What Makes a Good Care Home? Things to Look for During a Tour
Choosing the right care home for yourself or a loved one can be a very daunting and overwhelming task. It’s often an emotional time for families and can be difficult for people to know what questions to ask.
To help you choose the right care home for you or your loved one's needs, we’ve put together a list of some of the key things you should look for while touring potential homes.
What's included in the fees?
One of the most important things to ask when visiting a care home is how much it costs to stay there, and what’s included in the fees. Good, trustworthy providers will be completely transparent with you and should be able to provide you with documentation or a pricing structure to show you exactly where the money will go.
You should also ask how long these prices are fixed for and check to see if a deposit is required to secure a space.
What does my loved one get included in their room?
When touring a care home, one of the most important places to visit are the resident’s room. You should always make sure you have a list of everything that is included in the room and ask the following questions:
- Does the room come with a television or radio?
- Is there any storage space?
- Is bedding provided and how often is it changed?
- Can we bring our own furniture?
- How often is the room cleaned?
- Is there a telephone in the room?
How are the meals prepared?
The quality of your or your loved one’s diet is a very important factor to consider when choosing a residential home. When touring a potential home, you should ask if you can view the kitchens or chat with a chef to get a better understanding of how they prepare the meals.
It’s also important to ask what different drink options are available and if snacks are provided throughout the day. It’s also good to ask if they have a menu you can look at, so you can get an even better idea of the quality of food on offer.
What activities do you offer?
A great care home should provide its residents with a wide range of engaging activities. When touring a care home, you should ask what activities they offer and see if they have any scheduled that you can join in with.
If you or your loved one is thinking about moving into residential care, then get in touch with our team today to book a tour around our care facilities.
