Mount Olivet Nursing Home's entrance and driveway, with hanging baskets either side of the door

How to Choose a Nursing Home

The lawn and garden seating area at the back of Mount Olivet, bordered by flower beds

Choosing a home for your loved one is one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make.

There are several factors you should consider when choosing a nursing home, and at times, it will feel like there isn’t much external support or information to help you with this process. However, please be assured that if you look in the right places, several organisations can help you to make this decision.

We have three “Go To” golden rules for choosing a care home. These are:

Is the fabric of the building in good repair?

If the building looks well presented on entry (check window frames etc.) and the interior is decorated nicely with evidence of ongoing maintenance (wheelchairs and painted walls don’t often mix but should be kept on top of!), you’re off to a good start!

Does the home smell?

There’s no excuse for that lingering smell often associated with care homes. Any good quality care home would know how to deal with accidents quickly and with minimal fuss to maintain dignity and ensure a clean, fresh living environment for all our residents. Accidents happen, but you shouldn’t see evidence of the situation.

Are the staff happy?

When you walk around any home, staff should be happy and offer you a “hello”. It is a sign that they are satisfied with their work and are more likely to provide loving care to you or your relative.

The Mount Olivet care team together in the conservatory

Where to find help choosing

Sometimes it can feel like an impossible task just to get to this point. So if you are unsure of how to identify appropriate homes to consider, you can:

Contact your local Adult Social Service, who will be able to provide you with an approved “List” of homes to look at.
Look online at the home’s website.
Look at the home’s entry on carehome.co.uk, where you can read real reviews from family members and service users.
Review the home’s latest report on cqc.org.uk – read our report here.
Ask around – you never know who at your local shop will have first-hand experience of care homes in the area!

Please don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re being shown round and call up after with all the questions you forgot to ask during your visit.