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

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.

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.

WELL TRAINED CARE STAFF

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.

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

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

Kindness and patience.

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

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.

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

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'!

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.

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

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.

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

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.

cleanliness and plenty of activities

For us it's all about the second part of that word Bold: home
As long as it feels like home to them and it has high standards then it should be a good place.

Caring staff would be a must for me. When you get to that stage of life and you're in a care home you are by default vulnerable and I would want to be surrounded by people who have my best interests at heart. Autonomy and independence of choice would also be very important to me - I would like to decide what I eat and drink, when I have a wash and when I go to bed. You're paying for a service, not in a prison!

I would want to be able to take my own things with me, I'd want my own bathroom, adapted to my needs, I'd want to know who my carers are and be treated with respect by them. I'd want my carers to have time to talk to me and get to know me and my ways. I'd want to choose what I eat and have a glass of wine with it! I'd want to be able to watch the birds in the garden and to be able to help keep it tidy. Maybe I'd like to have wheelchair races with my friends! I would NOT want to be subjected to someone else's idea of suitable entertainment and activity.

I think the main things to look for would be: friendly staff who treated the residents with respect, a homely atmosphere where you feel comfortable, a wide choice of good food and plenty of activities to keep you occupied

I try and go by word of mouth and how happy the residents look

It is important to look beyond the shiny exterior that's for sure! I like to see and speak to the residents it is quite easy to see if they are happy and well carer for physically and emotionally. I would expect to see happy and available staff around. I would like to see a range of activities planned throughout the day and people engaging with each other not simply sat alone. I would expect en-suite facilities and a room with enough space, natural light and preferably a decent outlook. I would like a nice outdoor area, patio or gardens when you simply want to sit outside. Food choice and of good quality. Less of an institution with freedom to get up and go to bed as I please. Finally general cleanliness not just in the public areas but all over and it has to smell good, some care homes are just plain awful!

I think the most important thing is that the staff genuinely care for the residents and want to do all they can for them, backed up by a management team who are willing to offer the support needed for that to be possible. A clean and comfortable living environment is also important, with plenty of opportunities to socialise, and stimulating activities.

I think that having a care home that offers independence is important. Also I think it is important that they offer entertainment and activities that cater to all tastes. However the most important factors have to be cleanliness & friendliness.