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

Facilities and professional care and an ability to lead a semi-independent life and to not always be required to join in

Having worked in care homes for many years, my advice to anyone is to inhale as you walk in and if there is even a hint of a small of wee, turn around and walk out.

Do the staff look happy? Are they helpful? These are key things to look for.

If the regime of a care home is primarily based on cost cutting, then the owner will be mean and the staff won't be happy.

When you are an old person in a home, you want to make friends with your carers. You don't want to see them coming and going all of the time. You don't feel safe with strangers.

I'd make sure that the residents look happy and look well cared for before considering it for myself or a family member.

Happy residents, clean facilities, friendly staff.

I have had some experiences of nursing care homes with my elderly relatives.
What I look for is a clean, tidy home, friendly pleasant staff, a stimulating environment - not just leave residents in the livng room staring into space and nothing going on as I have seen in one place.
Staff sensitive to individual needs, choices with food, drinks, clothes. Staff taking time with residents and being patient. Residents being able to make decisions about their care, bedtimes and having access to food and drinks when they need them, not just at set times.
Also it would have to allow family to visit often.

Happy residents and smiling staff

It has to be a place where residents feel happy, safe and at home. Staff should be cheerful, patient, but a wee bit firm if needed. Visits from family should be welcome at any time. Outdoor areas should be well maintained and the residents involved if they wish, eg tending to plants or growing vegetables for use in the home.

I have no relatives but can only think of myself, as I have a life limiting progressive illness that will require end care. I often think I would like honest caring staff who are kind and not over worked. With maybe the chance to have my own space if needed.

Easy access for visiting by family and friends is essential for me and flexibile and genuine staff. A garden to sit out in is a must - to ensure you can get some fresh air.

Approachable, professional staff. Residents I could relate to.

Good good with choices and being able to have a coffee when I wanted.

Plenty of opportunity and choice of activities.

Near home so that family and friends could visit.

Professional but friendly staff, happy comfortable residents, clean well looked after building/grounds/furniture/linen etc, nutritious tasty food, lots of activities and music but also quiet spaces. Preferably close by so it's easier to visit.

I'd look for happy residents - people mixing and chatting to staff and other patients.

Recommendations from friends
Happy residents
Staff that look happy and stress free, who have genuine empathy
Beautiful garden residents can access
Daily activities and regular day trips.
Appetising and tasty meals
Residents treated with respect

To be able to feel like at home, relax, have a lovely clean bedroom and someone to chat to and not to be afraid to leave their room.

- The Staff
- The location - how close it is to us
- The Other residents
- The cleanliness
- The food
- The activities

Cleanliness definitely but also atmosphere and how happy the residents seemed. I think you definitely get a 'feel' for a place so gut instinct would be important.

When we were looking for a carehome for my Nan, we were looking for a home which was not too big, more if an intimate setting where there would be more one-on-one care. Clean, lots of activities to keep nan occupied, friendly caring staff, happy residents, we wanted to see how the staff interacted with the residents, to see how they treated them but also to see how the residents interacted with them to see how their relationships were. How big the rooms were, how comfortable they were etc. What kind of food was supplied - were special needs catered too if needed?

The top 3 things I'd look for are: happy, well presented residents and staff, overall cleanliness, minimal rules on what and when residents can and can't do anything

Great surroundings (grounds/gardens), comfortable accomodation, attentive staff, relaxed atmosphere.

I would be looking for cleanliness above all so that the smell of urine is not present and neither should there be the ubiquitous air freshener smell with all it's toxicity.
Caring attentive staff with time to actually look after the residents and appropriate staff training in all the aspects of caring for older people.
A wide programme of events and social activities for those who really do want it and no hectoring of people to join in when they clearly don't want to be part of it.
To have a private en-suite room with my own décor containing personal items I want around me including my own chair and television. To be able to use my room if I prefer my own company on occasions.
Important to me to maintain my own friends and have some social life without having to fit round the home's own timetable all the time. Open visiting is important.
I would want a light and airy home with a garden to sit in, all well maintained, and which is not too far from my friends and the family, my doctor or the church, local theatre, cinema etc.

Is there such a place?

I would be looking for a clean, happy environment. Happy residents , caring staff, plenty to do and privacy.

Quality staff

The smell! If you smell stale urine, the second you step through the main door, then this is not the place for either you or a loved one.
Avoid homes with large day-rooms where bored, semi-comatose, residents are sitting on high-backed vinyl-covered chairs, whilst sporting knitted-squares 'blankets'.
Have a look at the What's On Today list. If Bingo tops the list - avoid. If Wii sports are on offer - oh yes!
Lastly, if the place feels right, then it probably will be.
Good luck in your quest.

Good ( properly trained) staff patient ratio. Good links with local nhs general practice..activities. Home cooked nutritious attractively presented food.
Outside recommendations

friendly staff, the personal touch, clean environment, lots of activities and in a good location.