The key difference from a residential care home
A nursing home has registered nurses on site. They can manage complex health needs, wound care, medication administration, and ongoing health monitoring. A residential care home cannot do these things — if those needs develop, a resident may need to move.
Who nursing home care is for
Nursing care suits people with complex or unstable health conditions, post-hospital discharge needs, or conditions that require regular clinical intervention. It is also the right setting for people whose needs may continue to change and who want to avoid a future move.
Dual registration
Some homes are registered for both residential and nursing care and can accommodate residents as their needs change. This matters for long-term planning — it can avoid an unsettling move at a difficult moment.
Questions to ask
What is the nurse-to-resident ratio? Are nurses present overnight? How is the relationship with the GP managed? What conditions does the home have experience with? Ask for examples rather than generalities.
Cost
Nursing homes typically cost more than residential care homes because of the registered nursing staff. The Funded Nursing Care (FNC) contribution from the NHS applies to self-funders in nursing homes — this is a weekly payment from the NHS towards the cost of the nursing element of care. Ask about FNC explicitly when comparing costs.