Why choose a care home

care home residents taking exercise classCare homes are designed for people who need extra care and support in their daily lives. They need accommodation where the care and support can be provided.

While you may already be receiving care in your home, you may feel that you would be more comfortable or safer in a care home.

The decision to move into a care home is a very important and personal one. It can be a difficult decision to make. It may help to talk to close friends and family before making your decision. 

 

Types of care home

There are different types of care homes to meet people’s specific needs:

  • Residential care homes provide accommodation and personal care which may include washing and dressing, and medication.
  • Nursing care homes also provide accommodation and personal care. They have nurses on site to meet medical and clinical needs.
  • Some care homes have residential and nursing floors within the home and can provide both residential and nursing care.
  • Specialist care homes providing care designed to meet specific needs of their residents. These maybe people with dementia, or providing neurological nursing care for people who have had a stroke or similar injury. 
  • Mental health care homes support people with a mental health condition or learning disability.

Care homes can also meet the needs of people of different ages, for example, some care for people aged 65 years and over, whilst some work with people aged up to 64 years old.

What is provided in a care home?

Facilities provides will differ dependent upon the size and type of care home.

Each home should be designed to meet the needs of disabled people and provide:

  • secure access to the home, which may include a reception area
  • a room with en-suite or shared bathing facilities
  • double rooms for couples in some homes
  • furnished rooms which can be personalised
  • assisted bathing facilities
  • communal living and dining areas, and gardens
  • Internet or Wi-Fi
  • lifts, in most of the larger homes
  • some care homes have a guest room where relatives can stay and visit.

Specialist equipment and technology

All care homes will have specialist equipment to make sure their residents are comfortable and safe. This may include:

  • specialist beds
  • walking and mobility aids
  • bathing and toileting aids
  • moving and handling aids
  • emergency alarms
  • access to specialist activities.

More care homes are using technology to help keep people safe and well, for example, door sensors that will alert staff if a resident is wandering at night.

Technology can also include using mobile tablets and iPads to communicate with family or with GPs. GPs use this remote monitoring allowed GPs to assess residents' health needs when it has not been safe for them to visit the care homes.

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