What should I ask and look for when visiting a care home?

This checklist gives suggested questions to ask and things to look for when visiting potential homes. It’s a good idea to photocopy this checklist so you can use it for each home or scheme you visit. This list is not exhaustive and there may be additional questions you would like to ask. It may be helpful to visit the home or scheme more than once, perhaps at different times of the day. You should ask Care Quality Commission or the individual care home that you are interested in for a copy of their latest inspection report. You can also speak to the inspector prior to visiting a home.

The following are just suggestions of what to look for when you are choosing a home, but there will be other things that are important to you. Do ask about them because this will help you make the right choice. It is important to ask the residents, as well as the staff, about life in the home. Use this handy comparison table to asses which care home might be more suitable.

Name of care home

Care home A:............................................................................................................................ Care home B:............................................................................................................................ Care home C:............................................................................................................................ Care home D:............................................................................................................................ Care home E: ............................................................................................................................

First Impressions A B C D E Does it have a friendly and welcoming atmosphere? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Do the staff ask about you and your interests? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Is it well decorated and well kept? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Does it look and smell ok? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Does it seem a comfortable temperature for you and other residents? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Do staff treat the residents in a friendly manner and respect their wishes on how they would like to be addressed (eg, as Mr or Mrs or by first name)? Are staff caring and attentive towards residents? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are there adequate members of staff on duty to give enough individual attention? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are staff trained, experienced and qualified? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are there people of a similar age to you, with similar interests, who you will be able to get to know further? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are the other residents active and content? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Are there local facilities near the home, such as shops, places of religious worship or pubs that you will be able to access? A B C D E ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Does it have its own transport to enable you to get around, or is public transport easily accessible? Will it be easy for you to keep in touch with your friends and family? Is there parking for your friends and family when they visit? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The Building A B C D E Is there a garden that the residents can access safely? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are there smoke detectors or fire extinguishers visible throughout the building? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are fire exits and escape routes clearly marked? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Can wheelchair users move around it easily? If there is more than one floor, are there lifts? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Is there adequate wheelchair storage? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are there call bells in the bedrooms and communal areas? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are corridors and stairs suitable for people with sight impairment to get around easily (for example handrails painted a different colour)?

Bathrooms

Is there an en suite? A B C D E ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Are there toilets within easy reach of all communal facilities? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are the toilets, baths and showers adapted to make them easy and private for residents to use? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Communal rooms

Is there a choice of lounges?

Is there more than one TV room?

Is there a quiet room with no TV?

Is there a loop facility so that people who are hard of hearing can hear the television? Is the furniture in the communal areas arranged in a comfortable way? What are the homes policies on things such as alcohol, smoking and pets? Is there a residents’ committee or group that you can be part of if you wish?

A B C D E ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Care home A:............................................................................................................................ Care home B:............................................................................................................................ Care home C:............................................................................................................................ Care home D:............................................................................................................................ Care home E: ............................................................................................................................ Bedrooms A B C D E Can you have a single room if you want one? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Do the rooms have their own bathroom and toilet en suite? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ If you have to share a room, are there screens for privacy, and can you meet the other person beforehand to see if you get on? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ What would happen if you did not get along with the person you were sharing with? Would there be an alternative room available? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are rooms available for married couples? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Are you able to bring some of your own furniture and personal belongings to personalise your room? Are you able to lock the door to your room?

Are you able to have a telephone in your room? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are there adequate power points to be able to plug in all your electrical items, such as lamps, radio? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are you able to influence what happens there? A B C D E Is there an additional member of staff whose job is to take special interest in your welfare? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Can you go to bed when you want to? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ How often will your room be cleaned? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Can you help around the building if you want to? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Is it possible to buy items such as stamps, sweets and newspapers? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Is there a telephone that you can use in private and that meets any special requirements you may have (such as amplification)?

Personal possessions A B C D E Is there a secure place where valuables can be kept? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Does the home take responsibility for insuring residents’ possessions? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are you allowed to bring pets with you? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ 14

Meals A B C D E Can you have your meals in your own room if you desire? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Is it possible to have meals other than at set times? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are you able to have or make a snack whenever you want? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ What time is the last meal of the day served? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Do today’s menus give a choice of dishes? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Do the menus seem to you to be well balanced and nutritious? Can special diets be catered for?

Can menus include food that you particularly like? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Are the timing of meals flexible? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Personal care A B C D E Can you have a say in the way you are looked after/helped? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Can your friends and family have a say in your care plan if you would like them to? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Is there help with personal care if you require it (eg washing, bathing, going to the toilet)? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Can relatives or friends help you with personal care if you wish? ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Do any of the following visit the home regularly? • Dentist • Chiropodist • Opticians • Hairdresser/barber

If your health gets worse can you continue to live there, with increased support from staff? What aids does the home provide?

Would your family/friends be invited to a review of your care needs?

Leisure activities

Is there an activities co-ordinator?

Would you be able to carry on your existing hobbies or activities? Are there new activities that you could get involved in, are regular classes held? Are there regular social events and activities?

A B C D E ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Name of care home

Care home A:............................................................................................................................ Care home B:............................................................................................................................ Care home C:............................................................................................................................ Care home D:............................................................................................................................ Care home E: ............................................................................................................................

Running of the home

Is there a regular (eg monthly) Residents and/or Relatives meeting? Who runs the home?

Are they the owner or manager?

How long have they been running it?

When can they be contacted? What happens if you need to contact them outside of their normal working hours? How many residents are there?

What arrangements are there in place for making sure that people are safe in the event of a fire?

How many staff are there on duty?

• In the morning? • In the afternoon?

• In the evening? • At night?

How many staff have left and how many new staff have they had in the last year? Are staff suitably qualified and experienced?

Are night staff awake or on call?

What qualifications do staff have?

What training do staff receive? A B C D E

A B C D E

Religion

Does the home have facilities or services to enable your spiritual and cultural needs to be met? A B C D E

Are there specific visiting times or can family and friends visit without restriction? Will you be able to spend time with your friends and family in private? Can you make and/or offer your visitors a drink or snack? Can visitors stay for a meal?

Terms and conditions

Is there a written contract? Are you able to see a copy before moving in? Can you have a trial period, and how long will this last? If you decide that you no longer want to stay there how much notice would you need to give? What is the weekly charge for the care you need?

What does this charge cover?

Are there any additional charges payable, and, if so, what do these cover? Are fees payable in advance or arrears, and are they payable weekly or monthly? How often do the fees increase, and how is this increase decided? What happens to your room if you have to go into hospital? In what circumstances might you be asked to leave the home? Does the home accept the fee rates paid by Doncaster Council? If not will a top-up be payable? What happens if you run out of funds?

Problems

What happens if you are unhappy after you have moved in? How do you make a complaint?

How can you make a compliment or a suggestion if you would like something to be changed? A B C D E

A B C D E