A site visit is the most important step when choosing a residential care home. You can use the areas regulated by the Code of Practice for Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) under the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance (Cap.459) as a checklist, including health care, hygiene, staffing, safety, location, premises design, structure, equipment, fire precautions, and home area.
What to observe in person
- Hygiene and smell -- check whether toilets and common areas are clean and whether there are unpleasant odours.
- Staffing and attitude -- observe whether there are enough care workers on duty and whether they treat older persons warmly.
- Bed spacing -- subsidised places have floor-area requirements per resident, so check whether beds are too tightly packed.
- Fire safety equipment -- check whether fire safety equipment appears complete.
- Activities for older persons -- ask whether regular programmes and activities are arranged.
What to ask directly
- The level of care provided by the home.
- The ratio of care workers to older persons.
- Deposit arrangements.
- The notice period for fee adjustments.
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