these homes will provide a safety net for any future issues.
Making the Decision
We understand that choosing the right level of care for your loved one is a huge decision, but you do not have to navigate it alone. Our team is well accustomed to guiding families through this decision.
We are always happy to offer an assessment to help you understand the care that your loved one might need. This will help you to evaluate the medical and social needs to ensure they receive the correct care.
If you are unsure where to start, contact us today to see how Mulberry can support you and your loved one.
