The Right Level Of Care For Your Loved One

You have finally reached the difficult and emotional decision that your loved one needs care which extends beyond you and your family's capabilities, and accepted you need to investigate residential nursing homes.

However, before you start visiting homes and doing your research, it is essential that you identify what level of care is required. Most, if not all, residential care homes offer several different types and levels of care, from short-term relief to permanent nursing.

Respite care - this is usually a short-term stay to give carers and families, as well as the patient, a break. Caring for elderly relatives around the clock, whilst rewarding, can be physically draining. Homes can accommodate patients on a short-term basis, sometimes for just a few days, to give all parties involved a well-deserved holiday.

Convalescent care - the body needs time to recover from a debilitating illness. A short stay at a care home to recuperate can help build strength up slowly and safely, under the care and supervision of qualified nurses.

Post-operative convalescent care - where someone is not quite mobile enough to look after themselves after an operation, a stay in a nursing home can expedite recovery. Additionally, requirements can be quite specific; i.e. the monitoring of wounds, changing of dressings and the prevention of bed sores or deep-vein thrombosis for those who are bed-bound for a prolonged length of time.

Specialist care - many homes offer dedicated care for particular illnesses like Parkinson's, Huntington's and dementia, employing nurses who have been specially trained to recognise and attend to characteristic traits and a patient's needs.

Residential care - for people who need constant help doing day-to-day tasks, i.e. dressing, bathing and feeding, residential care can provide an extra hand. It is not usually for medical problems. The level of care can vary from assistance getting out of a chair to spoon-feeding.

Palliative care - when recovery is not expected, palliative care aims to provide the best quality of life, pain relief, support, spiritual care, respect and adherence to the patient's wishes. Staff will also offer much-needed emotional and practical support to the family.

Most residential nursing homes will create a personalised care plan for each patient, so you can be happy that your loved one is receiving exactly the right support that they require. Choose a home carefully; of course, just don't forget to visit.

By: ABonnes

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Archie Boness writes articles on various topics like Private Care Homes and Nursing Care Homes. For more information on residential nursing homes he recommends you to visit www.balcombecarehomes.co.uk