When ‘residential care’ is mentioned, often our first thoughts turn to the care of the elderly. However, residential care encompasses a much wider scope.

Residential care can provide a safe haven for those with mental health conditions, drug or alcohol dependency as well as those with physical handicaps or a long term illness. However, our first thoughts are correct and the most common users of residential care are probably the elderly.

Many elderly people are horrified at the prospect of ‘being put in a home’ as the phrase is often put. But they need not worry. Modern residential care homes are a far cry from what they are usually imagining!

There are two main types of residential care. There is the situation where a person moves permanently into a residential arrangement, but there is also a situation where a person goes into residential care for short periods of time. This is called respite residential care. Respite care is usually used by families who care for someone full time. It provides them with a short break, ranging from a couple of days to a couple of weeks, where they can, for example, go away without having to worry about their loved one. Often it is seen as a welcome break by the relative who uses the facility, and it is not uncommon for people to return on a semi-regular basis.

The other type of residential care is full time care. This can happen in many different forms. An elderly relative may need 24 hour nursing, or they may simply want to feel more secure and move to somewhere where they know that should they need it, help is always on hand.

Many residential care homes will let residents bring their own furniture, and some even cater for small pets. There is usually a program of activities and people often feel less isolated than before the move, thus enabling family and relative to enjoy life to the full.