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Why choose a residential Care Home?

| Katie Wisniewski

A residential care home offers 24-hour personal care and support to individuals who may be finding it difficult to cope at home. It provides a safe space for residents where they are looked after according to their needs. This includes help and support with dressing, washing, administering medication and mobility.

Residential refers to the accommodation, as the care home is the resident’s home, and they have access to the amenities and facilities on site. And for those who cannot live fully independently, the care teams can support them around the clock to ensure they continue to lead meaningful lives.

Why are care homes important? 

Care homes are important for supporting individuals who need additional care and providing a safe place to live. Not only do care homes provide physical support, they also directly improve a variety of other factors. 

  • Physical Activity
    • Moving into a care home can often mean a new lease of life for residents. With a variety of opportunities to keep fit and plenty of activities on offer, residents are encouraged to get involved where they can. At Springfield Healthcare, our residents often enjoy going for a walk, shopping and visiting local sites, all dependent on the individual’s abilities. We also have weekly activities programmes that are tailored to each resident’s likes and interests.  
  • Loneliness
    • People who suffer from loneliness can also develop depression as a result of limited social interaction. This isolation can lead to reduced physical activities which makes opportunities for socialisation even rarer.
    • Living in a care home provides daily social interactions with other residents who are of a similar age. It also provides opportunities for residents to create new friendships, something that is harder to do when living alone.
    • Residential care homes also offer a variety of social activities that encourage residents to engage in social activities to improve mental and psychical health.
  • Regular and nutritious meals
    • Eating regularly, healthy meals can often be a concern when it comes to the elderly and frail. In residential care homes, residents are served regular meals and drinks according to their dietary needs to ensure they receive the nutrition they need.

When should you put someone in a care home? 

It can be a difficult decision to move a loved one into a care home. However, we would encourage you to start looking at care homes at the first sign that it may be needed. This decision is often made by a family member who can no longer support their loved one’s care needs. We know that it can be tricky to know when to start looking at care options, but it doesn’t need to be the case that you wait until it is urgent and you’re struggling.

You don’t want to be forced into making a decision as a matter of urgency. It can take time to understand all the information and you want to be sure to make the right decision. The first thing you should do is get a  Care Needs Assessment for your loved one and then you will know what care needs they have which will help to support your research in finding the perfect care home.