What is the difference between a retirement apartment complex, a care home and a nursing home?

Retirement developments or apartment complexes are essentially apartment blocks for independent individuals who just happen to be over 60 but so many people still seem to confuse retirement living with care homes or nursing homes.

The differences are:

Care homes for the elderly, what we used to know as 'old people’s homes', are facilities where a number of older people live together. The residents usually live in single rooms with en-suite facilities much like a larger hotel room. As residents of care homes often have greater medical needs most homes have on-site care services.

Care homes range in size from small family businesses for 3 or 4 residents to large complexes with 100 or more.  In care homes all meals are provided, either in residents’ own rooms or in the dining room, and communal facilities will usually include lounges, activity rooms, and a garden area.

Nursing homes provide the same facilities and personal care as a care home but also have a qualified nurse on duty 24 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.