Family: Accept that placing someone in a nursing home can be distressing and different family members may have different ideas about care. Try to work together for the common good.
Look local: Choose a local or strategic location for relatives and friends you know will visit your relative.
Ask around: Talk to people you trust who have experience of nursing homes.
Be realistic: Your relative will not receive one-to-one care and will have to fit in somewhat to an existing system.
Standards: Aim for a comfortable, safe, clean, warm, friendly, happy environment throughout.
Registered: Make sure the nursing home is registered with the health board and ask if it is a member of a nursing home professional body.
Inspection: Draw up a short-list and have family members visit, including the prospective resident.
Staff: Ask about staff-to-patient ratios.
Suitability: Look for a match between what is provided and your relative's medical, physical, social and emotional needs. For example, lots of activities are irrelevant if your relative does not have the mental capacity to take part.
Contract: Take your time reading the contract provided to ensure you know what it includes, what it does not, how often fees are raised and, in general terms, by how much.
Visiting: Visit often in the early days. It may upset your relative, they may want to come home, but they need to be reassured that they are not abandoned.
GP involvement: If possible, have your relative retain their own GP, and ask her/him to call as well to help with the settling-in process.