When it comes to finding the right care facility for your loved one, understanding the differences between nursing homes and care homes is more than key for you to understand. This is because regardless of whether it is here in Gerrards Cross – or the wider Buckinghamshire area – both offer you valuable services, but they cater to different care needs.
Consequently, we have put together this handy guide to help you navigate the different types of care homes available to you, all while ensuring you make an informed decision that suits your family member’s individual needs in the process.
So, let’s find out the differences and how they can help you.
What is a Care Home?
To start off, let us first define what a care home actually is.
Often referred to as a residential care home – the most common type of care home – like here at
Swarthmore, we provide accommodation and personal care for our more elderly individuals who may struggle with daily tasks due to age, disability, or other factors.
Here, you will find us and similar care homes staffed by qualified care assistants, and these homes will offer you support more with:
Personal Hygiene
Providing assistance with bathing and dressing. The choice of an outfit to suit the day.
This includes assisting with washing, brushing hair, and maintaining overall personal cleanliness for example.
Medication Administration
Here, we help ensure our residents take their medicines on time and in the correct amounts. The home will manage prescriptions, and medication to keep everyone safe and healthy as well.
Mobility Support
Another key area is helping residents move safely around the home, whether it is getting in and out of bed or using walking aids.
Staff can also provide you with support to prevent falls and promote your independence.
Meals and Nutrition
Preparing and serving nutritious meals is also another key area they cover off, as well-balanced meals can also be catered to your individual dietary needs as well.
This, in turn, ensures residents enjoy regular, tasty meals to maintain good health, longevity, and well-being overall.
Dementia Care
Offering specialised support for residents with dementia.
Staff are trained to understand your needs, all while providing a safe environment and help with memory and daily routines.
Palliative Care
Residential homes can also give kind and sensitive care to those with serious illnesses that limit life.
These are more focused on comfort and quality of life, where staff can help with support to manage pain and provide emotional, loving and caring support to residents and their families during this difficult time.
As you can see, residents in care homes typically maintain a level of independent living while also benefiting from support in areas where they need it most.
What is a Nursing Home?
So, what is a nursing care home?
A nursing home provides you with all the services of a residential care home but with the addition of registered nurses on-site 24/7. These care facilities are then equipped to offer a higher level of care for individuals with complex needs or dedicated nursing needs that require regular medical attention, and can also be a lot more costly than a Residential care home will be due to the extra staffing and services they need to provide you for health care needs.
Services nursing homes include tend to be around:
Dedicated On-site Medical Support
Here, you can receive continuous monitoring and treatment for health conditions to ensure residents stay as healthy as possible.
This includes checking vital signs, managing chronic illnesses, and responding promptly to any medical emergency needs that may arise due to your more complex medical conditions.
Wound Care
Taking care of injuries and helping residents recover after surgery.
Staff here are trained to know how to clean and dress wounds, monitor healing, and make sure infections do not develop further.
Specialist Care
Nursing homes can also provide tailored services for individuals with nursing needs.
The staff here create more personalised care plans to support their daily activities and enhance their quality of life while under the watch of the nursing team.
Key Differences Between Care Homes and Nursing Homes
The main difference between the two lies in the level of medical care provided:
✅ Nursing homes have a qualified nurse on-site available around the clock, while care assistants staff care homes.
✅ Nursing homes offer more medical conditions management and can handle more complex health needs as a result.
✅ Due to the higher level of care, nursing homes are generally more expensive.
Understanding these key differences is essential when determining the most suitable environment for your loved one.
So we have put together this handy table, which will break this out further for you.
Residential Care and Nursing Care Differences
| Aspect | Care Home (Residential Care Home) | Nursing Home (Nursing Care Home) |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | Qualified care assistants provide support. | Registered nurses available 24/7 along with care assistants. |
| Medical Care | – Assistance with personal care and daily tasks. – Medication administration. – Occasional visits from district nurses for specialist care. | – Ongoing medical attention and support. – Management of complex medical conditions. – Medical treatments and procedures by qualified nurses. |
| Suitable For | – Individuals needing help with day-to-day tasks. – Those with lower-level care needs. – Residents seeking social interaction and a supportive environment. | – Individuals with complex medical or nursing needs. – Those requiring regular medical supervision. – Residents needing palliative or dementia care. |
| Cost | Generally lower due to fewer medical services. | Higher, reflecting advanced medical care and staffing. |
| Services Provided | – Personal hygiene assistance. – Meal preparation and nutrition support. – Social activities and physical exercise programs. – Help with mobility and daily tasks. | – All services provided by care homes plus: – Chronic disease management. – Wound care and post-surgical recovery support. – Complex medication regimes. – Specialist care for serious health conditions. |
| Regulation | Regulated as residential care facilities. | Regulated to meet medical care standards. |
| Examples of Care Needs | – Assistance with dressing and washing. – Support for mild mobility issues. – Help with medication reminders. | – Advanced dementia care. – Management of severe physical disabilities. – Ongoing medical treatments (e.g., IV therapy). |
When to Choose a Care Home?
