Choosing the Right Care Home

Choosing the right care home, whether for you, or for a friend or relative is an important decision and one that can be a little daunting. There are many excellent care homes, the key is to find the one where the person who will make their new home there will feel most comfortable and relaxed.

All care homes have their own unique feel so one of the best pieces of advice is to visit as many homes as you can. A good home will be happy to show you around and will spend some time explaining what they offer.Some Care Homes will be small and intimate, others more like a hotel, some are in the middle of a town or city, others in the countryside - there will always be a place that suits the personality and requirements of the person concerned.

To get started in finding the perfect care home for your needs, here are some suggestions:

·         If possible get personal recommendations, perhaps from friends, family, a GP or a Ward Manager or Sister who have had experience of the home first hand

·         The Care Quality Commission oversees all homes in the UK. Their website is a useful resource and contains both ideas for some of the things you should ask prior to a visit and also individual reports for each care home

·         When you visit the home make a point of talking to staff and residents if you can. They will be able to give you a feel for the day-to-day atmosphere - what the food is like, what kind of activities are on offer etc

·         Print off the checklist linked to this page to make a note of the answers to your questions - don't rely on memory as there will be a lot to take in!

·         Try and arrange for the potential resident to spend a day at the care home that seems the best fit before making a final decision

Click here to download our checklist of questions to ask when visiting a home'