
As a family we are very pleased with the level of care she receivesJoy B(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff at The Firs have been incredibly kind and helped dad to adjustM W(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The management are very approachable and very welcoming. The home has a very homely feel.J M(Brother of Resident/Service User)

As a family we are very pleased with the level of care she receivesJoy B(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff at The Firs have been incredibly kind and helped dad to adjustM W(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The management are very approachable and very welcoming. The home has a very homely feel.J M(Brother of Resident/Service User)

Anchor’s The Firs in Felixstowe is a purpose-built care home, providing quality care and facilities within a comfortable and relaxing environment.
The home continues to welcome new residents and it is set in its own gardens for customers and their families to enjoy. As well as permanent and long term care, The Firs offers convalescence, trial and respite stays.
Anchor offers dementia care and provides on-going training for staff to ensure their approach always reflects best practice.
Care Provided by The Firs
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 40 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Fees can vary depending on care needs and other factors. Colleagues at The Firs will be happy to discuss our weekly fees with you and what our fees include.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Firs for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Firs 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
Group / Owner
- Anchor
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Colleen Farrow (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2006
Room Information
- Single Rooms (40)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (40)
Visiting
- Visitors are welcome at The Firs.
Parking
- Onsite parking is available, including disabled spaces.
The Firs Reviews (143)
The Firs has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.851) out of 10, based on 29 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Firs has 143 reviews.
The Firs is one of the best homes I know. On the coffee mornings there was a lot of staff seeing to residents and visitors. The Rooms are lovely. Theres always activities, The home is clean & tidy. Lovely gardens plenty of places to sit, The staff are very friendly and seeing the residents in the garden in the sun is great.
My uncle moved into The Firs almost three months ago. He is very comfortable there and looked after extremely well. The staff are all courteous and helpful. As visitors we are always welcomed with a smile. My uncle has a problem with swallowing the kitchen staff always asks how he wants his food served. It was a big decision to enter into a care home, we know we made the right choice.
Everyone is assured of a warm welcome at The Firs. My non-dementia husband has resided there for 5 months now and some staff have made time to converse and play cards with him. He has gained weight, is less anxious with no wish to return home with me. We are all happy to see him so settled. As a strong willed man I was worried he would be unhappy but he now seems fine when we all have to leave him behind when we visit. The staff went that extra mile to give us an extra-special day on our 67th wedding anniversary with our family present. The firs is a welcome, safe and cosy home with the accent on care.
The Firs is by far the best home I have been in. It is a home from home with wonderful staff. Wonderful staff and the happiest residents very clean and comfortable. The best food.
My mum and I always say how friendly and approachable all the staff are and what a good staff team you have. My mum enjoys having chats with staff every day. We both appreciate how hard you all work and how much you have done to make us feel welcome. Everyone helps to meet my mums needs e.g comfy chair, window blinds, exercise machine, plants, a fan etc. making sure she has her paper. We are both very very grateful.
I've been to a couple of their music events, which are always so fun. We all especially love Shane, who performs there some weeks, and there always seems to be something happening to keep residents entertained and engaged
We're especially grateful to the manager, Colleen, who has been amazing and always makes us feel supported and welcome. We're so grateful to everyone at The Firs for creating such a safe, caring environment. It gives our family real peace of mind. Thank you so much
If you want your loved one's to be cared for with the dignity, warmth and compassion they deserve then The Firs care home is the one to send them to. We cannot fault the staff members we have had the pleasure to deal with. Especially the kindness and compassion towards dad and ourselves at his end of life care will stay with us always. Thank you all.
My mum has been at The Firs care home since August 2020. As a family we are very pleased with the level of care she receives not just by the carers but by housekeeping, cleaners, kitchen staff and maintenance staff as well as the management. She remains content in the midst of her confusion and this is particularly down to the high level of care she receives. Many thanks.
