I looked at 16 dementia care/nursing homes for Dad, he is self funding so once we arrived at what his budget would allow I applied the following to each:
* Look over recent and previous CQC report to get a feel initially, anything noted or required improvement, have steps been taken to improve.
* Always arrive unannounced, a good home will never mind and will probably expect it.
* My criteria beyond price - look and listen, do all the staff seem kind and caring, do staff stay a long while or is there always turnover, does the home have a 'person centred' approach, interacting and respectful with residents, are they safe, do they seem looked after, are the ancilliary staff polite and respectful. I never minded being kept waiting because I could watch and listen and in a few instances had seen enough in 5 mins to know it wasn't the home for our dear dad.
* Passing urine smells ok but overpowering urine smell not.
* Guage whether the manager and staff have a 'can do flexible' attitude rather than a rigid 'this is how we do it' one.
* I gave a scenario of dad's behaviour and ask the manager how they would handle it, gives you an insight into their understanding of dementia or in some cases, lack of.
* Look beyond the material - a home needs to be functional and it should be in decent repair but if the above criteria are satisfied then a little 'tired' isn't so important.
* Some homes although saying they took all dementia stages, clearly couldn't handle some types of moderate behaviour, they cherry picked early or very compliant behaviour so check they are capable and understanding of the later stages so the home can take the sufferer to end of life.
* Remember your final decision may be a compromise probably no one home will answer or provide everything in an ideal world.
* My local council (Kent) provided a very good directory of all providers and checklists of things to ask and look for.
Good luck, it is daunting and tbh a little depressing but stay focused you will soon pick up on looking for things important to you and will get a feel for which homes are suitable and which are not.