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Crouched Friars

103-107 Crouch Street, Colchester, Essex CO3 3HA
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Crouched Friars, Colchester
Crouched Friars, Colchester
Crouched Friars, Colchester

Ideally located in the heart of Colchester, Britain’s oldest recorded town, Crouched Friars is just a one minute stroll from the town centre shops and amenities.

The sympathetically restored part Grade II listed home supports a small community of residents and their priority is in delivering care that maintains the dignity and individuality of each person, providing both physical and mental stimulation for those with residential care needs. Crouched Friars is...  

Care Provided by Crouched Friars

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 56 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Day Care

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Close to Local shops
  • Near Public Transport
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Television point in own room

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

Type of carePermanentRespite
Residential CareFrom £1,350From £1,350
Residential Dementia CareFrom £1,350From £1,350

Contact Crouched Friars to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:

Funding Types Accepted

  • Self-Funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top-up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Good to Know

Owner

  • S A & J O Care Ltd
  • Private Owned

Person in charge

  • Paulina Eagle (Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Information

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No
  • Last Refurbishment: 2022

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (56)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (50)

Visiting

  • Due to Covid restrictions, please contact the home prior to any family visits.

Crouched Friars Reviews (57)

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9.7

Crouched Friars has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.716) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Crouched Friars has 57 reviews.

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Showing 57 reviews matching selected criteria
Review from Joan P (Sister-in-law of Resident) published on 22 February 2024 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

When my sister was no longer able to care for my brother-in-law who had dementia, we found Crouched Friars, who took over the caring. My brother-in-law fitted in straight away, he was happy there, which made us feel we did the right thing, on every visit they made a fuss of my brother-in-law and his lovely lady. A month ago my brother-in-law was taken to hospital, unfortunately it was serious, he was welcomed back to his second home, the care he received in his last days was amazing. It would be unfair to mention any names, the whole team deserve our thanks from his loving family.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you for your amazing review of Crouched Friars. Your kind words will mean a lot to all who cared for your brother-in-law.

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Review from Richard P (Son of Resident) published on 22 February 2024 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Mum, who suffers from Vascular Dementia, has now been in Crouched Friars for 3 months. All the staff are kind, considerate and patient with a sense of humour. As a family, we couldn't ask any more of Crouched Friars and are happy we have found such a good place for Mum to spend the rest of her days.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you, Richard, for your kind words on the care your mother receives. All at the home appreciate the positive review.

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Review from Fiona B (Daughter of Resident) published on 22 February 2024 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
The atmosphere is great at Crouched Friars, and I am aware that the residents take part in activities. The staff are friendly and interact with family and staff.

The home is always clean and tidy and does not have the usual care home off-putting smell.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Many Thanks for your wonderful review; it's appreciated by all at Crouched Friars.

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Review from Patricia L (Wife of Resident) published on 19 October 2023 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I recommend the home to everyone I speak to.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Many thanks for your wonderful review of Crouched Friars, it is appreciated by all.

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Review from Jonathan A (Son of Resident) published on 23 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
We are so pleased we found Crouched Friars.
Mum has dementia and the staff there go out of their way to make sure she is looked after, safe and importantly happy.

Well done to the manager and all of the staff for your incredible work.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

It's very much appreciated your kind words on Crouched Friars residential home and the positive feedback you gave on the manager and her team.

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Review from Josephine S (Sister of Resident) published on 22 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My sister has dementia and is unable to live independently, she has been staying here since December 2020. I am very relieved she is in such caring hands I honestly can't find a single fault with how she has been treated and looked after, the staff (especially the staff on the dementia unit and the manager) attend to all her needs as nothing is too much trouble for them, the staff are very friendly and always happy to assist with any care, outstanding in every way.
The entire home is clean, fresh and tidy, and my sister's room is beautiful, having been personalized with her items and pics, the entire home is well decorated and smells clean and fresh. The food served is excellent and delicious.

Management is amazing, and this is reflected in the care given and the patience and warmth every member of staff showed, this is what all care homes should be like a wonderful excellent environment.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you for your wonderfully positive review of the care home. It's a real credit to the team at Crouched Friars and all they do that we get such nice feedback.

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Review from Selina H (Granddaughter of Resident) published on 20 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Care homes get a bad press however Crouched Friars is so much more than a care home it is quite simply a home from home. Even before my grandmother arrived the staff went above and beyond to help me prepare her room for her. The friendly very accomodating assistant manager allowed me to choose a different room to the one allocated. The lovely man in maintenance was so patient hanging all of my nan's pictures on the wall. The lady from housekeeping couldn't have been more helpful. The professional yet down-to-earth manager is never too busy to take your call or reply to your email. Another wonderful member of staff is a credit to the care industry.
My nan was merely existing in her own home and concedes she wishes she'd have made the move to Crouched Friars years ago.

