Friday, December 9, 2011

An Introduction to Care Homes

Moving to a nursing home can feel like a big step - and it is. One of the biggest stages in your life needs to be approached with some serious consideration and care. For a lot of people, there's going to be apprehension; it's unavoidable and to be expected. Before you come to making a decision, let's look over some basics of what residential care is, the differing types and the kinds of services you can expect.

Sheltered housing is different to living in a care home; it offers security and an active community, with shared areas for socialising and your own private dwelling. It doesn't cater to any care or special requirements you have and doesn't add any aids to your lifestyle - so if you have further requirements or need a certain level of care this isn't going to be the best option, leaving care and nursing homes.

If you think you'll need more personal care than sheltered accommodation can offer, care homes still provide a safe, comfortable place to live with the opportunity for new friendships and experiences. The difference here is that care homes are staffed 24 hours a day and provide pretty much everything, including all your meals. In addition, most care homes offer personal help with activities such as washing, dressing and going to the toilet.


A nursing home will carry the same services as care homes do, but with the added benefit of round the clock nursing care. Until recently these two types of care home were classified as 'residential homes' and 'nursing homes'. The names of many homes still reflect this. Many residential homes offer nursing too, but you should check whether it is inclusive.

There are specialist nursing homes that can assist those who require extra care and support. People with dementia and their carers and families can seek advice from charities like the Alzheimer's Society. They offer advice on what to look for in a care home and give information on suitable homes.

Choosing the right place for you might take a little while - and that's okay. Choosing a new home shouldn't need to be a snap decision, more so when you're planning on how to spend your golden years. So it's reassuring to know that there are a lot of online resources and 'real world' resources to help see you through. Charities like Age UK do stellar work offering help to the elderly, their families and their carers. If you're in any doubt or you just need someone to talk to about nursing homes or residential care, give them a try.

Philip Loughran writes on a number of subjects from travel to law, automotive to education. For residential nursing homes and care homes in Horsham he recommends Balcombe Care Homes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Philip_Loughran

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