What do you / your loved ones look for in a care home? Share your thoughts with CQC - £300 Love2Shop voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

cleanliness and plenty of activities

There are a number of factors to take into consideration when looking for a care home. These are:

1. Ensure that the home provides the level of care you or your
loved one needs, or could need in the future.
2. Location
3. Check if the home currently has any vacancies; if it has
none, find out how long the waiting list is. If it has a long
waiting list and you are looking for a home with availability
now, then you may want to look elsewhere.
4. Cost of care
5. If the home has a brochure, take a look at it before or
during your visit.
6.Read the most recent inspection report for the home.
You can ask the home for it, or you can look for it on
the regulator’s website.

Obviously when its a loved one you want the best care so even going by word of mouth from people who have a relative in a care home who praise it, may be worth the look.

The CQC rating, happy staff, hands-on management, care and attention

I'd look for understanding staff that are well trained in all aspects of care. Seeing residents happy, healthy and interacting with staff and each other.

Happy residents, cleanliness, staff that care and a good set up

We looked at many homes before we found one we were happy with for our Mum. A homes that is cleaned properly, and kept in good order does not smell, so many do.

We expected and found a home where their were sufficient staff, with nurse, care, housekeeping and catering all with their own roles. Two full time activity co ordinators, who covered a full 7 days a week so there were always interesting things happening. Caring knowledgeable staff trained to understand dementia, a great menu choice everyday. Ensuite shower room, daily shower given. So many essentials, basically we expected a five star service as you would get in a hotel. We were paying and using money our parents had worked for over a life time, so we were customers, and we should all expect to be treated as any hotel guest would expect with respect, dignity, in control and choice.

I look for a homely atmosphere and where the residents are clean, nicely dressed and well-cared for, and engaged in activities. I think that being given a full tour, meeting staff and residents along the way, so that I could see the home had 'nothing to hide'!

As a retired care home manager ( although not for older people ) I think you should be looking for
1) Appropriately trained staff
2) Awareness of residents individual needs
3) Low staff turnover
4) Ongoing staff training
5) Respect, dignity and privacy for everyone
6) The home environment is appropriate and not institutional in decor/furnishing
There is so much which can be achieved by a committed staff team with the support of families which is vital

Ask friends, and other people you know to recommend care homes. See if people are happy with the service their getting.

When you find a care home It always helps to go for a few visits and ask the residents how they like it and see if they are getting proper care. Look at the appearance of the residents, are they well kept do they seem engaged or happy?

Look at the staff and see if they seem good natured, kind, interested in their job. If they love their job you know they'll take good care of you and your loved ones.

I'd make sure the care home had good facilities, that they have activities for the residents, like bingo nights or day trips. Do they have a hairdresser? Do they have adequate health care if they need it? Help with medication etc

These are just at the top of my head, the whole list would be long because it's really important you get the best facilities and care possible.

the atmosphere, the smell, activities, and the friendliness of the staff

Kindness and patience.

Warm friendly atmosphere, cleanliness, caring staff, nice meals, opportunity for residents to join in activities if they would like,location near to close family

We look for staff who care , and a well organized setup.

For me it is smell and cleanliness. If the home smells badly and the residents are unclean (feaces in nails) there are major issues. I also check online.

WELL TRAINED CARE STAFF

Liveliness not just parked in front of ONE TV
Books around to read
Good varied meals
Trips out
Nice Gardens to sit in
Plenty of caring well paid staff.

My list when I have chosen in the past for relatives is -

Cleanliness
Staffing ratios
Staff attitudes
Facilities (eg: garden, activities)
Location (local)
Last CQC inspection result (though this is not the be all and end all)
Rigidity of rules (eg: visiting times, bedtimes)
Being welcome to visit for unplanned times - I don't want a "show"
Mealtime plans - quality of food, quantity, how those who have mobility issues are helped etc

All these pointers have stood me in good stead in the past.

When my sister and I were looking for a suitable dual purpose care home for our mum who had Parkinsons disease with dementia, we were initially quite shocked by what we found. Shabby, depressing rooms - an overpowering smell of urine - residents sitting facing a TV with no interaction amongst anyone - an ambience of sombre routine.
Feeling a sense of hopelessness, we were greeted by smiling staff on our final visit where there was a lot of laughter and positivity. The rooms were bright, airy and cheerful and all faced onto pretty, well maintained gardens. There was an active and modern programe of social events. We were shown a delightful room which provided hairdressing and beauty treatments. The dining room was inviting with good quality cutlery and crockery and the menu looked tempting. Lastly we were offered tea or coffee in the lounge or a drink in the residents' bar where the manager told us: "We can never make this the same as anyone's home,but we try the best we can to come close to it."
We knew then that we had found the right place for our mum.

Somewhere local, nicely decorated, fairly priced, lots of activities, clean and very recommended.

Read the official reports certainly, but go with your guts - is it clean and does it smell right? Are the staff and other residents happy? Homes vary so much and it's really difficult to tell which one will be best for each person, so bear in mind the disposition of the new resident as well.

Staff who give the impression they really care and engage with residents. Plus an interesting, up to date range of activities and facilities - gone are the days when the elderly want to sit around singing songs from the war and playing dominoes. Clean and fresh is crucial with a homely, not clinical, feeling. Plus, I love to see a fish tank and would love a care home cat or dog plus, possibly a small children's play area in the grounds so grandchildren or great grandchildren can visit and be entertained which through watching them enjoy themselves also gives pleasure to other residents.

The most important thing is that the staff actually care would hate my relative to be looked after someone who was just doing a job.The home should look clean and the residents happy,there should be plenty of activities for people to do and freedom of choice,no set bedtimes or being woke up early.There should be a good varied menu and visitors allowed anytime.

no horrible urine smell when you walk in the main door, but not an refresher smell either. Staff who will stop and talk to you when you are walking around, gardens that the residents can get in to, not just Tv rooms. Activity's going on, and not to many bells getting ignored! Baths/showers everyday when wanted, and temperature thermometers on taps.Also i would want to know about size and look of meals.I would see if people could take there pets too.

Clean and tidy (not a strong unpleasant odor)
Able to go for a look around at any time (we were told we couldn't go to look around at a certain time because they were toileting? Surely not all at once??)
Friendly and caring staff
The general feel you get in a place

I would want to see that the residents' medical needs are met adequately. Also, that food is of a decent standard and that there are social activities going on.
One of my fears is ending up in a care home and being left to suffer.