How to choose a care home: a checklist for families
What to look at when you compare care homes, from the CQC rating and the rooms to visiting, activities and fees.
- Published
- Topic
- Choosing a care home
- Reading time
- 2 minutes
Choosing a care home is a big decision, and it often has to be made quickly, after a fall or a stay in hospital. A simple checklist can help you compare homes fairly.
Check the kind of care
Care homes are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the kinds of care they provide. Some provide personal care only. Others also have nurses on duty. Some have a specialism in dementia. Make sure the home is registered for the care the person needs now, and ask what happens if their needs change. Our guide to care homes and nursing homes explains the difference.
Read the CQC report
Every care home in England is inspected by the CQC. The report gives a rating for the home overall and for five questions: is it safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? See how to read a CQC inspection report.
Look at the building
- Are the rooms single, and do they have en-suite toilets or showers?
- Can the person bring their own furniture and pictures?
- Is there a garden they can get to easily and safely?
- Are corridors wide and easy to move about in?
- How many lounges are there, and are they quiet or busy?
Ask about daily life
- How many afternoons a week are there activities?
- Are there outings, and do they cost extra?
- When can family visit? Are there set visiting hours?
- Can pets visit?
- Can the person keep their own GP?
Ask about fees
Ask what the weekly fee includes and what is charged as an extra. Laundry, hairdressing, toiletries, newspapers and outings are common extras in some homes. If the council will help pay, ask whether the home has rooms for council-funded residents. Our guide to paying for a care home explains how funding works.
Visit more than once
Visit at different times of day if you can, and take the person with you if they are able to go. Watch how staff speak to residents. Ask the questions we suggest for a care home visit.
Visiting Cedar House
Cedar House is a care home in Stanford-le-Hope for people over 65, including people living with dementia. It has 31 single en-suite rooms and one double, and visitors are welcome at any time. To come and look round, send us a message or call 01375 768505.
Thinking about care at Cedar House?
Come and look round, or call us on 01375 768505 at any time. Cedar House is at 249-251 Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope.
Come and see Cedar House
Tell us a little about who the care is for and we will call you back to arrange a visit. Or ring the home, day or night.
01375 768505Ask about a visit or a room
Fill in the form and someone from Cedar House will get back to you.