Despite the challenges of caring for our elderly loved ones, the staff seem genuinely happy and the fact there are several generations of the same family working at Crouched Friars speaks for itself.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you for your wonderful review of Crouched Friars Residential Home.

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Review from Patrick C (Son of Resident) published on 16 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Very kind and helpful staff. Much effort is made to engage and entertain the residents. A very caring environment. Communication is great but maybe a more efficient system could be devised for relatives to phone residents.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thanks for your fantastic review of our care home. All connected with Crouched Friars will appreciate it.

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Review from Nick B (Son of Resident) published on 15 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
I generally visit Crouched Friars each week to see my mum who is a resident at the home. There is always a warm welcome from staff and the atmosphere is always friendly amongst staff and residents.

My mum always tells me how caring everyone is in the home and she is always chatting with friends and staff. It always feels like I am going into a family home - in fact, I think of Crouched Friars as an extended family. All the staff are lovely and very caring. I know that my mum is very happy and well looked after.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

We are very happy you gave such a nice review of Crouched Friars. It's greatly appreciated.

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Review from David M (Son of Resident) published on 14 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My father has been at the home since February 21 and has settled in very well. He has had a couple of falls, one that led him to break his hip and had to be operated on, the home was excellent in their response in getting him to the hospital and a carer stayed with him until I arrived and thankfully he has now recovered from the operation. He has just celebrated his 100th birthday and the home has done him proud with a small party for family, I have no problems with the home and Dad knows he is being taken care of, and the staff are very caring and helpful.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you for your great review of Crouched Friars Residential Home.

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Review from Margaret B (Relative of Resident) published on 13 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Crouched Friars is an excellent care home. All the staff are so caring to my mother-in-law and welcoming to us too.

Crouched Friars is one big happy family and my mother-in-law is very happy there. We have a family wedding soon and the care home is going to support her there, nothing is too much trouble.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Many thanks for your wonderful review. We are glad you are happy with all Crouched Friars does.

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Review from Mary M (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 June 2023 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

Mum has been a resident at Crouched Friars since January 2023. The staff are very kind and caring in a friendly yet professional way. All areas are lovely and clean and bright and kept to a very high standard. Mum settled in very quickly because she was made to feel at home straight away and there is a lovely rapport between staff and residents who share a joke with Mum and keep her spirits up. The afternoon activities she enjoys especially if music is involved but she likes the exercise and quiz afternoons too. A lovely home for Mum to be happy and safe and cared for.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Many thanks for your lovely review of the home, it's appreciated by all at Crouched Friars.

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Review from L R (Daughter of Resident) published on 4 November 2022 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

I am very happy with the home, my dad has been at this home since August 2021 and he seems settled and very well looked after. The staff are very helpful and answer questions to the best of their knowledge and their interaction with residents, colleagues and visitors are lovely and appropriate. I cannot recommend it more highly, the home is comfortable, clean and very homely!

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you for your wonderful review of our home. It is appreciated by all from Crouched Friars.

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Review from T M (Friend of Resident) published on 31 October 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
I have visited my friend in Crouched Friars on a regular basis over the last 2 years and he always looks happy, well cared for and just loves living there. The staff are always welcoming and friendly and always engage my friend in our conversations and activities. The care home manager is simply outstanding. She always goes above and beyond the call of duty and her colleagues follow her exceptional standards. It is so lovely to see how my friend has flourished since being welcomed into the home, despite his deteriorating dementia and general health.

I feel very lucky that he is surrounded by so much love and support. Thank you to the whole team.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you for your good review of our home. The team at Crouched Friars will appreciate all the kind words you have said about the care we give at the home.

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Review from H M (Daughter of Resident) published on 27 October 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

The ethos of the home is that it is a family and that is evident every time we visit. It truly is Dad's home now and he is safe, happy and very well looked after. The effort and planning to make us feel welcome is phenomenal. We have had a number of milestone events whilst Dad has been at Crouched Friars Care Home, big birthdays, anniversaries and visiting overseas relatives and on each occasion, all the stops were pulled out to make sure we had a fantastic celebration. The garden room has been decorated for us a few times, extra effort with catering from the kitchen and staff joining in our celebrations. We really couldn't ask for more! There really are not enough words to say how thankful we are to management and all the staff at Crouched Friars for their continuing love and care for Dad.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Your kind review of Crouched Friars is appreciated by all and testimony to all at the home. Many Thanks for the excellent feedback.

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Review from Jacqui B (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 October 2022 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Seeing Mum happy and relaxed when I visit puts my mind at ease. Mum has resided at Crouched Friars Care Home since August 2021. She enjoys all the activities and I'm so happy to have had a call today that she is going out on a trip this week to a garden centre.
I am always impressed with the cleanliness and tidiness of her room and communal areas. Carers are always welcoming and show kindness and care for everyone in the room.
I have found the management and office staff always friendly, very helpful and super efficient.
Mum's room is bright and well-decorated and the walled garden is very pretty and inviting.

