What Type Of Care Home Is Best For You?

Choosing the right care home to stay or live in is a decision that requires a lot of thought. With a variety of care homes out there catering for different needs, you may be unsure of where to start your search.

At Caring Homes, we understand that all you want is the best for you or your loved one. So, in this blog you’ll find the different types of care homes to choose from and what is offered for different types of care needs. This should also help if you’re wondering what the differences are between long term care vs. assisted living, and which choice is best.

Understanding Individual Needs

Before we go any further, it’s important to understand that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to care homes and what they provide. Many care homes offer just residential care, but some care homes may also offer dementia care and/or nursing care too. It’s all dependent on the individual resident’s health and care needs at that time.

Care homes that provide a combination of residential, nursing, and dementia care are said to offer a ‘care pathway’. This allows residents to remain at the same care home should their needs change, without having to relocate to another service. Some homes can also offer both permanent and shorter stays (known as respite), depending on the person’s needs, as well as convalescent or palliative care.

Residential Care

Residential care, sometimes referred to as assisted living, is care given to those who require additional support during their everyday life. You may choose a residential care home if you or a loved one requires assistance during the day and you wish to have 24/7 on-hand help and support from a team of trained experts.

One overarching benefit of choosing one of our residential care homes for long term care vs assisted living is that you or your loved one would be given as much independence as possible.

Our care is tailored to the individual, meaning our team will take their time to get to know you, enabling us to provide the best type of care possible as and when you need it. Tasks such as cleaning rooms and preparing food can be done by yourself or with help, whichever you prefer.

At Caring Homes, our homes have dedicated Wellbeing and Activity Coordinators and teams to ensure all residents not only feel at home and comfortable, but also can enjoy regular activities around their needs and interests such as afternoon tea, arts and crafts, and day trips out.

Nursing Care

You or your loved one may wish to reside in a nursing care home if there are complex care needs that can’t be managed at home. Our nursing care homes offer 24-hour support, 7 days a week, with a dedicated in-house team of Registered General Nurses, chosen for their care, compassion and experience across a wide range of clinical conditions.

We try to make the transition from home to our nursing homes as smooth as possible. To achieve this, we personalise residents’ care plans to their specific needs and wishes. This blend of person-related health tasks, general care and support, and medical care ensures a reassuring environment, especially where needs may escalate or change.

Dementia Care

Those living with dementia require specialist care and support by a highly trained team, within a suitable environment, which can be tailored to their unique needs and presentation of dementia. Our award-winning ‘My World’ training is provided to the whole team in our care homes that provide dementia care, so they are well-equipped to provide care to the highest standard.

Many of our homes offer dementia-friendly design features for safety, perception, and orientation so residents can easily find their way around the home.

Some homes, for example Tarring Manor in Worthing, even have dedicated dementia floors with soft coloured furnishings, railings for support, noise resistant flooring, clear signage and more features that keep residents safe and supported. For more on the environment in our dementia care homes visit our dementia hub.

At Caring Homes, we understand that there are many types of dementia which can affect each person in individual ways, so the care we provide for our residents is tailored with their needs in mind. Every detail, no matter how big or small, has a personal touch to help our residents live the life they want, preserving their sense of identity and quality of life. Whether this is on a permanent or respite basis, you can be sure that our dementia care, provided in both residential and nursing settings, ensures the best type of care possible with the individual at the forefront.

Respite Care

Another type of care that we offer within many of our homes is respite care. You may choose respite care homes to enjoy a short getaway from home, or to see what it’s like staying in a home before transitioning to a permanent residence. If you are a carer in need of a short break from your caring role, respite care is a great option.

When a person joins us for respite care, we tailor the experience for them. Getting to know the person means our nurses and carers can use their expert knowledge to ensure their needs are met and their stay is enjoyable, even if it is for a short time.

Those residing at our respite care homes enjoy the same high-quality service that we offer to every other resident, including high-quality meals, fun activities and a dedicated team to help when needed.

Convalescent Care

If you have recently spent time in hospital and are not quite ready to return home, you may benefit from a stay in one of our homes to receive convalescent care. We understand that stress and anxiety can come with time spent in hospital. That's where our convalescent care comes in, providing a safe space to give you the time needed to recover not only your health, but also your confidence and independence.

All our care homes offer this type of care – whether their focus is on residential, nursing, or dementia care – and offering warm and welcoming surroundings, comfortable bedrooms, dining, and a range of activities that may be of interest. Recovery can be a stressful process, but with us handling your care needs, cooking meals, and helping with day-to-day life, you'll be feeling yourself again in no time!

Palliative Care

Palliative care is a compassionate form of medical care designed for care home residents living with terminal illnesses. The primary focus of this care is to ensure the highest quality of life possible under the circumstances.

Like convalescent care, Caring Homes can offer palliative care at all our homes. Our approach to palliative care emphasises creating a ‘home-from-home’ atmosphere, where residents can be surrounded by their personal belongings in a familiar and comforting environment. Our team adopt a warm and reassuring approach, fostering an inclusive family atmosphere which is crucial in providing support not only to the residents but also to their families. This holistic view of care ensures that every individual’s physical, emotional, and social needs are met with empathy and understanding.

Explore our website to learn more about our care homes and the differences in the types of care we offer. You can also browse our site to find a care home nearest or most suitable to you and arrange a visit. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or would like to learn more!