Questions to ask when choosing a care home

Choosing a care home can be a daunting task, especially if there are specific health needs to be considered. Not only will the right home provide care, but also a sense of belonging and community.

As well as looking to find a care home that suits your loved one’s needs now, it’s important to factor in their evolving requirements in the future. This makes the decision even more complex, but speaking to care staff should help to guide you in the right direction.

Whether you’re attending an open day or having a private visit, all care homes should be happy to answer your queries. Here at Barchester, we’ve welcomed many relatives in your position into our homes and have created a checklist of questions to ask a care home manager during your visit.

We hope this will provide a good starting point for anyone trying to choose a care home. Every resident has their own individual needs, so there are likely to be questions that relate specifically to them, which should also be freely asked.

Checklist of questions to ask when choosing a care home

What is included in the cost?

All good care homes should provide prospective residents and their relatives with a transparent outline of the costs. It should be structured to show you what you’re paying for, when the money is collected and by what method.

Additional questions should include whether a deposit is required and if the fees are reviewed on a yearly basis. These are common practices and the answers to these questions can help you and your loved one plan financially for the future, if you decide to choose that particular care home.

Are there any extra costs for additional services?

Most care homes offer extra services, like hairdressing, which may or may not be included in the price. Arrangements to have a newspaper delivered can also be made, but again, it’s worth asking about how this will be paid for, if it’s something the person moving in would be interested in.

Different care homes manage things in a variety of ways, with some including toiletries in the price and others expecting these to be paid for separately. If there’s anything you can’t see in the official breakdown on costs, then asking the care home manager should help you to understand more fully.

What facilities are included in the room?

Taking a look at a room is standard while touring a care home, but it’s important not to jump to conclusions about what’s included. Ask how rooms vary and what things are included by the home or permitted to be brought from a resident’s former house.

Areas you might want to ask about include:

• A television or radio
• A landline phone or socket
• Storage space
• Furniture
• Provision for guests

What care is available?

Perhaps the most obvious element is finding out about what types of care are available. If there are specific health requirements that need to be catered for, check with the care home team that this will be possible. For example, how often are there nurses at the home? What happens if there's an emergency? How will next of kin be contacted if necessary?

Look out for adaptations that make it easier for people to get around. This is key when choosing the right care home. Being conscious of whether there are handrails, ramps and other facilities that make it easier for people with different physical abilities to navigate the space will help to determine whether the care home is suitable, not just for now but in the future too.

How are decisions about care made?

For many people, the biggest adjustment - and a major source of confusion - is a whole new group of people are now involved in care decisions. Ask about this process, and how everyone, especially the potential resident, is kept up to date on such matters.

These arrangements can vary, and it's common for one doctor or medical professional to not communicate with another unless they're given express permission. Understanding the process and talking to the care home team about what you'd like to happen is the best way of deciding whether it's right for you and your loved one.

Will you be able to offer increased support if their needs grow?

One of the things to look for when choosing a care home is how it would work if your relative’s needs change. This could be due to the progression of an existing condition, such as dementia, or as the result of new issues as they age.

There are a number of questions to ask a dementia care home, including what the specialist care looks like and how activities are tailored to ensure people living with dementia can join in. Safety is likely to be particularly important as dementia progresses, so it’s important to ask about these measures. 

What training and qualifications do the staff have?

There are usually a variety of healthcare professionals in one care home, some with medical qualifications, others with non-medical training and some with no official training, such as volunteers.

To feel comfortable with your decision, it's important you understand who will be on hand at the care home and who is easily contactable. It’s also a good idea to ask whether there are physiotherapists or activities coordinators and how often they are on site.

What is your resident to staff ratio?

The staff are a crucial element of any care home and will be the ones delivering support to your loved one if they move in. Asking about the resident to staff ratio is a good place to start when it comes to understanding how much time carers will have with your relative or friend.

