What is the difference between a residential care home & supported living?

[Ang1e]

Hello,

My brother presently lives in a residential care home for adults with

[Ang1e]

I’ll try posting again.

My brother presently lives in a residential care home for adults, as follows:

• Accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care
• Learning disabilities

It has been a residential care home for many years but the organisation that now run it seem to have more focus on supported living. I wonder if they are changing this care home from residential to supported living.

Can anybody tell me the difference between the two as I have spoken with others and it doesn’t seem to me to be that clear cut.

Thanks for any help.

Thanks for

[sianwhite]

Hi @Ang1e,

There are lots of FAQs on the Mencap website, including ‘what is residential care?’ and ‘what is supported living?’. Take a look here

The main difference is that in a supported living setting, a person will have their own tenancy agreement and support can range from visiting to 24-hours, depending on need. Residential care combines care and accommodation, with 24 hour support. The person lives under the home’s care, rather than having their own tenancy agreement.

I’ve had a quick google elsewhere too, have a look at the following links which might be helpful:

• Shine Optima Care

• Created by Parents

• Choice Care Group

I hope that helps!
Sian

[Ang1e]

Thank you so much for all the information Sian.

It does seem to be a minefield. I now need to digest it then attempt to explain it to my father, so we can try to determine what is best for my brother.

Thanks again,

Ang1e

[sianwhite]

You’re very welcome @Ang1e, I hope it’s helpful!

Let us know how you get on - wishing you and your family the best.

Sian

[Ang1e]

Hi Sian,

There have been a number of developments since my last post.

When asked about what Supported Living is, my brothers’ social services allocated worker wrote the following:

Supported living means that individuals with disability are supported to live in the way that they want. In my perspective, it is not for your brother.

She also advised that if there should be any information regarding the Placement, the care provider is obliged to inform Social Services and Family members. I understand this to mean that if a care provider intends to change a Residential Care Home to Supported Living they must notify social services and family members. A process called The Individual Pathway shows that service users and relatives should be informed of this change at the consideration stage, so well before any changes are implemented.

We feel that my brothers’ current care service are no longer able to provide the care he needs as there has been a degradation is service quality over the past couple of years. We are now in the process of moving him to a care service closer to family which is more like his care home used to be.

We hope that the move will take place soon.

Thank you for your advice.

With kind regards,

Ang1e

[SarahL]

Hello @Ang1e

I know it has been a little while but I wondered how you and your brother were getting on? Did your brother move?

Many thanks
Sarah

[Ang1e]

Hello @SarahL

Apologies for the delay in replying but life has been a bit busy.

Yes, we relocated my brother to a great new care home much nearer to family. All was well for the first 6 or 7 months, then the original care home manager left and his deputy took over. We thought as she had worked there for so many years alongside the original manager all would be well. Alas no!

It seems that you should be on your guard during times of transition and new management, whatever their background.

We are now dealing with a safeguarding issue and the new manager has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing. Ho hum, we are on that roller coaster again.

We are confident however that the care service have responded in an appropriate way by suspending the offender and putting in place emergency measures. My brother is a lot happier now though not back to his old self yet.

We will be making a health and welfare deputyship application using a very experienced solicitor with very relevant experience. You may have heard of the judgement last week "Re: Lawson, Mottram and Hopton (appointment of personal welfare deputies) that declared there should be no presumption against the appointment of a welfare deputy and that the wording of the code of practice “requires to be revisited”, as stated by Mr Justice Hayden, Vice-President of the Court of Protection.

I hope things are faring better for you.

Best regards,
Ang1e