First impressions

• Will it be easy for friends and family to get to the home?
• Is the home convenient for shops, public transport, etc?
• Is there somewhere to sit outside?
• Did you receive a warm and friendly welcome?
• Were refreshments offered during the visit?
• Is the atmosphere homely and welcoming?
• Is the home clean and pleasantly furnished?
• Does the home smell pleasant?
• Do residents seem happy and well cared for?
• Was the home's statement of purpose made available?
• Was the latest home's inspection report available?

Care

• Can the home offer care suitable for the needs?
• How often will care needs be reviewed?
• Will the home be able to provide any future care needs?
• Are people involved in making decisions about the care?
• Does the home offer/arrange complementary therapies?
• Which doctor can a resident see?
• Are there visiting dentists and opticians?
• How often does the hairdresser visit the home?
• Can the home provide other services such as chiropody, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, if required?
• Does the home have suitable assisted bathing facilities?
• Can residents get up and go to bed when they want to?
• Will relatives be advised as soon as a resident is taken ill?
• Environment
• Is there more than one room where residents can sit or see visitors?
• Is there a quiet lounge without a television?
• Are there safe gardens?
• Are there arrangements for people who wish to smoke?
• Is there easy access for wheelchairs and walking frames?
• Are there toilets within easy reach of all parts of the home?
• Are there handrails in the toilets and corridors?
• Did you see the room that is available?
• Can residents bring their own possessions and furniture?
• Was it bright and well decorated?
• Do bedrooms have a television?
• Can bedrooms have a telephone point?
• Can residents use a telephone in privacy?
• Can residents lock their room?
• Is there a lockable drawer or cabinet in the room?
• Does each room have a call system?
• Can residents keep pets in their room and can they go in other parts of the home?

Food

• Can residents eat when they want to?
• Can meals be taken in a resident's bedroom?
• Is there a choice of menu for each meal?
• Can special diets be catered for?
• Can residents make themselves a drink?
• Are snacks available at all times?
• Are copies of current menus available to look at?
• Are the menus rotated?
• Does the chef consult the residents on their preferences?
• Can residents choose who they sit with in the dining room?
• Can relatives and friends have a meal with you?
• For residents who need help with eating, are staff trained to do this sensitively?

Activities

• Is there a weekly plan of activities on display?
• Are residents consulted on what hobbies/interests they have?
• Are special events, eg birthdays celebrated in the home?
• What form of exercise, if any, are residents encouraged to take?
• Does the home take residents on trips outside the home?
• Does the home have access to transport?
• Is it possible to take part in activities outside the home?
• Would the care home be able to help with transport to these?
• Are daily newspapers available for residents?
• Does the home have access to a library facility?
• Can residents be taken to places of worship?
• Can residents take part in the daily activities within the home, if they wish, eg cleaning, gardening, cooking?
• Is there a residents' committee?
• Can relatives/friends help with activities?
• Did you see any photographs of activities in the home?

People

• Did you observe staff being friendly and caring towards residents?
• Does each resident have a member of staff particularly responsible for their care?
• Do staff look as though they've got time to spend with residents?
• What training do staff receive?
• How do staff get to know about a new resident's background, likes, dislikes?
• Did you feel that individual needs and preferences could be met by the home when you visited?
• Are there set visiting times or are visitors welcome at all times?
• Can children visit?
• Can visitors stay overnight if they have traveled a long way or a resident is ill?

General

• Can a trial stay be arranged?
• Is there a waiting list?
• Is there a complaints procedure?
• What's included in the weekly fee?
• What's charged as 'extras'?