
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.
Excellent care of my mother, knowing she's safe and well!
The staff and carers are always very friendly and caring. My father-in-law always looks clean and well cared for.
The home is very welcoming and homely. It is always a lovely atmosphere. The carers are always ever so friendly and they look after pops really well. I would say they act and seem more like family than carers. Thank you.
My initial worries and concerns about my wife passing from care into your care have completely gone, thank you so much.
The staff are always very friendly and whenever I ask about my dad they always have a lot of knowledge about him. I feel he is being well looked after and that he is safe.
We attended the BBQ at The Firs with other members of our family to see our sister. It was an amazing day, the staff were great and the food was exceptional. Our sister had a great time as did all the residents dancing to a great singer. We are very proud of the manager and all her staff. The Firs is a great care home.
Gardens and new entrance look lovely more open and the residents love to take part feeding the birds and helping in the garden.
Recently attended a well organised BBQ with resident and families, great music, dancing and food. Staff making sure everyone is having fun and included.
Lively atmosphere, my nan attends lots of activities which she enjoys.
Very caring home. I have visited my sister several times over 3 years. I found the staff very friendly and very good at their jobs. The home is very clean and the residents are very happy with loads of activities. I would highly recommend this care home.
Spent an amazing day at the BBQ with the residents. It was an absolutely wonderful day. The manager was on hand at all times to help out first class. Great experience to enjoy my day with family there and to see how happy my sister is, happy and content there. She is so well looked after as are all of the other residents.
I had the most wonderful day. I enjoyed all aspects of my day. Looking forward to the next visit.
My step dad needed his mum closer to him and The Firs made this happen from nearly 200 miles away. Whenever I visited my step grandmother she was happy and well cared for. The staff are always friendly and management have done an amazing job.
The Firs has shown so much care and attention to my relative. The staff are fantastic from management to the housekeepers. The Firs has a homely feel and is clean.
Mum quickly settled becoming comfortable with her new surroundings, interacting well with staff and enjoying her food. Mum fell ill after five weeks, was hospitalised and was soon placed on 'end-of-life' care and returned to The Firs, ostensibly to die. Mum has since made a quite remarkable recovery, due in no small measure to the care she has received from the wonderful caring staff.
The Firs is well run, the staff are professional, warm, friendly, understanding and go about their duties with a smile. They listen and also seek your advice and keep you appraised of any concerns.
We, as a family, are greatly reassured and very happy Mum is in such good hands.
My husband was very happy at The Firs. I cannot speak too highly of them, all the staff. My dear husband who died recently was very well looked after and treated with dignity and respect.
Our father was resident in The Firs Felixstowe from February 2018 to May 2024 when he passed away. Throughout his time there, he was very well cared for. The staff were attentive and always available to talk to help. Over the years they became an extension to the family and we were pleased that it was The Firs that we decided for Dad. We have nothing but praise for all the staff and everything they did for our dad. Thank you to you all!
I cannot fault anyone at The Firs from the manager down to the cleaners. Everyone is brilliant with mum. I would recommend it to anyone.
Couldn't be happier, my nan is well cared for. Looks better than ever, is happy, well fed and warm. Staff are lovely and very welcoming. Always happy to feed us and make us drinks and invite us when there is entertainment.
They listen to what you are concerned about. Advice with things that my mother needs. Care home is very clean. My mother enjoys the food she is served.
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)
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