A nursing home, as distinct from a residential care home, has to provide the kind of care which requires the specific skills of a qualified nurse or the supervision of a qualified nurse. This may occur in a variety of circumstances. For example:

• when someone’s general health deteriorates to a point where they need constant nursing care;
  

• where someone’s health is such that one or more of the following procedures is required periodically over twenty-four hours:

  • administration of medication by injection;

  • dressing to an open or closed wound;

  • artificial feeding;

  • basic nursing care of the type normally given to people confined to bed;

  • frequent attention as a result of double or single incontinence;

  • intensive rehabilitation following surgery or a debilitating disease which is likely to continue for some time;

  • management of complex prostheses or appliances.

Each patient in a nursing home should expect to receive ‘efficient nursing care’, which means that suitably qualified and competent staff must be on duty day and night.

The number and type of nursing staff in a nursing home will be determined by the number and dependency of the patients. Other key factors include:

• whether or not a medical practitioner is resident on the premises;

• the number of floors in the nursing home and the number of patients
  on each floor;

• the overall design of the building and the walking distances for staff;

• means of evacuation in the event of fire, especially at night;

• the balance between full-time and part-time staff.

In nursing homes which care for older people or those who are chronically sick, at least one 1st level nurse should be on duty throughout the day and night.

The majority of nursing homes look after older people whose state of health necessitates round the clock nursing care in a residential setting.
Some homes also care for:

• the younger physically disabled;

• people with mental health problems; and

• people with a learning disability.

Nursing homes also vary in size and other characteristics. Many have less than 30 beds. The average is around 33 beds. A few may have 100 beds or more. Some are managed by the people who own them. Some belong to larger groups of homes (sometimes known as the ‘corporates’).

If you are looking for a nursing home, you are best advised to shop around and find the one which suits your needs and preferences.