Top tips for choosing a care home

From the section: Care homes

In this section:

Top tips for choosing a care home

Before you move into a care home, it’s important to think carefully about what’s right for you. 

If you have completed a needs assessment and we have identified that your needs would be best met by moving into a care home, we will find a suitable care home for you.

Choosing the right residential care for you

Our care homes page provides information on the types of care homes and how to find a care home in Solihull.  

We suggest visiting the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website to check the most recent care quality report. 

For advice on choosing a care home, you can contact our Community Advice Hubs by telephone or email or make a visit to speak to someone in person.  

You can find further guidance on choosing the right care home for you at Age UK.

What to consider when choosing a care home 

Ensuring you get the best possible care is the most important thing when choosing a care home.  

We’ve put together a list of important considerations to help you decide, using information from trusted organisations such as the NHS, Citizens Advice, Age UK, Carers UK, and BBC. 

Consider the location

Is the care home located: 

  • near to friends and family
  • near to the shops and places you like to visit such as cafes, cinemas and libraries
  • in a quiet area 

Consider the focus

Does the care home: 

  • listen to its residents and make appropriate changes, or
  • expect its residents to adapt to it 

Consider your lifestyle

Does the care home: 

  • allow pets
  • allow you to come and go as you please or have a strict time policy
  • allow you to have visitors easily
  • offer regular outings and activities  

Consider opportunities to have your say

Does the care home: 

  • allow you to take part or have a say in how it is run
  • offer open channels to communicate with staff and other residents 

Consider your culture

Does the care home: 

  • cater for your cultural, ethnic and religious needs
  • have staff who can meet your language needs
  • cater to your dietary needs 

Where possible, we would always recommend visiting the care home beforehand. Some care homes also allow you to stay overnight to help you decide if it’s right for you.  

What to look for and what to avoid

Each care home has its own way of working.  

Below we’ve listed some guidance on what to look for and what to avoid when choosing a care home.  

What to look for

Look for care homes that:  

  • offer new residents and their families or carers an extensive guide to the home in a variety of accessible formats
  • train its staff highly, particularly when specialist care is needed
  • have experienced and well-trained staff who have worked there for a long time
  • have staff who know the residents well and are friendly, supportive and respectful
  • involve residents, families and carers in decisions
  • support residents to be independent
  • offer a good choice of tasty and nutritious food
  • provide a variety of leisure and social activities
  • are clean, bright and hygienic
  • respect the privacy, modesty, dignity and choices of each resident
  • are accredited under the Gold Standards Framework for end-of-life care 

What to avoid

Avoid care homes that:  

  • have a code of practice which is not followed by staff
  • fail to listen to or consider the needs and wishes of its residents
  • fail to update or properly manage and adapt care plans for residents
  • allow staff to enter the private rooms of residents without knocking
  • have staff who talk about residents around other people
  • deny residents their independence
  • have staff who do not interact with residents
  • are in a poorly maintained, decorated and/or cleaned building 

Report a concern

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of an adult with care and support needs, report it immediately either online or by calling us on 0121 704 8007. 

Report a concern 

Alternatively, you can report your concern to: