A guide to residential care in the UK

As much as you may want an ageing family member to remain at home, your loved one may no longer be safe living alone. If you’re worried about your mum or dad forgetting to eat, wandering outside, or experiencing frequent falls, it’s essential to consider the different care options available.

Many families often feel residential care homes in the UK are the only option when struggling to meet a senior’s physical or emotional needs.

To help you decide if it’s the right path, we recommend reading this informative guide to residential care. It will provide in-depth details about the different care home options available, considerations to make, and alternatives to contemplate.

What is residential care?

Residential care homes in the UK provide families and friends with peace of mind that a loved one is safe and supported. As trained staff provide residents with 24-hour assistance, you can relax in the knowledge that they’ll receive professional support throughout the day and night.

In addition to receiving assistance from fully trained staff, your loved one could form friendships with other residents and enjoy a varied calendar of fun activities, such as board games, outdoor pursuits, and exercise classes.

It will also remove the stress of household chores while ensuring your family member enjoys nutrient-rich meals throughout the day. Many elderly residential care homes also feature memory care wings for residents living with dementia.

When residential care may be considered

If you’re struggling to meet an ageing parent or partner’s evolving needs, you might be considering one of the many care homes in the UK.

Yet you might be wondering: when is residential care needed? Plus, you may think about whether it’s time to discuss the option with your family.

Many families often decide to move a loved one into elderly residential care if a senior has:

·       Increased daily support requirements

·       Experienced frequent falls in the home

·       Poor mobility

·       A complex medical condition, such as dementia

·       Limited social contact, causing feelings of loneliness and isolation

Types of residential care homes

There are many types of residential care homes available in the UK. Our goal in this guide to residential care is to help you make the right choice for your ageing parent, partner, or loved one. For this reason, we’re breaking down the core options for older adults:

·       Residential care homes are the most common option, providing 24-hour accommodation, nutritious meals, and assistance with personal tasks. Families may find this option suitable for seniors who struggle to maintain an independent lifestyle alone but aren’t living with a complex medical condition.

·       A nursing home offers the benefits of residential care, but a resident will have access to an on-site nurse 24 hours a day. As a result, an on-site nurse is available to administer medication, care for wounds, and provide clinical monitoring.

·       A dementia care home will provide 24-hour accommodation and consistent cognitive and physical support. These care homes in the UK use secure layouts to prevent seniors from wandering outside. Also, they provide regular engagement and activities to help residents feel happy, comfortable, and oriented.

Understanding the costs of residential care

Residential care costs in the UK will vary depending on your care requirements, location, and the quality of the facility. However, to give you a rough guide, this is what you might expect from residential, dementia, and nursing homes:

·       Residential care homes typically cost £1,298 per week, making them the most affordable option. The price is often lower because residents will need less around-the-clock support to maintain their safety and comfort.

·       Dementia care homes will cost a little more, as they have an average weekly fee of £1,343 due to residents requiring more advanced care and nursing.

·       Nursing homes are arguably the most expensive care home option, as the average weekly fee typically starts from £1,535.

Your UK location will, however, determine how much you’ll pay for the above care home options. For example, London and Scotland care homes are often considerably more expensive than options available in Wales or the North East of England

Alternatives to residential care

This guide to residential care can help you make an informed decision about the next best steps for your loved one.

There’s no question that residential care can be a great option for some older adults and their families. However, many often prefer to explore alternatives first, especially if staying at home is important to a parent or partner.

We recommend learning about the many alternatives to residential care, which might be a better fit for an older adult’s needs and routine.

Home care is a great option for those who want to provide a family member or friend with more daily support. For instance, a rotation of carers will often visit their home for set hours or minutes to provide support with daily tasks and prevent loneliness.

Professional live-in care services are also a worthy alternative to residential care in the UK. A highly trained live-in carer provides one-on-one support day and night, ensuring a senior’s needs are met while providing genuine companionship. As live-in care is delivered in the comfort of your loved one’s home, it can improve their sense of safety and quality of life.

However, if an ageing parent or partner is struggling with a chronic medical condition or recovering from an illness, live-in nursing care provides more comprehensive, one-to-one personalised care. A highly trained live-in nurse strives to enhance a loved one’s daily life, prevent hospital readmissions, and improve their health and wellbeing each day. Learn more about live-in nursing care costs.

Helping families make the right care choice

Choosing the right care for a senior is a deep personal process. Our guide to residential care aims to provide all the facts you need to make the right decision for your family, whether it’s a care home, home care visits, or professional live-in care and nursing.

As a family-founded and family-owned live-in care provider in the UK, we understand the importance of taking your time to find the right option for your family. We strongly recommend considering every care option available to choose the right service for your loved one’s comfort, wellbeing, and independence. 

Live-in care 

Careadvisorteam@consultuscare.com 

01732 355231  

Live-in nursing  

nursing@consultuscare.com 

01732 770 403