What is Nursing Care in a Care Home?
Nursing care in a care home provides residents with all the support of a care home plus the reassurance and benefit of 24/7 medical support and supervision from a team of registered nurses.
Residents are offered the full care home service package, including daily help with dressing, bathing, and eating. A nursing home also benefits from on-site medical equipment, regular doctor visits, and prescription provision.
At Birtley House Nursing Home, our on-site 24-hour registered nursing team is trained to deliver medication management, wound care, and monitor the vital signs of our residents. This personalised care provides reassurance to residents’ families that that their loved ones are in capable hands and will always be treated with dignity and respect.
The key reasons families choose in-home care, is to allow their elderly relatives to maintain routine, familiarity, and independence. Therefore, we work exceptionally hard to create a person-centred plan for every resident who comes to stay with us.
Birtley House strongly believes that moving into a nursing care facility is not a regression or a step into a lesser life. We pride ourselves on supporting a comfortable transition, with personalised touches to ensure a ‘home away from home’ ethos. We encourage social engagement, companionship, friendship and new experiences such as animal meet-and-greets, alongside daily routines and the independence to make their own choices.
Nursing Care at Birtley House – how to know if it is right for you
Outlined below are the different care options available at Birtley House Nursing Home. Upon enquiry, our registered manager will assess the dependency level and work on a tailored care package best suited for each individual.
- Long-term care
- Respite Care
- Palliative Care
- Holistic Care
Long-Term Care
Long-term care is for those who require support in their day-to-day living and wish to make the most of their years at Birtley House.
Residents who come to us for long-term care have the option to choose a either a nursing home room, or one of our larger apartments on the West Wing. Both accommodation types cater to all dependency levels and benefit from 24-hour nursing care, supporting all the residents’ daily needs effectively, such as cooked meals, laundry, and regular room cleaning.
Long-term care is recommended for those who: are becoming frail, finding it difficult to manage daily tasks at home, are at risk due to safety concerns (like falls), or require assistance with dressing or using the bathroom. This option is also suitable for individuals with progressive conditions that need increasing support that family members can no longer provide.
See some of our current residents in long-term care:
Maggie, West Wing Apartment.
5 years.
Valerie, Premium Nursing Home Room.
6 years.
Eileen, Deluxe Nursing Home Room.
3 years.
Respite Care
Respite care is a short-term approach to care, typically involving a minimum two-week stay, designed to help individuals regain their strength after a hospital visit and support them in regaining their independence.
Respite, also known as convalescent care, offers a choice of traditional nursing home rooms, graded as Standard, Premium, and Deluxe. Many rooms feature ensuite W.C.s and basins, and a handful have an ensuite wet-rooms. Residents are placed in the available room best suited to their dependency level and requirements.
Respite care is advised to those who: are recovering from a hospital stay or who are testing to see if a nursing home is right for them. Short-term stays can be planned or made as a spontaneous decision depending on the situation.
Here are some recent reviews from residents who have stayed with us for respite care:
“I feel fortunate to have found a respite care home which so suited my needs, and delivered care, nursing, housekeeping and management to a high standard of excellence. I was impressed and would recommend others to seek out Birtley House should care, respite, or nursing become necessary for oneself or members of one’s family” – RL
“My wife was at Birtley House for 7 weeks of respite care at the start of 2025. We enjoyed dealing with this family-owned business and found the staff to be professional and welcoming. My wife benefitted from joining in with the activities and everything that Birtley House had to offer during her stay. She responded very well to the expert care provided and enjoyed the beautiful house and grounds during her time at Birtley House.” – HT
Palliative Care
Palliative care is the provision of compassionate and dignified end-of-life care services, similar to those offered by a hospice, for individuals who have had a fast-onset illness that the family is not equipped to handle at home. Our palliative care residents are made comfortable in one of our traditional nursing home rooms, which offer a variety of views across our award-winning grounds.
Palliative care is advised to those: suffering from serious or life-limiting illnesses. For many existing residents, this can be a natural progression from long-term care.
Here are some testimonials from families of palliative care residents:
“Birtley House Nursing Home provided a caring, compassionate and considerate service to not only my dad, as a resident, but to the family too. The staff made my dad feel comfortable and nothing was too much trouble. They always treated him with dignity and respect. Would certainly recommend Birtley House Nursing Home and will miss everyone.” – JH
“My father spent over 8 amazing and wonderful years in this magical family-run nursing home. It is as good as any five-star luxury country hotel. All the staff from reception, cleaning, catering, activities, care and nursing to management and directors were absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much Birtley for loving Dad like he was a part of your family, I know in my heart he will miss you all very much, but will be smiling down on you now thanking you all very much for looking after him whilst in your care.” – AS
Holistic Care
Holistic care is core to every package available at Birtley House. With a person-centred holistic approach, we ensure that no matter why the resident is with us or for how long, their whole mind, body, and spirit will be attended to under our care.
Residents are not only medically supported but are also encouraged to enhance their overall well-being. This includes time spent in the garden with nature, visits from Rev’d Liz Tilley, and options for physiotherapy and Reiki sessions.
We also strive to include a holistic approach in our monthly activities, ensuring everyone feels included and can participate if they wish. Activities include appreciating art, enjoying live music, learning new skills, and keeping the mind agile with board games.
Five Key Benefits of Choosing to Move into a Nursing Home
When deciding on next steps in elderly care, we are fortunate that our options cover the full scope of current and future needs, preventing the upheaval of relocation.
From weekly visits at home, to live-in carers, all the way through to specifically built and maintained facilities like Birtley House nursing home, choosing what is right for you can be challenging.
We urge all care explorers to consider all the options and take into account what is best for the individual embarking on this new journey.
- What is going to be the most fulfilling for them?
- What is going to ensure that they have everything they need as they continue to progress into their later years?
Below we have summarised what we believe are the key benefits of moving into a nursing home like Birtley House:
- Reassurance for family caregivers
- Safe and supportive environment
- Personalised care plans
- Social engagement and activities
- 24/7 professional medical care if required
Pricing breakdown for Accommodation and Care types at Birtley House Nursing Home:
As a private family-owned care home in the Surrey Hills, we have worked hard to incorporate several room types and care packages to ensure that our pricing is as individual as the residents we care for. We tailor accommodations to accommodate a variety of budgets, with fluctuations based on the chosen accommodation style , dependency level, and agreed payment term.
To explore your specific care requirements, please enquire and request our 2025 pricing document, which demonstrates all the pricing options and provides you with an informed indication of the costs your care may incur when coming to stay with us at Birtley House, Guildford, Surrey.
What Makes a good Nursing Care Environment – and how Birtley delivers it
A high-quality nursing home goes beyond medical treatment; it is about creating a space where residents feel safe, respected, and at home. At Birtley House, our commitment to person-centred care is reflected in everything from the expertise of our staff, to our flexible visitor policies, and our beautiful Surrey Hills surroundings.
The best way to understand Birtley House Nursing home is to experience it for yourself. We welcome you to book a visit, meet our team, explore our facilities, and see what we can do for you.