Visiting a care home is one of the most important steps when deciding whether it is the right place for you or a loved one. A brochure or website can give you useful information, but an in-person visit allows you to experience the atmosphere, meet the people providing care and see how residents are supported day to day.
It is completely normal to feel unsure about what to ask. There can be a lot to take in, particularly when the decision needs to be made quickly. Preparing a list of questions beforehand can help you compare different homes and feel more confident in your choice.
What Type of Care Do You Provide?
Start by asking whether the home can meet the person’s current care needs. This may include residential care, dementia care, respite care, palliative care or support with mobility.
It is also important to think ahead. Ask whether the home would be able to continue supporting the resident if their needs increased in the future. Moving home again can be unsettling, so understanding the level of care available may help you make a longer-term decision.
Questions might include:
- – What types of care do you provide?
- – How do you assess a new resident’s needs?
- – Can you support residents whose needs become more complex?
- – How often are care plans reviewed?
- – How are families involved in care planning?
What Is the Atmosphere Like?
Pay attention to how the home feels when you arrive. A care home should feel welcoming, calm and lived-in rather than overly clinical.
Notice whether residents appear comfortable and whether staff speak to them warmly and respectfully. Look at whether staff know residents by name and take time to listen to them.
You may wish to ask:
- – How do you help new residents settle in?
- – Can residents personalise their rooms?
- – Are family and friends welcome to visit regularly?
- – Can residents spend time in their rooms as well as communal areas?
- – Are there quiet spaces available?
The atmosphere of a home can be just as important as its facilities.
How Many Staff Are Available?
Staffing is an important consideration because it affects how much individual attention residents receive.
Rather than focusing only on numbers, ask how staffing levels are decided and whether they change according to residents’ needs. It can also be useful to ask whether the home uses regular staff or relies heavily on temporary agency workers.
Useful questions include:
- – How many staff are usually on duty during the day and at night?
- – Are the same carers regularly assigned to residents?
- – What training do staff receive?
- – Is there a senior member of staff available at all times?
- – What happens if a resident needs urgent assistance?
Look at how staff interact with residents during your visit. Kindness, patience and familiarity are often strong indicators of good care.
How Will Personal Preferences Be Respected?
Good care should be centred around the individual. Residents should have choices about how they spend their day, what they eat, when they get up and how they receive support.
Ask how the home learns about each resident’s routines, background, interests and preferences.
Questions could include:
- – Can residents choose when they wake up and go to bed?
- – Are residents involved in decisions about their care?
- – How do you support religious, cultural or dietary preferences?
- – Can residents bring furniture, photographs and personal belongings?
- – How do you protect residents’ privacy and dignity?
- – Can couples remain together?
Small personal choices can make a significant difference to someone’s comfort and independence.
What Food and Drink Are Provided?
Meals are an important part of daily life in a care home. Ask to see a sample menu and, where possible, visit around lunchtime so you can observe how meals are served.
Consider asking:
- – Are meals freshly prepared?
- – Is there a choice at each mealtime?
- – Can meals be adapted for allergies, medical needs or personal preferences?
- – Are snacks and drinks available throughout the day?
- – How do you support residents who need help eating or drinking?
- – Can family members occasionally join residents for a meal?
If your loved one has a small appetite, swallowing difficulties or specific nutritional needs, ask how these would be managed.
What Activities Are Available?
Activities should be meaningful and appropriate for different interests and abilities. They do not always need to be large organised events. Gardening, music, baking, conversation, gentle exercise and individual hobbies can all contribute to a fulfilling day.
You might ask:
- – What activities are available each week?
- – Are activities adapted for residents with dementia or limited mobility?
- – Are there opportunities to go outside or take part in local outings?
- – Can residents continue existing hobbies?
- – Do you offer one-to-one activities for people who prefer quieter settings?
- – How do residents help shape the activity programme?
Ask whether you can see a recent activities timetable, but also consider how flexible the programme is.