While these figures are useful, they’re not the only ones that will give you insight into the culture of a home. Inquiring about the staff retention rate and having a look at the most recent Care Quality Commission report will give you a fuller picture.

Are staff available at all times throughout the care home?

The number of staff available through the night will be dependent on the typical needs of residents. Asking about this and how they’re contacted is a good way to help choose the right care home, because you can match up the answers with the requirements you’re looking for.

If your loved one rarely gets up in the night and would only need assistance in an emergency, they may be better suited to a different type of care home to someone who requires more help. Finding the balance with these sorts of questions can help create a nuanced picture of the best home for them.

What are the meal options and how are they prepared?

Food has many functions - from nourishing us to providing enjoyment and a sense of sharing something with others - so it’s important to find out how mealtimes and snacks work at a prospective care home.

As people age, there can be additional challenges around food, so finding out how an unusual diet can be accommodated will be a crucial question for some. If your loved one appreciates good food, it’s worth knowing if meals are cooked in-house by a chef or brought in from elsewhere.

What activities does this home offer?

It’s a regulatory requirement for care homes to provide activities for their residents, but how this is achieved can vary hugely. Some homes have a dedicated activities coordinator, while the duty is shared among staff in others, and both arrangements can work well.

Ask if you can watch an activity in person and whether visitors are encouraged to get involved too. If you’re looking for a care home for a person living with dementia, it’s easy to overlook activities, but they can be very beneficial. It’s not always clear what someone might respond to, with music and photo tasks often penetrating deep into the memory bank.

When can I visit?

Visits from friends and relatives are an important part of life for care home residents, so you want to make sure that they’re encouraged and facilitated. Check that visiting hours are not too restrictive and that there aren’t too many criteria in place, such as calling first.

Care homes with a nice open feel, with people coming and going, can be of benefit for all residents, not just those who are receiving a guest. Familiar faces are nice to see and visits from children can be particularly stimulating for everyone.

Are there any policies on pets?

The policy on pets could be crucial for a potential resident for a number of reasons, so be sure to ask. Some care homes permit pets to be kept in rooms, while others allow them to visit with advanced notice.

If your loved one is anxious about going into a care home and leaving a beloved animal behind, it can be reassuring to know that they are able to see them again. For animal lovers, care homes with pet therapy programmes can also be very beneficial. 

What is the notice period?

Even when you know what to look for when choosing a care home, there’s a chance your loved one may end up moving. For this reason, it’s a good idea to find out what the notice period is for leaving and any associated fees.

That will mean you’re prepared for all eventualities and won’t be surprised if circumstances change. Good care homes will be open about this, so it shouldn’t cause extra stress during what can be a difficult time.

Checklist of questions to ask yourself 

It’s not just the care home manager or staff who should be ready to answer queries. Ask yourself the answers to a number of pertinent questions to help gauge how you’re truly feeling about the impression you get during a care home tour.

When you’re visiting lots of places, it can be difficult to quantify the sense you’re getting, so applying the same questions each time can help you compare each one. It can be useful to make a few notes after each visit, so you don’t get the homes mixed up.

Does the home feel welcoming and comfortable?

The answer to this question will come from a variety of micro observations that give you an overall impression, often referred to as your gut instinct. It’s easy to overlook this feeling and rely on the hard facts, but when choosing a home, it’s an important factor.

Are the care home and grounds well maintained?

A general good standard of maintenance is vital for a number of reasons. Not only will it make the home safer for your loved one but it also shows a level of care and pride, which should be translated into other areas too.

Are staff welcoming and approachable?

Happy staff will do a better job of caring for residents than those who seem stressed and with no time to welcome you. Their manner with visitors is often a good indication of how they care for the elderly, so take this on board.

Do the residents look happy?

During your tour of a care home you’ll inevitably see and perhaps meet some of the people who already live there. This can help you to understand what it’ll be like for your loved one on a day-to-day basis if they are to move in.