What is a nursing home?

What is a nursing home?

A nursing home is a medicalised care home for older people who can no longer manage day-to-day life on their own and need regular medical support. It can welcome residents who are still fairly independent as well as those who are dependent, and it must be fitted out to meet their needs. Having medical staff (a coordinating doctor) and paramedical staff (a lead nurse and care assistants) on site is essential. The size of the medical and paramedical team is set according to how many residents the home can accommodate.

In France, the equivalent term is EHPAD (Etablissement d’Hebergement pour Personnes Agees Dependantes, literally “accommodation facility for dependent older people”). In the UK this type of setting is simply called a nursing home. Whatever the label, the idea is the same: a home where medical care is available whenever a resident needs it.

What a nursing home includes

The cost of a nursing home typically covers three distinct areas:

• Support with daily living: everything the home does to help residents carry out the essential acts of everyday life that are not strictly medical, such as providing furniture suited to reduced mobility, fitting handrails and access ramps, and so on.
• Accommodation: upkeep (cleaning and laundry), meals (breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack and dinner) and the general costs of board and lodging. Activities and entertainment that are not linked to a resident’s dependency are included here.
• Care: the medical and paramedical care needed to treat residents’ physical or psychological conditions, including care related to loss of independence. At Silver Resorts, this generally includes one care assistant per resident, so we can provide the closest possible support.

Who is it for?

An older person is generally defined as someone aged 60 or over.

Definition from the World Health Organization (WHO)

Medicalised care homes are intended for dependent people aged 60 and over. When a person needs help with their daily needs (medical care, help with eating, washing or moving around), they are said to be dependent. A dependent person can stay in a nursing home either temporarily or on a long-term basis. Before welcoming your relative, we assess their level of dependency using the French GIR scale. This helps us understand their needs and adapt the residence accordingly.

What care is provided?

Nursing homes are designed for older, dependent people, who often need input from a range of health professionals to be properly looked after.

A lead nurse plays a key role in the running of a nursing home, overseeing the medical staff and safeguarding the quality of care. At Silver Resorts, in our nursing homes in Tunisia, we have chosen to appoint coordinating doctors so that our residents benefit from the best possible standard of care.