What Is a Convalescent Home?
Convalescent homes are facilities that provide medical and nursing care to people who are recovering from an illness or injury. The home can be a private residence, or it can be a large building with several rooms and common areas. Convalescent homes can also be called rest homes or extended-care facilities.
Convalescent homes usually have staff members who help residents with their daily activities. These staff members may include nurses, physical therapists, and social workers. They also may offer assistance with bathing and dressing as well as meal preparation and other tasks related to daily living.
Convalescent homes generally provide full-time care for residents who need this level of assistance in order to live safely in their own homes or apartments. However, some convalescent homes may only offer short-term care for people who are recovering from an acute illness or injury such as surgery or heart attack.
Who Staffs a Convalescent Home and What Do They Do?
Convalescent homes are often staffed by people with medical training, but there are also many other professions represented. Here is a look at who works in convalescent homes and what they do.
The majority of the staff in convalescent homes is composed of nurses and nursing assistants. Nurses are responsible for administering care to residents, while nursing assistants provide support services such as bathing or dressing residents who cannot do it themselves. Some nursing assistants may also be trained to administer medication.
Some convalescent homes also employ physical therapists to help residents regain muscle strength and movement after a period of immobility. A few homes may have occupational therapists on staff as well, who can provide support for activities such as eating or using the bathroom.
Other types of professionals you might find working in a convalescent home include dieticians, social workers, physical therapists (PT), occupational therapists (OT), speech/language pathologists (SLP/SLT), psychologists, psychiatrists, recreational therapists and religious leaders, such as priests.
What Should a Convalescent Home Provide?
When a resident needs to rest, nothing is more important than the quality of your care. That is why it is important to run a convalescent home that provides all the services and amenities a resident needs to get back on their feet and back to enjoying life.
The best places for convalescence have:
- A warm, inviting atmosphere where residents can feel at ease
- A variety of activities that encourage socialization while also promoting physical and mental health
- A dietician who can help ensure that residents are getting the nutrients they need to heal
How Can I Start My Own Convalescent Home?
Convalescent homes are an important part of modern healthcare. They provide a safe space for people to heal, and they offer a community for those who have been through a traumatic experience.
If you are thinking about starting your own convalescent home, here are some things to consider:
- What kind of facility will you run? There are many different types of convalescent homes, from full-service hospitals with in-house doctors to short-term rehabilitation centers for people recovering from surgery or injury.
- What kind of staff do you need? You will need nurses and other medical professionals to care for patients, as well as other support staff — such as cooks and janitors — to keep the facility running smoothly.
- How much money will it cost? Convalescent homes can be expensive to operate, so think carefully before deciding whether this is something that could work for your business model and budget.
Once you are certain you would like to start a convalescent home, the task can still be daunting. Here is how you can get started:
- Find an area that is large enough for your facility
- Decide on the type of care you want to offer (medical, physical therapy, etc.)
- Determine how many beds you will need
- Hire staff and other professionals
