Visiting a care home: the questions to ask (and red flags to watch for)

A brochure and a website can only tell you so much. The real test of a care home is how it feels when you walk through the door — and what you notice when you look closely. This is a practical guide to visiting well: what to ask, what to watch, and the warning signs that should give you pause.

Before you go

Look up the home’s latest inspection report — Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) in Wales, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England — and read recent family reviews on carehome.co.uk. Jot down a few questions specific to your loved one. And take someone with you: two sets of eyes notice different things, and it helps to compare impressions afterwards.

If you can, visit at a normal, busy time — late morning or around lunch — rather than a quiet, carefully chosen slot.

Questions to ask

About care and staffing

• What’s the staff-to-resident ratio, and how does it change at night?
• Is there a registered nurse on site, and when?
• How do you create and review each person’s care plan, and how are families kept involved?
• What’s your staff turnover like? (Settled teams are a very good sign.)

About daily life

• Talk me through yesterday — what did residents actually do? (Vague answers about “lots of activities” tell you little.)
• Can residents choose when they get up, go to bed, and how they spend their day?
• What’s the food like, and what happens if someone doesn’t like a meal or has dietary needs?
• How do you help a new resident settle in?

About health and the future

• Which GP, district nurses and other professionals visit?
• What happens if my relative’s needs increase — can they stay?
• Do you provide end-of-life care, or would they have to move?

About visiting and money

• When can family visit? (The best answer is “any time.”)
• Exactly what’s included in the fee, and what costs extra?

What to notice while you’re there

The unspoken signs often tell you more than the answers:

• Are residents up, dressed, engaged and comfortable — or parked in front of a television?
• Do staff greet residents by name, warmly, and make eye contact?
• Does the home feel clean, calm and homely — and does it smell fresh?
• Is there life — conversation, laughter, activity?
• Do current residents and their visiting families seem happy? (Ask them, if you can.)

Red flags to watch for

• Fixed visiting hours, or being asked to phone before visiting.
• An unpleasant smell, or areas that feel neglected.
• Residents who seem bored, sedated or ignored.
• Vague or defensive answers about staffing, activities or care plans.
• Reluctance to show you a recent inspection report.
• High staff turnover, or agency staff who don’t know residents.

After the visit

Trust how it made you feel. Could you picture your loved one being happy and known there? If you’re torn, visit again — ideally unannounced. The right home will be glad to see you.

When you’re ready, read our guide to how to choose a care home, browse our homes, or arrange a visit — every BIRA home welcomes visitors any time.