Nursing home

Definition: A residential setting where older people live and receive both personal care and nursing care.

Apart from in Northern Ireland where it is still used, the term nursing home has been replaced by care home with nursing. Homes where nursing is not provided, formerly known as residential care homes, are now generally referred to simply as care homes.

A home registered for nursing will provide personal care (help with washing, dressing and giving medication), and will also have a qualified nurse on duty twenty-four hours a day to carry out nursing tasks. These homes are for people who are physically or mentally frail or people who need regular attention from a nurse.

Some homes, registered either for personal care or nursing care, can be registered for a specific care need, for example dementia or terminal illness.

Dual registered homes no longer exist, but homes registered for nursing care may accept people who just have personal care needs but who may need nursing care in the future.

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