Understanding What Type of Residential Home Your Loved One Needs

Have you been told that your loved one requires a particular type of care home...but are unsure of what it means?

We have created this article to help you understand the type of care that your loved one needs.

Residential Home Types

Care types supported:

• Elderly - Over 65 years of age, typically older
• Frailty - Defined as ‘the condition of being weak & delicate’. Often when an individual is referred to as ‘frail’, there are concerns about their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks independently, e.g. personal care, shopping, meal preparation and so forth.
• Mobility - Elderly people experience a decline in muscle mass, which can affect their ability to mobilise independently. It is common for an elderly person to walk with a stick, walker, frame for additional support and or a wheelchair to travel longer distances.
• Degenerative healthcare conditions - Degeneration refers to the process by which tissues deteriorate and lose their ability to function; it is an inherent part of ageing. Elderly people often become frail due to the degeneration process occurring in their bodies. Hearing and sight loss are common degenerative conditions.

Care types that might be supported:

• Hoisting - Some residential care homes are able to support residents who require hoisting, whereas others may deem this a nursing care need. Hoisting in itself is not a nursing need, however residents will be at higher risk of developing bedsores/ulcers which require the care of a registered Nurse.
• Wound dressing - Most wounds will require a Nurse's care for dressing. Depending on how often dressings are needed, some residential homes may collaborate with the District Nursing team to fulfill this care requirement.
• Diabetes managed with insulin - Insulin injections will need to be administered by a Nurse. Again, a residential home may be happy to meet this requirement by arranging regular visits from the District Nursing team.

Residential Dementia Care Home

A residential dementia care home has the same features as a residential care home, but will have adaptations to make it more comfortable for those living with dementia. For instance, it may have signs on the walls and will definitely have staff who are trained in caring for people with dementia.

Some residential care homes are specifically designed to support people with specialist dementia care. If somebody presents challenging behaviour with their dementia, e.g. wandering, verbal/physical aggression, you should confirm with the care home whether they can support.

In some instances, despite having vacancies, a home that supports residents who present challenging behaviour will decline a prospective resident if their behaviour will negatively impact the care needs of existing residents.

Care types supported:

• Elderly - Over 65 years of age, typically older
• Hoisting - All nursing homes should be able to support individuals who require full or partial hoisting. Some residents may be able to sit-up in a chair if hoisted, whereas others may be bed bound but require hoisting for personal care.
• Intravenous Medication -  Individuals who require regular injections or intravenous medication to be administered can be supported within a nursing home. This includes insulin injections to manage diabetes and any medication administered via a cannula e.g. morphine for pain management.
• Wounds -  Nurses should be able to support individuals with open wounds that require dressing e.g. ulcers. The Nurses at the home will work with various healthcare professionals regarding an individual’s wound-care treatment, but they will be responsible for the delivery of the treatment plan.
• Cancer Care - Cancer care can be supported within a nursing home, support will be provided to the nursing home by specialist healthcare professionals e.g. Macmillan Nurses.
• Terminal/Palliative Care - All nursing homes should be able to support individuals with end-of-life care, again they will work with various healthcare professionals to ensure residents remain comfortable during the end stages of their life.
• Peg-feeding - Somebody who is peg-fed has a feeding tube directly into their stomach through their abdominal wall. This allows for nutrition, fluids & or medication to be put directly into the stomach. If an individual is peg-fed they will likely be nil by mouth due to swallowing problems.
• Complex Care Needs - Complex care needs encompass various types of care, but to be classified as complex, they require the ongoing support of nursing staff. For example, an individual who has experienced a stroke and lost the use of all limbs, as well as their ability to speak and swallow, would be considered to have complex care needs.

Care types that might be supported:

• Younger Adults - Nursing homes may be registered to provide care for younger adults, specifically those under the age of 65, who have nursing care needs. However, if the average age of the existing residents is significantly higher, it may not be suitable for the nursing home to accept a younger adult, even if its registration permits it.

Nursing Dementia Home

A nursing dementia home has all of the features of a regular nursing home, but will often have a secure ‘nursing dementia’ wing in the home. Staff members will have received training in dementia care.

Some nursing homes advise that they are only able to support individuals with dementia if their nursing needs outweigh their dementia needs.

Younger Adults Home

Younger Adult Definition - Anybody under the age of 65 is considered a younger adult.

Depending on a care/nursing home’s registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), it may have to apply for a special waiver to support residents under the age of 65. If a care/nursing home predominantly has elderly residents, it often declines residents under the age of 65 based on the living environment not being age-appropriate.

There are some care homes specifically for younger adults, but currently, these are few and far between. There is an increasing demand for residential/nursing homes that offer support to younger adults with dementia. It is expected that the care sector will respond to this demand by opening homes specifically for younger adults with dementia.

If you would like help finding any of the care home types above, please don't hesitate to contact our specialist Care Adviser Team today.