Like with many areas of healthcare, the care home sector is widely diverse and consists of many different types of facilities, each offering a different level of care and support. People who require help full-time might move to a residential facility that provides many or all of the long-term care services they need. Facility-based long-term care services include board and care homes, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, respite and end-of-life/ hospice care and continuing care retirement communities.
The different types
While all care homes offer accommodation and personal care, there are specialist types of care homes that offer additional services for residents with greater needs.
Care homes can be run by private companies, local councils or charitable organisations.
Care homes
These offer staff who help with personal care, such as washing, dressing, taking medication and going to the toilet. They may also offer social activities such as day trips or outings and offer valuable support and company. Mental health is a large part of overall care and loneliness can be deadly.
Care homes with nurses
Pretty much the same as care homes, offering similar services but with the additional support of nursing staff available 24 hours.
Dementia care homes
Homes are designed to look after people with dementia to make their lives more comfortable. Often staffed with qualified nurses with dementia training and providing support in the same as regular care homes.
Dual-registered care homes
These care homes offer longer-term and more extensive support options. Residents can enter the home only requiring minimal support with daily activities and support but if their needs change, they can remain in the home and continue their support and care but on an elevated level that is suited to their needs.
Respite care homes
Simply put, caring for a friend or relative can be difficult and without the right support in place can be hard to maintain. Respite care allows people to take some time away in a place where everything is provided, allowing the carer to take some time to rest and not have the responsibility of caring for their loved one.
Taking a role in this type of healthcare is both immensely rewarding and difficult. Training is involved and can be extensive depending on the role applied for but the rewards of working with people have no bounds.
If you are looking to progress your career in healthcare or want to start and don’t know where to look, get in touch with our team at Cucumber.
