The Department of Health's National Minimum Standards include guidelines about the recruitment, training and control over staff in UK care homes. Both care home managers and staff have to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check and become checked against the Protection of Vulnerable Adults register before they're employed, to ensure that they don't have previous convictions for abusing the elderly.

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Care home managers and staff ought to be well-trained, conscious of safety and health procedures, and comprehend the individual needs of the residents' they take care of. The care home manager also needs to ensure that you will find enough personnel working to supply adequate care for residents, particularly during the night. When the care home is one that provides nursing (an elderly care facility), the manager must also make sure that appropriately qualified staff members are on duty all the time.

However, it's wise to go to any care home that you're considering prior to making your decision. After that you can observe how the staff treat the residents and get any queries you will probably have.

Here are a few items to consider during your visit:

Do employees and the care home manager seem friendly and approachable?
Do the staff seem overworked? Do there appear to be enough staff working, and will they appear to have time for you to speak with the residents?
How do the personnel address residents? Will they appear to be speaking with them with respect?
Do the staff seem to be helping residents to complete things rather than simply doing things on their behalf? Do they appear to be helping them discreetly and respectfully?

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You may also wish to ask the next questions:

Will a specific employee be invested in you to care for you when possible?
What training and qualifications do the staff members have? This is particularly important for those who have a medical problem that needs special care or other specific needs.
If English isn't the first language, do they have anyone working for them that can speak your first language?
Does the concern home also provide domestic staff - are the carers expected to carry out any domestic duties? If the carers have the effect of cleaning, washing or cooking, then they might not have just as much time for you to spend with the residents.
Will employees enable you to move about the house if you have difficulty doing this on your own? Can they enable you to brush your hair, eat or make sure that you took any medication, if necessary? Will a member of staff have the ability to accompany you if you want to take part in an activity outside of the care home?
Do personnel respect residents' privacy, for instance, by knocking on the door before they enter a resident's room, or by asking a resident's permission before showing their room to prospective residents?