Residential Care vs Nursing Care: What’s the difference?

In our lives, the terms care home and nursing home are often used interchangeably. This can lead to a great deal of confusion around what the similarities and differences are between each, making it hard to understand which is the right solution for your loved one.

Both residential and nursing care provide 24-hour support, cooked meals and help with things like dressing, bathing and shaving. However, there are some fundamental differences between the two which are important to understand if you are looking into care.

Residential care

In residential care, we work hard to help our residents maintain as much independence as possible, whilst simultaneously reducing the risk to them of living alone. When someone joins Westgate Healthcare, we formulate a care plan, tailored to their needs. This means that they can do as much as they are comfortable with and be supported in those areas they need to be.

Residential care is:

• Independent living, with support where required
• Autonomous, with the freedom to choose entertainment, activities, food, bedtime and more
• A home from home, with residents free to welcome visitors when they like
• Staffed 24 hours a day, with a key number of qualified care assistants
• Tailored to the needs of the individual, with as much or as little intervention as necessary

If your loved one is relatively independent with no major medical conditions, a  residential care home service could be the right choice for them.

Nursing care

In our nursing care facilities, we provide everything available in residential care, but with additional medical support for those with higher needs. These feature nursing equipment and meticulously developed environments to provide the very best support for each individual.

Nursing care is:

• Suited to people living with disabilities, immobility and long term medical conditions
• Staffed by registered nurses
• Supported by GP’s, pharmacists and specialist medical teams to ensure the highest standards of care
• Designed around the person, featuring specialist beds and equipment to suit their needs

For anyone who is lacking in mobility, has suffered a stroke or has other types of medical conditions resulting in high needs, our nursing care is second to none.

Which is best?

There is no clear-cut answer to which type of care will suit you or your loved one, as the best solution will depend greatly on your personal needs. Nursing care is generally more expensive than residential care, due to the demand for qualified nursing professionals to be on site. If your loved one requires support but doesn’t necessarily need a nurse on call around the clock, residential care could be the right choice.

If you’re unsure of which care pathway is best for your loved one, why not pop into our care and nursing homes and have a chat with our staff. We’ll be happy to show you around our facilities and talk to you about the needs of your loved one, so that you can make an informed decision as to which route you should take. Call today for a friendly chat, or to book an appointment to look round.