What is a care home?
A care home is a broad term that covers a varied range of settings. Within it you will find several different types of accommodation, run by either the public or the private sector. Care homes can be more or less medicalised depending on the residents they welcome. The length of stay can vary too: it may be long-term or temporary. A temporary stay usually means a stay of under three months, such as a renewable trial stay or a period of convalescence, and it can turn into a long-term stay. Some homes also offer day care.
The different types of care home
There are two main types of care home. Non-medicalised homes are designed for older people who remain largely independent. Medicalised nursing homes are designed for older people who have lost some independence and need daily medical support. In France, these two categories have official names, EHPA for the non-medicalised type and EHPAD for the medicalised nursing home; the UK simply speaks of care homes and nursing homes.
A medicalised nursing home is generally bound by an agreement with the authorities that sets out clear standards it must meet. It must also put quality procedures in place. This ensures that older residents are looked after in the best possible conditions of safety, hygiene and comfort. Regular inspections check that these homes are run properly.
Other, more specialised types of home also exist for particular needs, such as dedicated units for people living with Alzheimer’s disease. Arrangements vary from country to country, but the underlying idea is always to match the type of home to the resident’s level of independence and health.
How care homes work
In France, publicly run care homes come under a local social-action centre, a hospital or a similar authority; in the UK, publicly funded care is instead arranged through your local authority (council). When a home is medicalised, it offers activities suited to its residents alongside medical support for long-term or temporary stays. It allows older people who have lost some independence to benefit from a multidisciplinary medical and paramedical team. These teams typically include doctors, nurses, care assistants, home-care workers, physiotherapists, speech therapists and activity coordinators.
Long-term care units
In France, long-term care units sit within the hospital sector (in the UK, the nearest equivalent is NHS continuing healthcare). They welcome people who have lost their independence and whose condition calls for constant medical supervision (the most severe levels of dependency).
Retirement homes with services
Senior residences with services are shared accommodation designed to bridge the gap between a person’s own home and a traditional care home. They welcome fit, independent older people, which makes them an ideal way to keep active seniors from becoming isolated while they hold on to their independence. Residents can also make use of shared facilities and services, which may be optional or charged for.