Families

Age UK has on its website (as do other organisations such as the Residents and Relatives Association) a checklist of questions that a prospective resident of a care home or their relatives or representatives might ask during an introductory visit or trial stay.

Care providers should be proactive and have copies available to provide to prospective residents, confident in their own answers to the questions. It will then be useful to check with the prospective resident or representative their views on the suitability of the home.

The questions will usually cover such as:

• Location and accessibility of the home in relation to the person’s current local and situation
• The accommodation and personal facilities to be provided
• Arrangements for care and treatment while living in the home
• Catering and mealtimes, including responsiveness to special dietary needs and tastes
• Daily routines and rhythms
• Social life and relationships
• Staffing availability and caring, welcoming attitudes
• Communal areas and facilities, including accessibility
• Visiting arrangements
• Availability of support services such as hairdresser, TV and wi-fi
• Availability of technological and other aids and equipment
• Fees and Contracts

Care providers will also be looking for feedback from their prospective users from the information and visits that they make. In the interests of their business and reputation, they will want to create favourable first impressions.