Touring a retirement or care home
The questions that separate residences, and the things to notice while nobody is talking.
Use it when: You are visiting somewhere you might actually move a parent into.
Money, before anything else
- What is in the base rate, exactly?
- What are the care-level bands and what do they cost?Ask for this in writing. It is where budgets slip.
- How much notice before a care level changes?
- What were the last three annual increases?
- Is there a move-in fee or a deposit?
- How much notice to leave, and is any of it refundable?
Staff
- How many care staff are on at 3am?
- Is there a nurse on site, and at what hours?
- What is staff turnover this year?
- What dementia training does every care staff member have?
- How long has the manager been here?
What to notice, not ask
- Do staff greet residents by name in the corridor?
- Are residents out of their rooms, and doing something?
- Does it smell of anything other than cleaning products?
- Are call bells being answered while you are there?
- Is the food being eaten?
Before you leave
- Ask to see a real suite, not the show suite
- Ask for this month's activity calendar and menu
- Ask for the last inspection report
- Ask to come back unannounced, and see how they react
- Ask for two families you can phone