Group care homes are made up of chains of care homes owned and operated by large national or multinational corporations, charities or medical insurance groups. The individual size of these homes varies considerably however all are administered through large, off-site central offices. Individual homes are very limited in what products they can purchase independently and most utilities and supplies are bought by head office through contract manufacturers. However, urgent medical devices such as pressure care mattresses are often purchased out of local budgets.
Care provision within these homes tend to be the same as the independent care homes however there is often company-provided expert clinical advice available for individual home managers.
Most group homes have a predetermined baseline of essential equipment provision (including pressure relieving mattresses and cushions) that is set by the company. Additional equipment may be purchased as required on a patient by patient basis.
