Difference between residential care and nursing care - can anyone help?

[lidlbitupset]

Hello, so my elderly parents currently live in a flat in a retirement village with an onsite warden, which has been fine up till now. My dad is nearly 91 and my mother is 88. My dad has been doing everything, all the cooking etc. but with carers coming in 3 times a day.

My mum is 88 and cannot move unassisted, having zero strength in her legs (despite lots of physio), so she has to be taken to the loo, moved into bed and got up in the morning etc. by the carers. She can shuffle along using the frame with her physio. This means she has to wear incontinence pads not because she has no control but because she needs to be taken. She is otherwise completely fine, no signs of dementia, not on any medication.

Dad has mild parkinson's and blood cancer, but all well controlled. Usually he moves around slowly and gets everything done, including walking to the nearby shop for supplies.

A couple of days ago dad had a fall and has broken his shoulder and so he can no longer do any of the things he has been doing. They are now desperate to get into a home because dad's just exhausted really and although his shoulder will get better they are too fragile for this set up.

The care homes we're looking at (RMBI care homes) distinguish between residential care and nursing care. Does anyone know how this is decided? I just want to manage their expectations.

Thanks so much all!

Nursing homes have actual trained nurses on site. Residential homes don't - they can administer prescribed tablets, but medical proceedures such as changing dressings and catheters, or administering injections, would need to be done by a visiting district nurse.

broadly Nursing homes have registered nurses so can provide a level of nursing care. Residential homes do not so will provide personal care eg washing, dressing but not nursing care.

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/arranging-care/care-homes/type-of-care-home/

From your description, residential sounds sufficient for your parents. They will have hoists for lifting and can deal with changing pads.

Thanks so much for these replies. I think it get it now, my parents only need personal care, getting up and around, washing etc, but they don't need any medical attention. Here's hoping the care home they like takes them. It's very difficult to get somewhere that takes couples, all the rooms seem to be singles

Can you see if any homes offer both? Then your parents would be spared the upset of a complete move if their conditions deteriorate. The one my mother is in has residential on the ground floor, dementia/continence support on the first floor, and nursing care on the top floor.

I'd look for somewhere that has licenced beds for both residential and nursing. You never know when their needs are going to change.

DD works in care and the home she works in, residential where the people need assistance in things like getting dressed, going to the toilet. Vulnerable is residential but needs more care than people in reside. Nursing floor tends to be mainly Dementia of various types but also other conditions that need medical treatments.

Nursing homes are for people who need qualified nurses available 24/7

Residential home is for people who need staff on hand to help with washing, dressing, getting to the loo etc

The watch out with residential vs nursing is if one of your parents needs nursing care in the future they will have to move to a home that can provide that; if your parents are self-funding then both could move but if they are council funded it might not be so simple. I don't want to raise the spectre of end-of-life-care, but residential homes can often manage this. It's a conversation worth having while you are looking around (along with quality of food and entertainment). We chose for mum on the basis of the lunch and their attitude to alcohol.

They may get funding help if they are paying privately,attendance allowance for dad. Whatever hone they like the manager will do an assessment of their care needs, want to meet them and possible do a financial assessment.

Nursing homes with registered nurses are also more expensive. Both types of home will appoint them a GP, either their own or a local one, they can also have a district nurse, continence service, physio.