A care home is ideal for individuals who:
✅ Need help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation.
✅ Require assistance with medication administration.
✅ Benefit from social interaction and social activities.
✅ Are looking for a safe and supportive environment but do not have significant medical needs.
Consequently, care homes focus on enhancing the quality of your life, promoting your independence, and providing a more community atmosphere for you to thrive in.
When to Choose a Nursing Home?
A nursing home is the best option for those who:
✅ Have complex medical conditions requiring regular medical support.
✅ Need round-the-clock care from registered nurses.
✅ Are recovering from surgery or require wound care.
✅ Suffer from advanced care needs or other serious health conditions.
This is because these care facilities are more equipped to handle significant health challenges, ensuring that the residents receive comprehensive care as a result.
Additional Care Options
Respite Care
Both care homes and nursing homes can also offer respite care. Respite care is not a long-term care option; instead, it provides temporary relief for primary caregivers.
This service is beneficial when caregivers need a break or are unavailable for a period of time or when an individual requires short-term care following hospitalisation.
Palliative Care
Funding and Costs
Understanding the financial aspect and the difference between a care home and a nursing home is also key.
For instance, here you have:
✅Nursing home costs are generally higher due to medical services provided within them.
✅Local Council and Local Authority can provide you with funding support, and this may be available based on a needs assessment as well.
✅NHS-Funded Nursing Care is also an option for eligible individuals. Here, the NHS covers the nursing care component in a nursing home.
As you can see, it is important to consult with the care home and or your local council to explore what funding options are available.
The Importance of a Needs Assessment
In both nursing and care homes, residents receive specialised care. Knowing what type of care to provide and which setting is best for you is where a needs assessment comes in.
This assessment identifies the level of medical care you need to meet either your day-to-day routine or even to meet more complex health needs – where the medical support involves continuous monitoring and treatment of health conditions to keep residents as healthy as possible.
Wound care is also identified at this stage, which normally happens as you apply to the home you are interested in. This then provides the facilities and care plan necessary to manage injuries and assist in recovery after surgery, ensuring proper healing occurs and prevents infections from taking hold.
For those with mental health issues like dementia, a needs assessment for dementia care offers you more tailored support with staff trained to understand your unique needs as well.
Our Care Homes
At Swarthmore, we offer:
✅Residential care offer a wide range of needs.
✅Specialist care services, which include support for dementia and physical disabilities.
✅A team of dedicated professionals, including qualified care assistants.
✅A variety of social activities to promote engagement and well-being.
✅Comfortable accommodations with amenities like an onsite hair salon and landscaped gardens in the heart of Buckinghamshire.
Consequently, we understand that needs change over time, and so we are committed to providing you with flexible care options to support residents throughout their journey with us.
Differences Between Nursing & Care Homes Final Thoughts
As you can see, choosing between a care home and a nursing home depends on your individual needs, preferences, and medical requirements.
We hope that by understanding the different types of care facilities available and the services on offer, you can make an informed decision that ensures your loved one receives the appropriate level of support they deserve.
If you’re considering care for a family member or friend, feel free to contact us to discuss further.
We’re here to help you navigate the options and find the best possible care solution.
Who is Swarthmore Care Home?
Here at Swarthmore, Residential Care Home is an independent care home in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.
Consequently, we can offer our service users personalised residential care for the elderly by focusing on physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Our care home also offers many modern facilities, including smart TVs and Wi-Fi, and services like hairdressing and chiropractic and has a dedicated team run by our home manager.
However, we pride ourselves on a warm, family-like atmosphere and follow clear guidelines for care and fees, all while providing you with a community and actively organising various activities and outings for you as well.
Contact us if you would like to find out more about us.