What is a Residential Care Home?
When considering care homes for the elderly, the wide variety of care terms can often cause confusion in deciding what the best options are.
Making the decision to move into assisted living facilities can be a challenging and emotional time for families, with many factors to consider such as the level of care required, the loss of independence and giving a third-party responsibility for the primary care of a loved one.
So, what is a residential care home? The simple answer is that a residential home offers care for those over the age of 65 who require additional support with day-to-day activities.
Read our guide on residential care homes to gain a better understanding of the care provided within a residential home, along with some alternative care options which should allow you to make a well-informed decision about a care plan for your loved one.
Benefits Residential Care Homes
Although making the decision to move a loved one into a residential care home can be difficult, this doesn’t have to be the case. The benefits of residential care are endless, so you can rest assured knowing that your loved one is safe and being well looked after.
Many residential care homes offer facilities to further enhance residents’ lives, such as: hair salons, cafés, bars, landscaped gardens, a library, and access to a private minibus.
Luxury residential care homes offer residents amazing living environments for residents. Many residents who move into assisted living facilities may choose to do so, as they no longer wish to manage their own home, or perhaps require additional support and families do not have the space to accommodate in their own home.
Not only do residents benefit from living in comfortable surroundings, but they also gain a sense of community, as they are living with other like-minded individuals, which can give huge comfort to those who may have previously been living alone.
Most care homes offer residential care, which aims to help with day-to-day tasks such as getting dressed and washed, medication reminders, cleaning, as well as being provided with nutritious cooked meals daily.
Different Types of Care Homes
Residential care homes are a safe place where residents can treat the setting as their home, while having access to a number of convenient services onsite. However, it is not uncommon for those living in a residential care home to go on to require additional health care services.
Many assisted living facilities offer multiple care services, including basic residential care, respite care, and more advanced care services for those with complex health conditions such as nursing care and specialised dementia care.
Although it isn’t something anyone wants to consider, it is important to think about future possibilities when choosing a care home for a loved one, as the complexity of health conditions commonly deteriorate, and further support is often required as residents get older.
The cost of living within a residential care home varies depending on the level of support required, and should this level of assistance increase, so will the cost.
How to Know When a Residential Care Home is Required
Knowing when a residential care home is required can be challenging for families, and something there is no simple answer to. Ultimately, it is entirely dependent on the individual circumstances people may find themselves in.
Some people may no longer wish to be alone at home, are finding daily tasks increasingly difficult, or may just like the idea of joining a residential care home community.
Another factor to consider is whether the level or amount of care required is too much for a family to provide. Although providing basic care and support to a loved one may be a short-term solution, day-to-day life can often get in the way. By opting to move into a residential care home, residents gain 24-hour support, which can give peace of mind to many families.
Choosing a Residential Care Home for a Loved One
So, whether you are considering options for the future or perhaps you have already decided that moving a loved one into a residential care home is the best option, there are many important decisions to be made.
The decision is incredibly challenging and can often be stressful for families, however, at Avery Healthcare we aim to provide you with all of the relevant information in order to allow you to make a well-informed decision. Our blog ‘How to Choose a Care Home’ gives some useful tips and advice which can further help you with your decision. You can browse the full range of Avery care homes here.
If you require any further advice or have any specific questions about any of the residential care homes within the Avery portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team of advisors today.
