What’s the difference between a care home and a nursing home

What’s the difference between a care home and a nursing home?

Finding the right residential care home for an elderly loved one can be an emotional and stressful process; getting it right is crucial. Understanding the options available so you can find the best care is a good start, but it’s important to start by recognising the differences between a care home and a nursing home.

While both provide accommodation, round-the-clock supervision from skilled carers, meals and assistance with personal care such as bathing and shaving, a residential care home, such as Birchwood House, will provide a ‘home from home’, enabling residents to live as fulfilling lives as possible, maintaining their independence, dignity and mobility. As well as providing support with meals, bathing and medication, residents will be encouraged to continue doing the activities they enjoy, making sure their usual routine can continue even after moving in.

Nursing homes are similar to residential care homes, but with trained nurses on duty, providing care for people with more complex needs, such as dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke rehabilitation or who need other, regular nursing interventions.

While Birchwood House is not a nursing home, our highly qualified manager and senior care staff will provide your loved one with 24-hour care and support and should medical intervention be required, we call upon health professionals and experts, local doctors, district nurses and Hospice in the Weald.

Many people consider moving into a care home as a last resort, a loss of independence. Not at Birchwood. We pride ourselves on giving our residents a family-friendly, comfortable home from home where they can meet new friends, explore new interests, enjoy good food, regular excursions and seasonal parties. Our aim is to improve residents’ quality of life whilst maintaining their freedom – our team is there to simply offer a helping hand when they need it.