What Is Nursing Care

Supporting You and Your Loved Ones with Compassion and Expertise

When someone you love develops complex medical conditions or health needs that go beyond personal care, it can be difficult to know what type of care is most suitable. Nursing care is a specialist form of support designed to provide both medical care and assistance with daily living. It is delivered by qualified nurses, registered nurses, and care assistants, often working as part of a wider specialist team.

At Careline Home Support, we understand how important it is to find the right solution for your family. Whether it’s nursing care at home, live-in care, or support in a nursing home, we provide all the care and guidance you need to make informed choices.

This guide explains what nursing care is, who it is suitable for, the different services available, and how families can access funding options through the local authority or NHS.

What Is Nursing Care?

Nursing care is a type of care that combines everyday support with professional medical input. Unlike residential care, which focuses mainly on assistance with daily tasks, nursing care involves medical support for people living with complex care needs.

Nursing care may include:

• Managing medication and administering treatments.
• Treating wounds after surgery or illness.
• Stoma care and other specialist procedures.
• Palliative care for those with a terminal illness.
• Support with complex medical conditions such as motor neurone disease or Huntington’s disease.
• Assistance with rehabilitative care following a hospital stay.

At its heart, nursing care is about ensuring dignity, comfort, and physical wellbeing for people who can no longer manage on their own.

The Difference Between Nursing Care and Residential Care

Many families struggle to understand the difference between a residential care home and a nursing home.

• Residential care offers support with daily living, including meals, companionship, and personal care. It’s designed for people who may be less independent but don’t require round the clock medical support.
• Nursing care is provided in nursing care homes or at home. It includes all the support of residential care but adds clinical expertise from qualified nurses to manage health conditions and complex care needs.

At CHS, we also provide nursing care at home as an alternative to moving into a nursing home. This allows your loved one to receive medical care and personal support while remaining in the comfort of their own home.

Who Is Nursing Care Suitable For?

Nursing care is suitable for people living with:

• Complex medical conditions that require specialist monitoring.
• Long-term illness where daily tasks and everyday living become challenging.
• Health conditions such as diabetes, dementia, heart disease, or neurological disorders.
• Terminal illness, when palliative care and emotional support are essential.
• Recovery following a hospital stay, where rehabilitative care helps regain independence.

Families often turn to nursing care when a loved one can no longer manage without round the clock care. Whether provided in a nursing home, residential care setting, or through CHS’s live-in care service, nursing care ensures all the support needed is in place.

What Does Nursing Care Involve?

Nursing care is broad and tailored to the individual. Some examples of what it may involve include:

• Personal care such as washing, dressing, and assistance with mobility.
• Medical care including medication management, stoma care, and treating wounds.
• Specialised support for those living with complex medical needs.
• Nutritious meals designed to maintain strength and physical wellbeing.
• Palliative care that provides comfort and dignity during the final stages of life.
• Social activities that encourage engagement and quality of life.
• Companionship so the person feels supported and valued as more than just a patient.

At CHS, our care assistants and specialist team work under the guidance of registered nurses to deliver consistent, high-quality services.

Who Provides Nursing Care?

Nursing care is provided by a mixture of professionals:

• Registered nurses who oversee medical care.
• District nurse visits, often arranged by the local council or NHS, for specific health interventions.
• Care assistants who provide day-to-day support with daily tasks and personal care.
• Specialist team members trained in rehabilitative care, palliative care, and complex care.

This combination ensures your loved one receives holistic care that supports both their medical and personal needs.

Nursing Care at Home

One of the most popular alternatives to nursing care homes is nursing care at home. This allows people living with illness or complex medical conditions to stay in their own home while still receiving all the support they need.

Benefits of nursing care at home include:

• Remaining close to family members.
• Familiar surroundings that reduce anxiety.
• Avoiding the upheaval of moving into a residential care home.
• Flexible care plans that adapt to the person’s health conditions.

At Careline Home Support, we provide live-in care, 24-hour care, and overnight care, ensuring your loved one can access the right type of care without leaving their local area.

Palliative and Complex Care

Nursing care is essential for people living with serious illness or approaching the end of life.

• Palliative care ensures comfort, dignity, and emotional support for both the person and their family members.
• Complex care provides specialised support for conditions such as Huntington’s disease, motor neurone disease, or advanced dementia.
• Our teams also assist with hospital discharge, offering rehabilitative care to help individuals adjust back to daily living.

CHS’s nursing care services are built around compassion and expertise, making sure families receive guidance and reassurance during difficult times.

How Nursing Care Is Regulated

In the UK, nursing care providers are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This ensures that all services, whether in a residential home, care home, or nursing care at home, meet strict standards for safety, quality, and compassion.

At Careline Home Support, we take regulation seriously and are proud to provide services that meet the high standards families expect.

How to Arrange Nursing Care

If you think nursing care may be right for your loved one, the first step is often a care needs assessment.

• Contact your local authority or local council to request an assessment.
• Use a search tool online to explore providers in your local area.
• Speak directly with CHS – our team can explain options and guide you through the process.

From there, a care plan will be created to outline the type of care, level of support, and services required.

---

Funding Options for Nursing Care

Paying for nursing care can feel daunting, but there are different funding options available depending on your loved one’s financial situation.

• Local authority funding – Following a financial assessment, your local council may contribute towards costs.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare – Available for people with complex medical conditions requiring round the clock care.
• Attendance Allowance – A non-means-tested benefit to help with extra costs associated with illness and disability.
• Self-funding – Some families choose to fund nursing care privately to retain full control over the provider and services.

CHS can help you explore funding options and find the best route for your family’s needs.

Careline Home Support Services

At CHS, we offer a wide range of services to ensure families have access to the right support at the right time:

• Nursing care at home – specialist medical support in familiar surroundings.
• Live-in care – continuous, round the clock care from a dedicated carer.
• 24-hour care at home – day and night assistance from our specialist team.
• Dementia care – tailored services for people living with dementia and memory-related health conditions.
• Overnight care – ensuring safety and comfort during the night.

These services are designed to provide flexibility and reassurance, whether your loved one needs short-term assistance, long-term support, or complex care.

Why Choose Careline Home Support?

Families across our local area choose Careline Home Support because we:

• Provide care led by qualified nurses and supported by a compassionate team of care assistants.
• Deliver both personal care and medical care.
• Offer flexible services to meet a wide range of health conditions and care needs.
• Ensure regulation and safety under the Care Quality Commission.
• Support families with guidance on funding, care planning, and next steps.

Above all, we treat every person as an individual – not just a patient. Our nursing care offers not just clinical expertise but also companionship, dignity, and quality of life.

Next Steps

If you’re considering nursing care for a loved one, Careline Home Support is here to guide you. We’ll work with you to create a personalised care plan that covers all the support needed for both medical conditions and daily living.

Contact our team today to learn more about our nursing care at home, live-in care, 24-hour care, dementia care, and overnight care services. Together, we’ll ensure your loved one receives the highest quality support while giving you and your family peace of mind.