The staff at The Firs have been incredibly kind and helped dad to adjust and settle into his new surroundings. He is being treated with kindness and respect and is well cared for. It is a relief to know he is in safe surroundings with lovely people looking after him who he enjoys chatting with.
My sister has been at The Firs for a number of years now. I couldn't be happier with her care. She is very happy living there and the staff are amazing, always going above and beyond keeping my sister active in helping with daily tasks. The management are very approachable and very welcoming. The home has a very homely feel.
It was lovely to see very happy people. Am hoping I can still find the time to go see them all.
As you will of course know that my wife has been with you at the care home now for a year. I want to thank you all for the love, kindness and reassurance you have given to her she now looks upon and calls it her home. Both myself and my wife never though this could happen after the dreadful time she was having at home with me but within a few days she was completely calm and happy for the first time for a few months. I won't pick out any of the staff out for going the extra mile they all do. I am now reassured that as my wife walks the dreadful path of dementia your love will always be with her. Thank you all so much.
Every special occasion is celebrated in style.
My husband was very fortunate to be allocated a room at the Firs 5 months ago. He was previously in another Care Home in for 4 months & I felt he was not receiving the care expected for someone with Dementia. All staff at The Firs - Management, Carers, Catering, Cleaners etc. have all been so friendly & kind to us both also, the Management & Carers have been wonderful in supporting me through this difficult time. I am very happy to spend many hours at the Firs with my husband & now treat it as my 2nd home. It is so lovely to be able to make us refreshments in the dining room/lounge whenever we want & to be able join my husband for a meal, it's the little things like that that make my visits so much more relaxed. The social events & activities are great & varied, we also love sitting & relaxing in the lovely new Namaste Room & the gardens are beautiful.
It is a great comfort to me knowing I can go home & not worry because I am confident he is receiving excellent care.
I have nothing but good things to say about The Firs. We are extremely happy with the quality of care that our mum receives. The staff are outstanding and the home is very clean. The food is excellent, and there are plenty of activities to keep the residents entertained. We are so happy that we chose The Firs for Mum's care.
My experience has been very good, staff always attentive and helpful, every member of staff. The room is always clean and fresh. Meals are very good, especially as my husband is a vegetarian. The welcome to visitors is always very good.
Warm and friendly welcome from all staff members. The Firs oozes care and consideration for residents and visitors alike.
Since my mother has been staying at The Firs she is a lot happier. Her appetite has increased immensely. Our family have found the management and staff to be extremely polite and very helpful. The Firs we all found to be very clean and decorated very tastefully.
Wonderful staff - this was the perfect place for our dad. Friendly and welcoming - staff always willing to help with any request. Dad was well looked after and comfortable. Highly recommended. Thank you all.
My mother is always well cared for by the lovely carers at The Firs. They always treat her with respect and talk to her in a kind and friendly manner. They are aware that she likes to be among other residents and she spends most of her time in the day room which she enjoys. During her recent trip to hospital they kept me fully informed and rang me daily to ask about her progress. They were as keen as I was for her to return to The Firs as soon as she was well enough.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 16 December 2022Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledGood
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (4) & Events (0)
- 03 Jun 2026
Resident Flora Green celebrated her 100th birthday at The Firs care home in Felixstowe on 17 May, surrounded by family. Flora, who has lived at the Anchor care home for...
- 19 Dec 2025
Residents and colleagues at Anchor care homes across Suffolk are embracing the festive spirit. From crafting Christmas decorations and singing carols, to decorating trees and baking festive treats, each activity...
- 22 May 2025
Anchor’s The Firs care home in Felixstowe is celebrating the opening of its new Namaste Room, a multi-sensory room to enhance the wellbeing of residents, including those living with dementia....
There are no upcoming events for The Firs.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for The Firs.
Meet the Team (0)
There are no Team Members posted yet.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Firs
What types of Care is The Firs registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does The Firs have?
There are 40 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at The Firs?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is The Firs to the centre of Felixstowe?
1.0 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact The Firs to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Firs has an Enhanced Service -more info.