Checklist of questions to ask a care home on behalf of an elderly relative.

Take a photo of the care home before you enter, so that subsequent photos will remind you which home you visited.

1. How is food cooked? Is it freshly prepared on the premises, frozen or delivered?
2. What time is food served, and is there a dedicated dining room? Can your relative eat in their room if preferred? Are mealtimes flexible? Are special diets catered for? Can residents prepare their own drinks and snacks?
Can residents choose what and when they eat?
Does the home cater for relatives and friends to eat with residents?

Is there a garden and outdoor space? Is this space accessible for residents with dementia?
If your relative is a smoker? Are there dedicated areas?
How many lounges are there, and is there one without a TV?
What activities are taking place in the communal lounges while you are visiting?
If your relative has reduced mobility, are there handrails/a lift/ramps?
What are the languages spoken in the home?
Does the home encourage residents to take as much responsibility as possible and make their own decisions about how they live their lives?
Are there visiting times?
To what extent can residents bring in their own personal possessions? Can they bring in their own bed, for example?
Can residents choose their own wake-up and bedtime times?
Is there a telephone point in the room?
Does the room have an en suite shower/wet room?
What is the view like out of the window?
What size is the room?
Is it just a bedroom that is being offered, or is there a kitchenette?
Does the home have apartments with separate bedrooms and living areas?
What floor is your relative likely to be living on? Usually, residents with dementia are on the first or second floor. Ensure there is outside space or that residents are regularly taken out for fresh air.
What activities does the home offer? (Take a photo of the activities board.)

Are books available, and can newspapers be delivered?
How are valuable items kept secure?
Do residents have their own GP?
Is there a residents' committee?
Are toilets available and accessible throughout the entire home?
Can wheelchairs be used everywhere, including outdoors?
How often can residents have a bath, and is the bathroom warm and welcoming?
Is there a hairdresser? Are other services available, i.e. a manicure or massage?
Do chiropodists/opticians and dentists visit the home regularly?
Does the home provide end-of-life care, or would the resident need to move if their care requirements changed? Can a relative stay overnight if necessary?
Does the home offer respite care or a ‘try before you buy’ option?
What are the staffing ratios? These vary depending on the type of care offered.