Visiting a care home for the first time can feel overwhelming. You are trying to take in an enormous amount of information, manage your own emotions, and make one of the most important decisions of your family’s life, often in the space of an hour. Going in with a clear list of questions means you leave with what you actually need to know, rather than what was volunteered.
These 20 questions cover every area that matters, from the quality of daily care to the culture of the team, staffing levels, costs and what happens as a resident’s needs change. They are drawn from what families most commonly tell us they wish they had asked before choosing a home.
Questions About the Quality of Care
1. How is care personalised for each resident?
A good care home will talk about care plans, pre-admission assessments and how they get to know each resident as an individual. If the answer feels vague or generic, push further. Ask how they would approach the specific needs of your relative.
2. How often are care plans reviewed, and can families be involved?
Care plans should be reviewed regularly and after any significant health change. Families have the right to be part of that process. A home that is reluctant to involve families in care reviews is a warning sign.
3. What happens if my relative’s needs increase significantly?
Ask directly whether residents can remain at the home if their condition progresses, or whether they would need to move elsewhere. For residents with dementia or progressive conditions, this matters enormously. Repeated moves are disruptive and distressing.
4. How does the home manage residents who are resistant to personal care?
This is particularly relevant for those with dementia. The answer reveals a great deal about the team’s training, patience and person-centred approach. Listen for specific techniques and genuine understanding rather than a rehearsed answer.
5. How do you support residents’ emotional and mental wellbeing, not just their physical needs?
Physical care is only part of the picture. Ask what the home does for residents who seem withdrawn, anxious or low in mood. Do they have access to mental health support? How do staff recognise and respond to emotional distress?
Questions About Staff
6. What are the staffing ratios during the day and overnight?
There is no universal legal minimum for staffing ratios in care homes, which makes this question important. Ask how many residents each carer is responsible for, and whether there is always a qualified nurse on site overnight if nursing care is provided.
7. What is the staff turnover rate?
High staff turnover is one of the most reliable indicators of a poorly run home. It disrupts the continuity of care and prevents residents from building the consistent relationships that matter so much to their wellbeing. A home that is honest about this question and can explain what it is doing to retain good staff deserves credit.
8. What training do staff receive, and how frequently?
Ask specifically about dementia training, moving and handling, safeguarding, and medication management. Ask whether training is mandatory for all staff, including domestic and kitchen teams, or just care staff.
9. Is there a key worker system so my relative has a consistent point of contact?
Key worker systems, where each resident has a named member of staff who takes particular responsibility for getting to know them, make a significant difference to how settled and understood residents feel.
“When families visit our homes, we always encourage them to ask the hard questions. We would rather answer them fully upfront than have a family discover the answers after a loved one has moved in. Transparency is something we take seriously across all six of our homes.”
Blissful Care Homes
Questions About Daily Life
10. Can you show me the activities programme for this week?
Ask to see the actual programme rather than a description of it. Is it varied? Does it offer individual as well as group activities? Does it cater to different abilities and interests? Ask whether activities are genuinely optional or whether residents are expected to join in.
11. What happens for residents who prefer to spend time quietly or alone?
Not every resident is sociable or wants to join activities. A good home makes space for individuals who need quiet, solitude or their own company without making them feel obligated to participate.
12. Can residents choose when to get up, go to bed and take meals?
Rigid routines that prioritise the convenience of the home over the preferences of residents are a sign of institutional rather than person-centred care. Flexibility around daily routines matters.
13. What visiting arrangements are in place and are there any restrictions?
Families should be able to visit at any reasonable time. Ask whether there are any visiting policies, whether you can drop in without prior notice, and what happens during an infection outbreak.
Questions About the Home and Environment
14. Can my relative bring their own furniture or personal items?
Personal belongings make an enormous difference to how quickly a person feels at home. Ask about the size of the room, what furniture is already provided, and how much freedom residents have to personalise their own space.
15. How is the home designed for residents with dementia?
Even if a home is not exclusively for dementia residents, many of those living there will have some degree of cognitive impairment. Ask about signage, colour contrasts, memory boxes, safe outdoor access and how the environment reduces confusion and anxiety. Our article on the stages of dementia explains what environmental factors matter most at different points in the condition.
Questions About Costs and Funding
16. What is included in the weekly fee and what costs extra?
Ask for a written breakdown. Some homes charge separately for hairdressing, trips out, physiotherapy, incontinence products or additional nursing care. Understanding the full picture upfront prevents unwelcome surprises later.
17. What happens to fees if my relative’s care needs increase?
Ask directly whether the fee can change and under what circumstances. Ask also what the process is if you disagree with a fee increase.
18. Does the home accept local authority funded residents, and is there a third-party top-up?
If local authority funding is a possibility, this question is essential. Some homes accept local authority rates; others require a top-up from family. Knowing this early avoids difficult conversations later. Our article on who pays for care homes in the UK covers the funding landscape in full.
Questions About Safety and Governance
19. What is your most recent CQC rating and when was the last inspection?
CQC reports are publicly available at cqc.org.uk, but asking the question directly tells you something about how the home views its own transparency. Ask whether any areas were flagged for improvement and what has been done about them.
20. What is your process if something goes wrong, and how do you communicate with families?
Ask how the home handles incidents such as falls, medication errors or changes in health. Ask how quickly families are notified and how. A home that has a clear, honest answer to this question is one that has thought carefully about accountability. A vague or defensive answer is worth noting.
“None of these questions should catch a good care home off guard. If you ask all twenty and get a straight, thoughtful answer to each one, that is a home worth considering seriously. The answers tell you far more than the décor ever could.”
Blissful Care Homes
What to Watch for During Your Visit
Beyond the questions, pay attention to what you observe. Ask yourself whether residents look well cared for and appropriately dressed. Notice whether staff greet residents by name and interact with warmth rather than efficiency. Notice whether the home smells clean without smelling clinical. Notice whether your questions are welcomed or deflected. Notice how you feel walking out. Your instincts are not infallible, but they are data.
Our practical guide to choosing the right care home covers the full decision-making process in detail, including what to do after you have visited and how to compare homes effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I visit more than once before deciding?
Yes, wherever possible. A second visit, ideally at a different time of day and with a different member of staff showing you round, gives you a much more rounded picture. If possible, visit once at a mealtime to see how residents are supported to eat and how the dining room feels.
Can I speak to residents or their families during a visit?
A good care home will actively encourage this. Speaking to families who already have a relative at the home, and to residents themselves where appropriate, gives you a perspective no guided tour can replicate.
What if a home seems reluctant to answer some of my questions?
Take note of which questions are deflected and why. Some information, such as details about other residents, is legitimately confidential. But evasiveness about staffing ratios, CQC history or fee structures is a meaningful warning sign.
Is it worth visiting a home that has a lower CQC rating?
A Requires Improvement rating does not automatically mean a home is unsuitable, particularly if the issues identified were minor or have since been addressed. Read the full report rather than just the headline rating, and ask the home manager directly what has changed since the inspection.
How many homes should I visit?
Visiting at least two or three gives you a genuine basis for comparison. Even if the first home you visit feels right, seeing others confirms your instincts and ensures you have not settled on the first option simply because it was the first.
Visit One of Our Homes
If you would like to visit one of our homes and put these questions to our team, we would be delighted to welcome you. Bricklehampton Hall in Worcestershire, Broadmead in Newbury, Coppermill Care in Harefield, Hayes Park in Leicester, New Day in Birmingham and The Lindens in Milton Keynes are all open for visits and our teams are happy to answer every question on this list.
