09/07/2021
Chances are that when you are talking about a care home, you could very well be talking about a nursing home. This is because ‘care home’ is a general term to describe residential care settings.
Different types of care homes work differently and provide different levels of care. Sometimes, what people refer to as a ‘care home’ may in fact be a care home that only provides residential care, known as a residential care home.
A residential care home is different from a nursing home. The main difference is that a nursing home always has a qualified nurse on-site to provide medical care.
This post lists the differences between a residential care home and a nursing home.
Both nursing homes and residential care homes provide care and support 24 hours a day, however the main difference is that a nursing home has a ratio of 1 caregiver to 10+ residents. Where as a Residential Care Home has a ratio of 1 caregiver to a maximum of 5 residents giving a higher level of one on one care.
This means that nursing homes can be significantly more expensive, depending on what type of care you need.
The average weekly cost of residential care home across the USA is $1500, whereas the average cost of living in a nursing home is $2000.
These figures are only averages, and fees vary depending on where you live, with New York and California being the most expensive, and what level of care you need.
As outlined above, nursing homes have qualified nurses on-site around the clock to provide medical care as needed whereas residential homes help people with personal care and support them to engage in physical activity.
What do residential care homes provide?
Residential care homes provide 24-hour personal care and support for people who need help with daily tasks, such as washing, dressing or eating, but do not need nursing care. This can be provided on a sort-term or long-term basis.
Although some residential care homes can cater for some nursing needs through special care facilities or visiting health professionals, they are mainly for older adults who are unable to live independently and manage their personal hygiene, medication and toileting or struggle with mobility.
Residential care home residents may have a physical disability, a learning disability, mental health issues or other care needs due to old age, but do not need frequent medical treatment.
Staff at residential care settings are trained to provide the care and support residents need on a daily basis, such as administering medication, but may not be qualified to provide medical care.
In addition to the care provided, residential settings also help residents engage in social and physical activity, host events and parties and organise trips out.
In short, a residential care home provides a higher level of personal care compared to a nursing home. This means that the cost of living in a residential care home is also more reasonable than a nursing home.
Finding out which setting is right for you
It can be difficult to identify your care needs on your own – how do you know if you need residential or nursing care?
The first thing to do is to request a Needs Assessment from you us or any other qualified organization or doctor, which will identify your needs and recommend whether you need nursing home care or a residential care home.