How Are Medical Needs Managed?
Understanding how the home works with healthcare professionals is particularly important if the resident has ongoing medical needs.
Questions may include:
- – How are medicines managed?
- – What happens if a resident becomes unwell?
- – How do you contact GPs, nurses, dentists, opticians or other professionals?
- – How are families informed about changes in a resident’s health?
- – Can residents keep their existing GP?
- – How do you prevent and manage falls, pressure sores or infections?
You should also ask how emergencies are handled and whether staff are trained in first aid.
How Do You Support Residents With Dementia?
When looking for dementia care, ask how staff support residents who may experience confusion, memory loss, anxiety or changes in behaviour.
Helpful questions include:
- – What dementia training do staff receive?
- – How is the environment designed to support orientation and independence?
- – How do you respond when a resident is distressed?
- – How do you learn about a resident’s personal history?
- – Are activities tailored to different stages of dementia?
- – How do you support relatives and friends?
Good dementia care should focus on the individual rather than the diagnosis alone.
How Are Families Kept Informed?
Clear communication can provide considerable reassurance, particularly when relatives do not live nearby.
Ask:
- – Who will be our main point of contact?
- – How often will we receive updates?
- – How are concerns or complaints handled?
- – Are family meetings held?
- – Can relatives contribute to care-plan reviews?
- – How quickly will we be contacted if something changes?
You should feel comfortable raising questions and confident that your concerns will be taken seriously.
What Is Included in the Cost?
Care-home fees can vary, and it is important to understand exactly what is included before making a decision.
Ask for a clear written breakdown covering:
- – The weekly or monthly fee
- – Any deposit or advance payment
- – Personal-care costs
- – Activities and outings
- – Hairdressing and chiropody
- – Transport to appointments
- – Toiletries and personal items
- – Additional costs if care needs increase
- – Notice periods and payment arrangements
Do not be afraid to ask for clarification. A good care home should be open and transparent about its charges.
What Safety and Security Measures Are in Place?
Residents should feel safe without the home feeling restrictive.
You may wish to ask:
- – How are residents protected from falls?
- – What fire-safety procedures are in place?
- – How are visitors monitored?
- – How are accidents and incidents recorded?
- – How do residents call for help?
- – What security arrangements are in place for residents who may become disorientated?
You can also ask to see the home’s most recent inspection report and how any recommended improvements have been addressed.
Can I Speak to Residents or Their Relatives?
Speaking to residents or family members can provide valuable insight into everyday life at the home. While staff must respect privacy, they may be able to arrange a conversation with someone who is happy to share their experience.
You could ask what they like about the home, how staff respond to concerns and whether they feel involved in decisions.
What Should I Look for During the Visit?
As well as asking questions, take time to observe what is happening around you.
Consider whether:
- – Residents look comfortable and appropriately dressed
- – Staff appear calm, patient and attentive
- – The home is clean without feeling impersonal
- – Communal areas are being used
- – Residents have access to outdoor space
- – Bedrooms can be personalised
- – Food looks appealing
- – Staff knock before entering bedrooms
- – Residents are spoken to with respect
- – Call bells are answered promptly
Trust your instincts. If something does not feel right, ask about it.
Visit More Than Once
Whenever possible, visit the home more than once and at different times of day. A second visit can help you notice things you missed the first time and determine whether the same welcoming atmosphere is consistently present.
You may also wish to bring another family member or trusted friend. They may notice different details and help you discuss the decision afterwards.
Choosing the Right Care Home
There is no single care home that will be right for everyone. The best choice is a home that can meet the person’s care needs while respecting their personality, preferences and independence.
Take notes during each visit, ask as many questions as you need and avoid feeling pressured into making an immediate decision. A reputable care home will understand how significant the decision is and will be happy to provide the information and reassurance you need.
At Richmondwood, we welcome questions from prospective residents and their families. Visiting in person gives you the opportunity to meet our team, explore the home and learn more about how we support each resident as an individual.
