Checklist

Accommodation details and fees	Rooms
Find out what the home offers Make sure you are clear about the fees and what they include/exclude Find out whether you get a care plan giving details of the sort of care you will receive Find out how much input the resident/relative will have in putting a care plan together and later on in modifying it as care needs change Ask about extra charges for example, care if you fall ill, chiropody and physiotherapy Find out which GPs attend the home and whether you can keep your own GP Check what arrangements are if you go into hospital or on holiday Also check what happens if a resident dies and what arrangements are made for funerals.	Check how much privacy you will have. If you have to share a room, find out whether you have a say about who you share with If there are commodes in shared rooms make sure there are screens or curtains around them providing privacy Ask about emergency arrangements – see if each room has an alarm within easy reach Some homes give you more freedom than others. Ask how much of your own furniture and possessions you can bring with you Ask whether the room can be decorated to personal taste
Organisation of the Home	Staff and Buildings
What is the atmosphere in the home? Find out if you can get up and go to bed, and have a bath or shower, when you want Find out also how flexible the home is about menus and mealtimes Ask to see a sample menu Ask if they cater for the individual’s dietary needs If one is unhappy about some aspect of the service, ask about the complaints procedure Check on visitor arrangements Ask to see a copy of the latest inspection report as carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)	Ask about staffing levels How many staff there are on duty during the day and night? Find out whether staff are trained to deal with particular conditions, dementia for example See how staff treat residents, and if they are pleasant and respectful Look around the buildings and grounds and see if they are well maintained and cared for Inside, make sure the home looks and smells clean A garden or area for sitting outside is important, make sure it is easy to get access to See if there is good access for wheelchairs etc., look for difficult steps and check whether there’s a lift
Comunal rooms	The contract
Find out how many communal rooms there are and what they are used for (for example, whether there are separate rooms for television, sitting, reading and dining) Look at toilets and bathrooms to see if they are equipped with handles and helpful aids Find out what sort of activities are offered and how much say you have in what is organised.	Check first that the home has a written contract with residents & request to see a specimen copy. If the local authority arranges a place for you, it will have a contract with the home. Any contract should cover fees, facilities, services and level of care provided and the complaints procedure See if the contract covers reasons you could be asked to leave – for instance, because your health has deteriorated and the home can no longer provide suitable care Check how much notice you must give if you want to leave