But unfortunately it's more complicated than that, as things often are. My experience is mainly in Scotland and so that is what I shall talk about, but there maybe other differences in England and Wales.
Residential Homes
As I have mentioned, these are for people who need some help with their daily living. They may need a hand to get washed and dressed, to get to the toilet. to have a shower or bath etc.. There does not need to be a qualified nurse in the building and carers are responsible for planning and carrying out care. They can assist you with medication but do not have the knowledge or experience with medication of a qualified nurse. District nurses would come in to attend to any nursing needs that someone might have such as a dressing just as they would if you were in your own home.
Because Residential homes cater for people who are more independent, on the whole the residents have less communication difficulties or memory problems. Any activities organised therefore tend to be directed towards those with more physical and mental abilities than Nursing homes.
Nursing Homes
Nursing Homes always have at least one qualified nurse in the building, twenty-four hours a day. The home cares for people with more complex needs. This includes things like
- one to one assistance with eating and drinking
- assistance from two people and and a mechanical aid to move from bed to chair
- regular assistance throughout the night
- regular supervision to help maintain safety
- high levels of emotional support either during the day or at night
- at high risk of pressure sores
The nurses can attend to any nursing needs such as dressing changes and are more knowledgeable regarding medications. They can administer medications by injection. District nurses can still be involved as care home nurses can often turn to district nurses for advice.
Dual Registered
Some homes cater for both residential and nursing clients and this is often a good choice if your needs are currently in the residential bracket. Whilst any home will do their utmost to assist you for as long as possible, a dual registered home will be able to cater for you if your condition deteriorates and you require nursing care.
Now all that sounds pretty straight forward I know but it can all be a bit grey as to which category someone might fit into. This has only become more of a muggy area in Scotland since the funding system changed. People living in Scotland, who have a certain amount of money, are required to pay for their care. But from 2005 they have been refunded a certain portion of that money. If they are in residential care they get back a personal care allowance but if they are in nursing care they get a nursing care allowance on top of the free personal care.
This has meant that from 2005 it has been important that are placed in the right category as this can at current rates make a difference of around £3800 per year.
For further information about free personal and nursing care in Scotland click here
But what has tended to happen and I have certainly noticed this myself is that what was once considered a nursing need is now being considered as something that could be managed in a residential home. Local councils in Scotland carry out an assessment of needs and then this is then put forward to a funding panel. This panel decides if a) the person needs to be in a care home and b) if they qualify for the nursing care element. I feel this is important to know, as if a social worker or care manager visits you to assess your needs it is really important that you do not hide or underplay any of your needs as it may mean that you are not funded appropriately. Please bear this in mind.
And Finally
If you have had any experiences of the differences between nursing and residential homes, or if you can advise on the different homes in England or elsewhere in the world I would love to hear from you!
Please leave a comment below.
