Care home checklist | Visit questions | DCC
When visiting dementia care homes, focus on three key areas: staffing levels and training, how they handle challenging behaviours, and their approach to meaningful activities. These questions reveal whether the home can provide proper dementia care for your parent. Choosing the right care home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. This article provides a comprehensive checklist of questions to ask during your visits, helping you assess whether each home can meet your parents’ specific needs.
Essential questions for your care home visits
Ask direct questions about staffing ratios during day, evening, and night shifts. Many homes quote their best staffing levels but reduce numbers at weekends and overnight when families aren’t visiting. Find out how many staff members have dementia-specific training and what happens when someone is in crisis or becomes distressed. Ask to see a typical daily routine and observe how staff interact with residents during activities. Good homes will have clear protocols for managing challenging behaviours without resorting to sedation.
The quality of daily care depends entirely on having enough properly trained staff present when your parent needs them most.
Understanding staffing patterns helps you judge whether the home can provide consistent, personalised care rather than just basic supervision.
Practical questions about daily life and costs
Ask about their approach to personal care, meal times, and activities tailored to different stages of dementia. Find out how they handle residents who refuse care, wander, or become agitated. Get a complete breakdown of costs, including any extra charges for laundry, hairdressing, or additional care needs. Ask about their policy on hospital admissions and whether they can continue caring if your parent’s condition deteriorates. Some homes discharge residents when care needs become too complex.
The real test is how they respond when you ask about their most challenging situations and what didn’t go well.
These practical details determine whether the home will work for your family’s specific circumstances and budget over time.
What this means for you
Prepare a written list of questions before each visit and take notes on the answers. Visit at different times of day to see how the home operates during meals and activities. Ask to speak with family members of current residents if possible. Don’t feel pressured to decide immediately. Trust your instincts about how staff interact with residents and whether the atmosphere feels right for your parent.
Visiting care homes is emotionally demanding, but asking the right questions helps you make an informed choice. The key is finding a home with adequate staffing, proper dementia training, and an approach that matches your parent’s personality and needs. Once you’ve identified suitable options, you’ll need to navigate the application process and funding arrangements to secure a place.
Frequently asked questions
- What questions should I ask when visiting a dementia care home?
- Focus on staffing ratios during all shifts, how they handle challenging behaviours, their approach to activities for different dementia stages, and get a complete breakdown of all costs including extras.
- How many care homes should I visit before making a decision?
- Visit at least 3-5 homes to get a good comparison. This helps you understand what’s available locally and what standards you should expect for the fees being charged.
- Should I visit care homes at different times of day?
- Yes, visit during meal times, activities, and if possible in the evening to see how staffing levels and atmosphere change throughout the day.
- What red flags should I watch for during care home visits?
- Poor hygiene, residents left unattended for long periods, staff who seem rushed or don’t engage with residents, and a reluctance to answer questions about staffing or costs.
- Can I speak to other families at the care home?
- Most good homes will arrange for you to speak with relatives of current residents. If they refuse this request, consider it a warning sign about their transparency.
