Questions to Ask Before Moving Into A Nursing Home

Choosing a nursing home is a hugely important and personal decision. If you’re at the stage in your care journey where you are visiting a care home, you’ve likely found a place that ticks all of your initial boxes such as location and appealing facilities. Taking an in-person tour is imperative, as it can help you distinguish which homes you or your loved one will actually feel happy and relaxed in, so it is crucial not to skip this step. In this blog post, we’ll outline the top questions to ask yourself and the staff at a nursing home, so you can gain all the information you need to choose the perfect home for you and your family.

What is Nursing Care in a Care Home?

Before choosing a care home and taking a tour, it’s a good idea to have a baseline understanding of what is generally offered. The two most common types of care are residential and nursing, and the distinction between these is important when choosing your ideal home.

Residential care offers a safe and homely environment for elderly people to live while being supported with personal care and everyday activities. This can include help with washing, dressing, using the bathroom and moving around, as well as having chores such as cooking, cleaning and laundry taken care of. It’s the ideal option for those who are beginning to find living alone more challenging, and would benefit from the reassurance of round-the-clock support. 

Nursing care, on the other hand, is designed for people with complex medical needs such as disabilities, chronic illnesses and mobility issues. It includes everything offered with residential care, on top of constant clinical monitoring and specialist support from a team of trained nurses. 

As the name suggests, nursing homes offer nursing care as standard, and may also offer dementia nursing care and palliative care, which is a type of support tailored for those nearing the end of their life. Those looking for nursing care may also consider a care home with nursing. These dual-registered care homes often offer a range of care types including residential, nursing, dementia and palliative care, and can offer additional reassurance that if your care needs change, you can stay living in the home you have settled into. During a tour of a care home, the expert staff can help you work out what type of care would be best for you.

First Impressions of a Care Home

When visiting a care home in person, your gut feeling is invaluable. Whether you’re considering the home for yourself or a loved one, the overall feel of a care home can tell you everything you need to know about whether you’ll feel at home there. Here are some of the top things to look out for during your tour:

Does it feel uplifting and inviting?

Are staff friendly, welcoming and happy to answer your questions?

Is the home clean and does it smell fresh?

Are the buildings and grounds well-maintained?

Are the private and communal spaces a comfortable temperature?

Top Questions to Ask Staff When Visiting a Nursing Home

What is the Staff-to-Resident Ratio?

Understanding how many trained care assistants and nurses are on-site is an important factor to consider when assessing a care home. This can have a big impact on the quality of personalised support, particularly for those with more complex needs who may require constant monitoring. It may also be worth asking about the level of training undertaken by staff and how often this is refreshed.

Are Nurses On-Site at All Times?

In a nursing home, it is mandatory for at least one trained nurse to be on-site 24-hours a day. However, depending on the size of the care home, you may be more comfortable knowing there are multiple trained professionals on hand to support your loved one, particularly during the night.

Many care homes have nurse-call systems in easily accessible points in every bedroom. This provides total reassurance that if support is required, it will be with a resident straight away, day or night.

Is Care Personalised to Each Resident?

Person-centred care has become a standard in many South Lanarkshire care homes, but it is worth asking how care is personalised to each resident. A bespoke care plan should be created with you and your loved ones before moving into a home that takes into account their preferences, exact care needs and preferred daily routines.

How Is Residents’ Safety Ensured?

During your tour, you could ask to be shown what security and safety measures are in place to keep residents safe and support them to stay independent. This could come in the form of wide, uncluttered hallways with regular seating to prevent falls, handrails in necessary places and CCTV at entrance and exit points in the home.

Are Residents Encouraged to Stay Independent?

A safe and secure environment can naturally boost residents’ confidence, helping them to maintain their independence and even rebuild skills. However, it is worth asking how staff encourage this with their care. For example, do they wait until asked to offer support? Do staff encourage residents to choose how to spend their time, when to get up and what to wear?

What Is Included in the Weekly Fee?

An all-inclusive care home is one where almost everything a resident could need or want is included in the weekly fee. However, it is always worth double-checking exactly what is included and what may result in extra costs.

Make sure to also ask any other finance questions you may have, based on your personal situation and the area you live in. Care home staff should explain everything clearly and simply, from how fees are paid to how much they cost.

What Are the Visiting Hours and Policies?

Maintaining a close relationship with your loved ones is crucial for our emotional health and wellbeing, and a care home’s visiting policies can have a large impact on this. If your loved one is considering a nursing home, check whether the home’s visiting hours are convenient for you, and whether you can join in for an activity or share a meal with your loved one.

Some homes have even removed all set visiting hours and instead welcome in family and friends at any time, making it easy to stay closely in touch. In this case, some mealtimes may be protected for the dignity and wellbeing of residents, so make sure to double-check if this is the case.

How Are Residents’ Loved Ones Kept Involved With Their Daily Lives?

Between visits, a resident's family should be kept up to date with their wellbeing, as well as any changes to their health or updates to their care plan. You may prefer to get more regular updates, so you can still stay closely involved with your loved one’s life. Therefore, it is vital to ask how often the care home tends to get in touch with families.

Are Dietary Needs and Food Preferences Taken Into Account?

Mealtimes are an important part of life, so it’s vital to know that residents are getting joy and the required nutrients from their food. Especially if you or your loved one has any allergies or special diets, you should feel sure that all preferences and needs are taken into account by the people preparing resident meals. Can meals be customised? Does the home have an on-site chef? How do staff support those who have difficulty chewing or swallowing?

What Activities and Social Opportunities Are Available to Residents?

Everyday life in a care home should be engaging and fulfilling, to support residents’ emotional and physical health. One of the biggest benefits of moving into a communal home is combating isolation and loneliness. Therefore, residents should be given plenty of opportunities to socialise with staff and fellow residents. Ask whether the home has a dedicated activities team, and if residents’ existing hobbies and interests are incorporated into the activity schedule.

Can Residents Personalise Their Bedrooms?

Small things like bringing in personal furniture or treasured belongings can help a care home bedroom truly feel like home. The sense of self and individuality this can bring is invaluable to a resident’s mental health, as well as making the transition into care feel smoother.

Final Tips

There are so many things you might want to know about a nursing home you are visiting, but remember to trust your instincts and talk to your loved ones about any concerns you have. If you’re still not sure, you could even book a respite care stay as a trial, so you can experience what life is like in a particular nursing home before making a permanent decision.

During your visit, write down a list of questions and take some notes about each home you visit, so you can feel reassured that you’re making the best decision for you and your family.

Moving Into a Care Home in South Lanarkshire

If you’re looking for exceptional care near Glasgow, the compassionate team at Ashlea Court would love to show you around. We offer exemplary standards of residential, nursing, dementia, palliative and respite care alongside a range of outstanding facilities to keep life exciting and relaxing. Please get in touch today to arrange a tour of Ashlea Court, and chat to our expert team about what you’re looking for in a nursing home.