Checklist for Choosing a Care Home A suggested list of questions to ask and things to look for when choosing a care home Section 1: Transport, Fees and Conditions 1.1 Will your family and friends find the home easy to get to? 1.2 How much are the fees? 1.3 Is there a top-up top pay? 1.4 Can you have a short stay in the home to see if you like it? 1.5 Will you be given a written statement of what the home will do for you if you live there? Section 2: Accommodation 2.1 Are there communal sitting rooms both with and without TV? 2.2 Do you like the furniture and decoration of the home? 2.3 Is there a separate dining room? 2.4 Are doors and corridors wide enough for wheelchairs, right through the home and to the outside? 2.5 Are handrails provided in hallways, corridors and stairs? 2.6 Is a lift or stair lift provided to the upper floors? Could you use it? 2.7 Are the bathrooms near to the rooms? 2.8 Are the bathrooms adapted to help people in and out of the bath? 2.9 Will you have to share a bedroom? 2.10 Are there both showers and baths available for you to choose from? 2.11 Is the call-bell system easy for you to use whenever you might need it? 2.12 Do all residents have a bedside light that is easy to use? 2.13 Can you adjust the heating in the bedroom easily? 2.14 Can you open the window if you want to?
Yes / No £ £ Yes / No Yes / No
Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No
Section 3: Catering 3.1 What are the mealtimes? ❏ Breakfast ❏ Lunch / Dinner ❏ Dinner / Tea 3.2 What happens if you want a meal, a drink or a snack at another time? 3.3 How wide is the choice of menu at each meal? ❏ Set meal ❏ Choice of two meals ❏ Choice of three meals ❏ More than three choices 3.4 Do you like the meals that are on offer? Yes / No Section 4: Visitors 4.1 Are your visitors provided with a drink? 4.2 Are your visitors welcome to join you for a meal?
Yes / No Yes / No
Section 5: Daily Living 5.1 Can you choose when you get up and when you go to bed each day?
Yes / No
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