For families
Questions to ask before you choose a care home
A practical list to take with you, covering staffing, medical cover, fees, and what happens if needs change.
Questions to ask before you choose a care home
Most families visit two or three homes and come away with a feeling rather than a comparison. A written list helps, because the questions that matter are the easiest to forget while you are being shown around.
The three that decide it
Staffing, medical cover, and what happens when needs change are the areas that determine whether a placement lasts. Fees matter, but a home that cannot meet the need is expensive at any price.
Ask about
Who is clinically responsible, and whether they are on site
What happens overnight, and who is in the building
What would trigger a move, and who makes that decision
Ask about fees last, and ask what is included rather than what it costs. A lower headline figure with everything charged separately is rarely cheaper.
Before you leave
Write the answers down while you are still in the car park. Homes blur together faster than you expect.
