The Most Important Questions to Ask When Visiting a Care Home

Choosing a care home is one of the most significant decisions for older adults and their families. Visiting care homes is the best way to assess the environment, talk to staff and residents and find out the information needed to make an informed decision. With so many options available, knowing what questions to ask during a tour can help ensure the right fit for personal preferences and health needs. This guide explores the 10 key questions and topics to consider while on a tour to find the highest quality care home for yourself or a loved one.

Before Asking Any Questions

What Are Your First Impressions of The Home?

One of the first things to note when visiting a care home is the atmosphere. Pay attention to whether communal areas are clean and welcoming, and observe how staff interact with residents and visitors. The first impression often gives insight into the overall culture and care quality within the home. Consider whether residents appear content and engaged in daily life and see if it looks like the team knows each resident as their own individual.

Our Top 9 Questions To Ask On a Care Home Tour

What Types of Care and Support Are Offered?

Understanding the specific care options available is essential for seeing if a certain facility would be suitable for yourself or a loved one. Ask the care home manager or staff what types of care are offered and the extent to which they provide them. Clarify whether personal care, medical and end-of-life care are available and how the home accommodates residents with evolving needs. It is important to understand if your loved one could transition to another type of care within the same home if their needs evolve or if they would have to move elsewhere.

Do You Use Personalised Care Plans? How Are They Made?

Personalised care is essential for well-being. Inquire about the process for creating a care plan, how staff involve residents and family members and how frequently care plans are reviewed or updated. Ensure that care plans take into account medical needs, medication management, personal preferences and any other relevant details such as dietary needs or sensory impairments. This helps guarantee that care is truly tailored to the resident, with support regularly re-evaluated as circumstances change.

What is the Staff-to-Resident Ratio and Staff Qualifications?

The number of trained health professionals on each shift plays a major role in the quality of care received. Ask about the staff-to-resident ratio, whether nurses and carers are permanent or agency and how staff qualifications align with residents’ health and support needs. High staffing levels and expert, compassionate staff are indicators that residents receive attentive and personalised care.

What Are the Daily Life and Activities Like?

A varied activities programme enriches life for residents, so choosing a care home that offers this can improve overall well-being. To get a good idea of the activities that residents take part in, you can ask to see a current or previous calendar and find out whether activities can be tailored to residents’ interests and ability levels. A good care home or nursing home will understand the importance of maintaining past relationships as well as building new ones, so it will regularly welcome loved ones into the home to get involved.

Can Residents Personalise Their Bedrooms and Bring Their Own Furniture?

A personal space is vital for comfort and identity, so customising their care home room can ensure residents feel settled from the moment they move in. Asking when on the tour means that families and residents can be prepared for the move and bring everything with them that will help residents feel supported and at home. The team should show you one of the current bedrooms to give you ideas of how you could customise this.

How Does the Home Manage Dietary Needs and Mealtimes?

By bringing up mealtimes before booking to move in, this can help you understand if the home will be able to tailor to your loved ones' needs. Seeing sample menus, learning about adaptive technologies and seeing dining areas first-hand can help you decide on the best care home. We would also recommend enquiring about how mealtimes are structured and whether there is the ability to choose food independently. Mealtime routines impact well-being, so understanding these details ensures residents’ preferences are respected and dietary needs are consistently met.

When Can Family Members and Friends Visit? Are There Set Visiting Hours?

Visits from family and friends are crucial for residents’ happiness and reminiscence. Learning about the home’s visiting hours and if there is any flexibility during certain occasions can help with knowing if it is the right care home to fit around your schedule. Ask or make note of any communal areas or private spaces where residents can spend time with loved ones and how loved ones could contact residents outside of in-person visits. The right care home will support maintaining relationships and make it easy for families to remain involved with their loved one’s care.

What Additional Services and Facilities Are Available?

Ask about the range of additional services the home offers, such as a hair salon, rooftop terrace, celebration suites, communal gardens, or sensory spaces for residents living with dementia. Some care homes will also offer GP, optician, dentist, chiropodist and physiotherapy visits at an extra cost, so this is another thing to check with the team. These details provide a sense of the home’s ability to offer a full spectrum of care and meet the unique needs of those who live there.

How Are Safety and Complaints Handled?

Safety and dignity are non-negotiable. Find out about what happens during emergencies, systems in place for keeping residents safe and how the home maintains privacy and security in both communal areas and private spaces. Also, enquire about how complaints are managed and how feedback from residents and families is used to improve services. Transparent and compassionate responses from staff can be indicative of a care home’s commitment to providing the highest quality of care.

Come and Visit Us At Marine View Lodge Care Home

At Marine View Lodge Care Home in New Brighton, Merseyside, we are proud to offer an environment built around comfort and exceptional care. Residents benefit from residential care, nursing care, dementia care and respite care, delivered by a team of experienced carers and trained nurses who prioritise their quality of life. Each resident will receive a personalised care plan, tailored personal support and a vibrant daily life filled with meaningful activities.

It is important to us that our residents stay connected with their loved ones, so our welcoming facilities and open visiting policies ensure this is possible. Our commitment to exceptional care and companionship at Marine View Lodge Care Home means residents and families can feel confident in their choice. When touring any care home, including ours, asking insightful questions and taking the time to truly explore the environment is the key to finding peace of mind when transitioning into your next chapter.

To find out more about our care home in New Brighton or to book a tour, get in touch with a member of our team. We can't wait to meet you!