What are the different types of Care home?
Every Care Home in the United Kingdom is registered with an Independent Inspectorate:
A Care Home can only provide the type of care that it is registered for by the inspectorate the types of registration are:
Care homes
Care Homes used to be known as residential or retirement homes prior to the implementation of the Care Standards Act 2000. They offer residential and personal care for their residents on either a short or long term basis and provide accommodation, meals, laundry, and support with personal care tasks including washing, dressing, eating, mobility, shopping etc.
It is not a requirement for a registered nurse to be employed in a residential home, however at Caring Homes we believe that having a Registered Nurse in the position of Home Manager is essential towards supporting and maintaining quality care delivery.
Care Homes With Nursing 
Care Homes with Nursing, used to be known as Nursing Homes prior to the implantation of the Care Standards Act 2000.
They offer residential and personal care for their residents and also provide nursing support from Registered Nurses, on either a short or long term basis and provide accommodation, meals, laundry, and support with personal care tasks including washing, dressing, eating, mobility, shopping etc
If you live in a care home that provides nursing care, the National Health Service (NHS) would normally contribute £101 per week towards the fees to cover the cost of the nursing element.
Some people will have the full cost of their care paid for by the NHS; this is called 'continuing health care'.
People who qualify for this type of care usually need ongoing specialist medical treatment on a regular basis.
Hospital staff, or your local doctor (GP), can help arrange an assessment if you think you qualify. If you disagree with the decision made after your assessment you can appeal. If you are assessed as needing some regular nursing care you may receive a contribution towards your care home fees from the NHS.
Care homes for specialist needs including dementia care 
In addition to standard care homes and care homes with nursing, some homes are registered to provide specialist support to meet specific needs, including specialist Dementia Care.
Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging.
Particularly affected areas may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving. Especially in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time.
Specialist dementia care
It is estimated that 1 person in every 5 over the age of 80 years, will have a form of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease.
Caring Homes is an innovative provider of specialist dementia care and has developed its own specialist approach to care and care home design in its Golden Years homes, which offer experienced and trained staff and stimulating therapeutic environments in line with best practice recommendations.
Golden Years - “building your future from your past”
Respite care
Respite care is short-term care generally provided for one or two weeks in either a care home or care home with nursing. Respite care breaks are usually chosen by an elderly person who would feel the benefit from a short period of support or merely a rest, or to support an elderly person in the absence of a family carer to enable family carer’s to have a break or a holiday.
Convalescent care or post operative care
Convalescent or post operative care is short-term care for elderly people recovering from illness or an operation.
Care Homes with Nursing are able to offer both convalescent and post-operative care, whilst residential homes usually only provide convalescent care.
Specialist care
At Caring Homes we are experienced in providing care to support people with wide ranging and very specific health and personal care needs.
Some of our homes offer very specialist care and support for:
Continuing care
Continuing care is a term used for people with very complex needs whose “health needs” are the primary issue as opposed to their personal care needs.
We can meet most complex needs in our residential and nursing care homes, but in some instances people’s needs are so complex, that they require very specialist support or adapted environments to support their health needs.
Complex care is often purchased by your Local NHS Primary Care Trust – under the Continuing Care Guidelines, for further details please contact your local NHS primary care trust.
Palliative care
Palliative care is provided to people with chronic or terminal illness which is no longer responsive to treatment.
Our approach to palliative care delivery specifically focuses on ensuring that a person’s “end of life” care programme is delivered in accordance with their wishes and is centred on facilitating active control for pain and symptoms to improve their quality of life.
Knowing which type of care home or care that you need.
Once you understand the type of care home or care that you, or your relative need, it is a good idea to speak to local healthcare professionals who will know.
