Guide

Choosing the right care home is one of the most important decisions you can make. Making that decision can be difficult and we completely understand how you are feeling. We provide a warm, loving environment, where care is available around the clock.

Considering and Choosing a Care Home

We encourage future residents and their families to visit and spend time at our homes. You will be made most welcome and be able to see for yourself and and get a feeling if our care home is the right one.

Visits also allow you the opportunity to speak to current residents and to ask staff any questions you may have.

You may find the following points important to bear in mind:

• What is your first impression when walking into the care home? Does it feel welcoming and a happy place?
• What does the care home look like? Does the care home look clean, well decorated and engaging?
• When walking around the home are people being looked after?
• Listen and watch how people are spoken to and ask ‘does it feel right?’ Do you believe staff know the residents well and are connecting in sensitive ways?
• Ask about how staff find out about personal interests, hobbies? What sort of activities and entertainment are there?
• Do residents look happy, content and comfortable?
• Residents with dementia type illness have a different sense of reality and show different types of behaviour. Do you feel staff are responsive and know what to do?
• Is there a sense of a shared community with people living and working alongside each other, more like a family being together?
• Are residents and staff relaxed? Is this a home where people matter first and jobs still get discreetly done?
• Do you feel that the home is balanced in providing freedom, safety while residents are encouraged to live an ordinary life?
• Always take a look at the latest Inspection Report from the care sector’s regulatory body Care Quality Commission (CQC). View the latest CQC report.