Throughout Scotland, there are many different types of care homes in South Ayrshire including residential care homes, all inclusive care homes, dual registered care homes and nursing homes. Choosing a care home for you or your loved one is a decision that cannot be taken lightly as there is so much to consider, including types of care provided, the location, cost and accessibility.

Both nursing homes and residential homes offer care and support, even for mental health issues, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, choosing to receive as little or as much assistance as needed with their daily living, alongside promoting independent living. Most care homes in Ayrshire offering residential and nursing care will encourage independence as much as possible, enabling residents to continue their sense of purpose, yet they are always available to offer support where it’s required.

What is Residential Care?

Residential care is for those who can still live independently but may require specialist medical care with a range of daily tasks, personal hygiene, medicine management, companionship or mobility. A residential home will include multiple communal areas such as lounges and dining rooms, where residents can socialise and engage in activities with like minded individuals. This then allows those who are living in a care home to enjoy the benefits of group living as well as avoiding the stress and complications in which you deal with at home. The team offering residential care typically don’t have advanced medical qualifications therefore are unable to administer medicine to residents.

Residential care homes can be confused with sheltered housing or assisted living. Residential care is about providing support and care from professionals at all times of the day and night, alongside a variety of social activities, opportunities, facilities and amenities for residents to use whenever they wish.

What is Nursing Care?

Nursing care is a long term care option for those with complex medical conditions that require 24 hour nursing care and medical supervision from a qualified nurse on site. Residents will receive assistance with daily living activities such as personal care, mobility, medication mamagement as well as possible frequent medical treatment, housekeeping, physical therapy and consistent support from a group of qualified nurses.

Unlike residential care, those who receive nursing care usually have a key nurse assigned to them, allowing them to further cater to their needs. The main goal of nursing care is to provide a comfortable and safe environment where residents can receive personal care, medical care and other support if needed, to maintain their health and quality of life.

What are the Differences Between Residential Care and Nursing Care?

There are multiple ways as to why residential care and nursing care are similar, they both provide care 24/7 from qualified care assistants as well as providing their residents with a personalised care plan and both care types can help with medication management. However, it’s important to fully understand the main differences between the two and identifying which type of care is most appropriate for you or your loved one.

Medicine Management: Both residential care and nursing care will have specialised care assistants on hand to assist residents with medication management, such as being reminded when medicine should be taken and which one is needed at which time. However, the staff trained within residential care are unable to administer medication due to them needing qualifications for this. A registered nurse and other trained care assistants who provide nursing care will have had training in the field, ensuring they can offer support with medication for a variety of nursing needs.

Levels of Assistance: Although team members within a care home work tirelessly and are available 24 hours a day, those who are receiving residential care can typically function independently during their day to day life and will only require support when they need it. Nursing care residents on the other hand will need support for a lot of their daily tasks, which therefore result in them having a key nurse, who then provides personalised care.

Home Adaptions: For residential care home residents there would be home adaptations such as wider corridors, many bannisters, en-suite bedrooms with chairs, grab rails and nurse call systems. However, when it comes to nursing care, there will also be some extra additions such as ramps for wheelchairs, stair lifts, profiling beds, banana boards or hoists and more walking aids. Meaning, they will be able to support residents when they need it whilst feeling comfortable enough to travel around the home.

What is the Most Appropriate Care for You or Your Loved One?

With there being a number of luxury care homes in Ayrshire, it can be difficult to distinguish the key differences between them and which would be best appropriate for you or your loved one. It’s important to consider the care that’s provided but also the facilities, location, as well as possible social and physical activity and the support system in place to be able to make the final decision.

If you or your loved one is searching for residential care homes in Ayrshire it’s ideal to look into the benefits of group living, alongside all the facilities and amenities, from new bonds to receiving low level assistance with daily tasks.

However, if you’re looking for a nursing home in Ayrshire, you need a higher level of support (personal or medical) from qualified nurses. To find out more about the most appropriate care type for you or your loved one, we advise asking the chosen care home, as they will be able to describe their services in a personal way, offering support during this time of uncertainty.

Once a care home has been decided, the team will work closely with you and/or your loved one to create a personalised care plan which will outline their needs and preferences, allowing the home to make sure every resident is looked after to the highest level.

Care Offered at Queens View Harbour

Queens View Harbour is located in the picturesque town of Troon, with 56 modern bedrooms, each equipped with en-suite bathrooms, our home is one of the most luxurious care homes in South Ayrshire, where upon entering, you will feel welcomed into a wonderful community. Our facility provides a private an exquisite setting for older residents and we have a dedicated team who provide Nursing Care, Residential Care, Dementia Care, Respite Care and Palliative Care.

Our residential care home in Ayrshire is founded on the principle that everyone deserves a fulfilling and meaningful life and our staff take immense pride in fostering a supportive and safe environment where all residents can pursue their desired lifestyles, whilst receiving comprehensive care and wellbeing support. Queens View Harbour is situated in an ideal location near coffee shops, restaurants, shops and the beach, meaning our home provides convenience and accessibility to various amenities. Visitors are drawn here, not only because of our lavish accommodations but because of our community - individuals gather for coffee mornings and catch ups rather than going to cafes, therefore emphasising on the strong sense of camaraderie we have within our walls.

Find Out More

If you have any more questions in regards to our care services, our on site facilities or anything else, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team today, you can either call us on 01292 435 971 or email us on info@queensviewharbour.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!