Different Kinds Ofresidential Care Homes
Buildings
Warden Controlled Flats
Warden controlled flats are not classed as care homes but they deserve a mention here.
A warden is employed to ensure that residents who live in these flats are well enough and able to care for themselves on a daily basis, and to answer any emergency calls when they are on duty.
Each flat has a call bell or intercom which rings in the warden’s office if they are in need of help during office hours. In order that the residents can call for help when the warden is off duty the residents are usually advised to hire a ‘press-button-gadget’ (sometimes called ‘life line’).
This is a call bell, usually in the form of a pendant, which residents can wear round their neck. When the bell is pressed it rings in an office in another building often miles away in another town or city. The person who answers will call the resident’s next of kin and advise them of the problem.
Residential Care Homes
Men and women are admitted to these homes for care such as bathing, meals, washing, etc. However, these homes are not usually allowed to admit anybody who needs nursing care. Most of these homes employ care assistants who work under the direction of the matron or manager. Usually a suitable weekly activities programme is arranged and even trips to the shops or various places of interest, for those residents who are interested.
The ratio of staff to residents may be lower than in a nursing home because the residents are usually able to do more for themselves. They are not expected to make their beds, do any housework or cooking but they should be able to carry out most of their own personal care when they are admitted.
The snag is that if any resident becomes ill and needs nursing care they may have to be transferred to a nursing home. Initially such a move often upsets the resident and they will need a lot of comforting and help until they learn the routine and make new friends in their new abode.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes have a higher ratio of staff to residents than residential care homes because the residents are less able than clients living in a residential care home. They need more help with their ‘activities of daily living’ such as personal hygiene, going to the toilet, bathing, etc. Some will need to be assisted with their feeding and drinking.
Clients who are admitted to nursing homes need nursing care. In all nursing homes the residents will be suffering from different illnesses and conditions.
A Complex
A complex can either be purpose built or a series of converted buildings.
It is divided into three types of establishment encompassing the three main types of homes. There are a number of warden controlled flats, a residential care home and a nursing home all on the same site.
This means that if your relative starts off in a flat and after a time needs more care, they can be transferred to the part of the complex which will give them the type of care they need. If the illness is a temporary affliction they can return to their flat when they are well again.
Residents do not have to lose their friends when they are moved to a different section of the complex because they are still within walking (or wheelchair) distance of each other.
A complex usually has double rooms for married couples both in the flats and the care home part. There may be some double rooms in the nursing home but the tendency nowadays is to build more single rooms than double rooms.
First Component: Warden Controlled Flats
There are a number of flats, some with single bedrooms and others with a double bedroom. Meals can usually be provided but there would probably be an extra charge. Unless a warden is employed the nursing staff visit the flats daily and are on call day and night.
Should the tenant(s) need help they only have to use the internal phone to get assistance. The nursing staff will call the doctor or ambulance if necessary, ie if a person has injured themselves.
Nursing care is not usually provided in the flats but the tenants can be moved into the nursing home if necessary. However the fees will be different to the rent currently paid for the flat.