Happy Mum, happy me.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Many thanks for such a brilliant review of the home which is full credit to the team at the home and all the hard work they do. All connected to Crouched Friars will appreciate the kind words you have given about the care your mum receives.

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Review from Jim B (Son of Resident) published on 8 October 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My mum moved into the home earlier in the year and has settled in very quickly - the staff are taking good care of her and are happy to help get her the things she wants (a lot of fruit which they are happy to prepare for her every day, not going for the pre-prepared or tinned types). I have seen her improve during her stay, she seems happy, has made friends and has put on a bit of weight (she was very thin).

The staff also encourage her to be more mobile and active and she has gained some more independence - she definitely seems to be more of her "old self" and has regained more of her mischief and humour, which has to be a good thing! She has a lot more to talk about and her quality of life seems much better than trying to continue to live alone when she really needs the care and support Crouched Friars Care Home are providing.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Thank you for your kind words about our home. It will be appreciated by all at Crouched Friars.

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Review from Derek B (Son of Resident) published on 28 September 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
Mum was discharged from the hospital and moved into room 219 on the first floor of Crouched Friars. The room was labeled as 'waiting decoration' and all the areas of the home I saw needed decoration or a good clean! The bedroom was too small to accommodate her bed frame I'd brought in from home and when I went into the en-suite toilet to fit Mum's raised toilet seat I was quickly told not to waste my time, the room is too small to get two people in! Mum would have to use a commode (which had no toilet paper left beside it). I spoke to the Manager as soon as I could to say the room wasn't safe for Mum and the following day she fell and badly hurt her head on a large wooden radiator cover whilst trying to get to the proper toilet. Once in the hospital again I refused to let them return her to Crouched Friars.

I seldom saw carers on the first floor, took flasks of tea in as Mum was thirsty every day, and when Mum buzzed for toilet assistance the carer asked her to wait until after resident's teas had been served! Mum has mixed dementia.

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Review from Rod B (Brother of Resident) published on 18 March 2021 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience
My brother stayed at Crouched Friars for a few months over Christmas 2020, it was a step from hospital to home.
From his point of view, he felt safe, well cared for, was treated with respect and comfortable in his room.
His stay was during the Coronavirus lockdown, and I was able to speak to him with a perspex screen separating us. I was temperature checked, completed a questionnaire, wore a mask, and we both felt safe.
My contact with staff/management, in person or via the phone, was very good, always helpful and considerate.

All in all, we are happy to recommend Crouched Friars.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Rod, many thanks for your kind review. It will be appreciated by all at Crouched Friars.

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Review from Peter M (Son of Resident) published on 15 December 2020 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My father has two kinds of dementia and had come to Crouched Friars after a two-week hospital stay which had left him in a very distressed state. They settled him in really well, and he is now the happiest I have seen him for a very long time. He is stimulated and has meaningful interactions now. The home has given me excellent advice and demonstrated good communication as to what they and my father needs. I hope my father is able to spend the rest of his life here, as I feel comfortable he is under good care.

Reply from Dave Rai, Owner at Crouched Friars

Many thanks for your kind review, we are all very happy that your father is doing well at Crouched Friars and you're happy with the care he is receiving.

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Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 08 October 2022
Overall
Good
  • CaringGood
  • EffectiveGood
  • ResponsiveGood
  • SafeGood
  • Well-ledGood
Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

News (1) & Events (0)

News
  • 01 Apr 2025

    Colchester-based care home, Crouched Friars, has established a men’s social club so male residents can get together for a beer and a chat. After learning about the rise of men’s...

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events for Crouched Friars.

Awards / Recognitions (0)

There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Crouched Friars.

Accreditations

There are no accreditations posted yet for Crouched Friars.

Meet the Team (3)

Paulina Eagle
Paulina EagleJob Title:Home Manager

As Home Manager, I am responsible for the day-to-day running of the home and ensuring we are consistently delivering a high-quality care service. I have worked in care for the last 10 years and am very passionate about Crouched Friars, it’s a lovely home and we provide high-quality care.

Linda Barry
Linda BarryJob Title:Deputy Manager

As a Deputy Manager, I am responsible for the safe delivery of care, ensuring the care team are able to be person-centred and following unique care plans for each and every resident. I mentor and support all members of the senior care team to provide inspiration and confidence.

Sheila Conway
Sheila ConwayJob Title:Administrator

I’m a highly organised and friendly person, and have experience working as an administrator and accountant in previous roles. I have many responsibilities including being the first point of contact for the home, payroll and resident and personnel management. I take a keen interest in the well-being and welfare of our residents and staff.

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