Checklist for Choosing a Care Home

First Impressions

• Do the drive and entrance of the home appear well-kept?
• Are the buildings and grounds well maintained?
• Is there an accessible garden or courtyard?
• Are there nice views from the home?
• Do the staff seem welcoming?
• Is there a welcoming and helpful person at the front desk?

Accessibility

• Can friends and family able to get there easily?
• Is there parking?
• Is there good wheelchair access into and within the building, including wide doorways?
• Is the garden accessible for residents?

Staff

• Are staff welcoming and engaged?
• Do staff get to know about residents’ lives?
• Is there a manager in post and a senior member of staff on duty at all times?
• What is the ratio of staff to residents?
• Can residents choose if they have a male or female carer?
• Are all staff trained in caring for residents with dementia?

Meeting Care Needs

• What care does your loved one need?
• Does the home support those with sensory impairments or dementia?
• Do residents have a named member of staff who is particularly responsible for their care?
• Are residents and their families involved in decisions about their care?
• Do health staff such as district nurses and chiropodists visit regularly?
• Does the home offer end-of-life care?

General Considerations

• What security is in place to keep residents safe?
• How do residents call for assistance?
• Can residents choose their routine, such as when they get up and go to bed?
• Can residents bring their own furniture and belongings?
• Can residents choose whether they have a bath or shower, and how often?
• Do all rooms have ensuite wetrooms?

Food

• Do residents usually eat together, or can they choose to eat in their rooms?
• Is there a choice of food and can you see sample menus?
• How often do menus change?
• Is food prepared on the premises?
• Can the home meet your dietary needs?
• Are there pleasant dining rooms with properly laid tables?

Socialising & Activities

• Are residents encouraged to stay active?
• Is there an activities co-ordinator?
• Do residents seem happy?
• Would you feel comfortable socialising in the home’s common areas?
• Are there facilities such as a cinema, a library, lounges, newspapers, a beauty salon, a garden room?
• Are there regular activities such as music, singing, exercise classes, gardening, celebrations for special occasions, visits from entertainers, and outings to shops, entertainment venues or places of worship?

Visitors

• Are there any restrictions on visiting?
• Are children welcome?
• Are there spaces for residents to spend time with visitors?
• Are visitors able to visit during mealtimes and can they have meals with residents?

Contracts & Fees

• Can you see a copy of the home’s contract and terms and conditions?
• Can you stay for a trial period?
• What is your budget and what are the home’s fees?
• Is it clear how the fees are structured, calculated and collected?
• Are any extra items or services not covered by the basic fees clearly identified and accounted for?
• Are any fees payable after a resident’s death?
• Is a deposit or advance payment required?