Ok here goes...
On arrival look for these points...
How does the place smell? Fresh, wee etc?
How does the entrance feel?
How does the manager approach you?
Secondly as you are shown around, look at these points...
Are the residents just slumped in chairs with no interaction?
Does there appear to be a fair few staff?
Is the buzzer system going off and no one appears to be answering it?
Is the place clean?
Whats the menu like?
What are the main toilets like?
Do they use nhs pads, or buy their own in? Is there a limit on so many pads per person?
Are they full?
Is there just tea and coffee on offer at drink times or is juice or other liquid offered too?
Is the majority of people in there suffering from dementia? This is important as your mum will need to mix with other residents, and its good if there are people in there in the same mind set as your mum.
Are toiletries provided in the cost?
Will update this later as my child is moaning for my attention! 