Care homes vs nursing homes – what’s the best option?

When it comes to residential care – i.e care that’s delivered in a specialist facility, the terms nursing home and care home are sometimes used interchangeably. However, there are considerable differences between the two, and which one is right for you will depend on the type and level of care you need. in this article, we’ll look at what makes them different, the care each provides, and how you can identify which option is best for you or your loved one. 

The similarities between care and nursing homes

Care homes and nursing homes provide 24-hour care in a dedicated residential facility. This means those being cared for will need to move into accommodation on site, which will usually be an individual en-suite bedroom. Residents share communal facilities such as recreational rooms, gardens and dining halls. In both care homes and nursing homes staff are on hand round-the-clock to support and assist with personal hygiene, getting dressed, and daily meals which are prepared for them and often served in a dining room. Homes will often include a schedule of regular physical activities such as yoga and chair based exercises that residents can do, as well as recreational activities that encourage social interactions, such as arts and crafts, day trips, gardening, and guest talks or visits from therapy animals. 

Both care home staff and nursing home staff will usually be able to assist with medication management, such as prompting or reminding people to take their medicines, helping to remove it from packaging, and administering certain medications. However, this comes with special considerations. Those on medication that needs specialist training to administer, or which is considered a controlled drug may be better suited to a nursing home, which we’ll cover in more detail later on.  

The differences between care and nursing homes

Although it may seem as though the terms are interchangeable, there are some significant differences between care homes and nursing homes. While both types of home offer elderly care and supervision from staff, nursing homes also have full-time qualified nurses (also known as registered nurses, or RNs) on duty round-the-clock. This means that they are better able to care for residents with more complex needs, such as those requiring help to treat or manage diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and the after-effects of a stroke, as well as those requiring advanced dementia care.

Nurses are also qualified to administer drugs through injection and to apply complex wound dressings if needed. In care homes, district nurses are usually called out for such tasks and with multiple visits to make and multiple patients to see, their arrival time can be difficult to predict. This may disrupt other parts of the day such as meal times or social events.

Do care homes or nursing homes offer dementia care?

Some do and some don’t, so it’s important to ask any home you’re considering whether they have the means to support the different stages of dementia, and whether all staff are experienced in delivering specialist care to people with dementia.

There are also specialist types of care homes that are built specifically for dementia care. These facilities ensure the unique needs of people with dementia can be met and offer things like more accessible layouts, clear signage, and dementia-friendly furnishings. For example many use contrasting colours to help residents know where they are. Residents also usually have secure access to all areas of the building and gardens. There are sometimes sensory gardens that can benefit people with dementia by stimulating their sense of sight, smell and touch.