Nursing Homes

There are times in people`s lives when it becomes hard to look after themselves and there are many reasons for this. Problems with self-care can arise over a period of time when you reach your elderly years or as a result of accident, injury or sudden illness that leaves you unable to function as you once did. For some people there are family members or friends that can provide care but sometimes this isn`t possible due to life commitments; in the cases where you can`t be cared for at home but do not require hospital, nursing homes can be the ideal environment.

What do nursing homes provide?

Nursing homes can provide residents with a home like feeling and atmosphere whist always care on hand 24 hours a day. Nursing homes are required to have the services of qualified skilled nurses on hand for residents needs at all times, nurses can provide all aspects of care and treatment and also have occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physical therapists working alongside them. These can provide treatment and care such as:

Medical care
Mental health care
Physical care
Speech and Language therapy

Some homes also offer rehabilitation services for patients suffering from the after effects of injury or illness, they also offer care to patients who suffer from cancer.

Nursing homes of different kinds have different ways of running; some homes like to be set up more like a hospital with special care units and nursing units on each floor of the home. Others are run to give more of a living at home experience with residents have no fixed day to day schedule, leaving them free to access kitchen facilities as they please throughout the day.

Nurses are always friendly and actively encouraged to form friendly relationships with residents and to promote a family atmosphere with residents interacting with each other.

Who is cared for?

The common thought when thinking of nursing homes is that they are set up just to care for elderly patients. This is true and although popular for elderly patients suffering from memory problems such as Dementia and Alzheimer`s, homes are also designed to provide care for children and adults.

Adults and children with any number of disabilities can be cared for 24/7 and 365 days a year by nurses and be treated on a permanent or temporary basis, some of the disabilities and illnesses that are catered for are:

Learning disabilities
Mental health issues
Motor Neurone Disease
Young onset Dementia
Neurological disorders

Regulation

As of April 1 2009 care homes across the UK must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC carry out regular checks and file reports on nursing and care homes to ensure that regulatory standards are being kept. The information they provide can be of great use when choosing a place for quality care. All reports filed by the CQC are guaranteed to be fair, honest, accurate, trusted and all information is easy and free to get hold of.