
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.
Great staff.
Grandad is very happy!
Thanks!
My brother has been in the care of "The Firs" care home for around four years and has always been well looked after. He has maintained a good weight and appears happy despite his obvious dementia. He is always dressed well and kept clean.
Since being at The Firs, Dad has completely changed for the better. He was previously put on medication as the previous home said Dad was aggressive (was never), they (The Firs) stopped the medication and Dad is fine. It's so nice to see him happy again, and he joins in activities and goes around singing. His care is so good; he's always in clean clothes etc.
Excellent care home, always go above and beyond.
My nanna says she likes it here, and the people are kind.
I am very pleased with the care my aunt receives. She is always happy when I visit/FaceTime. The staff are very nice and helpful. The only issue I have had is with my aunt's personal laundry going missing, but I have brought this to the attention of the manager, and it has been resolved.
My friend moved into The Firs a year ago, since then, the home has been in lockdown in various degrees. The care and attention that he has received have been excellent, all of his needs have been met, and his condition, whilst deteriorating, has not been as progressive as it might have been; had he continued to live alone and in isolation. We would have no hesitation in recommending The Firs, all of the staff have supported him in his every need, and we cannot thank them enough.
We are always greeted with a warm welcome either when visiting before COVID or when having telephone calls or video time.
We are pleased that we have been updated with life at The Firs during Covid, the Twitter photos have helped with this, and so nice to see what they are getting up to.
Dad always lets us know how good the meals are and how well he is looked after.
The staff are professional and dedicated; they show they care by their manner and their words towards the residents; this could always be seen when we were visiting.
They are friendly and approachable, making it easy to talk through any concerns we may have.
Grandad is always really happy whenever we see him. We love seeing photos of him on Twitter doing all sorts of different activities. It is clear that he is very well cared for and the staff are always friendly.
Food waste is a scandal, too much thrown away, less food of better quality should be provided.
Lack of stimulation for clients.
Thank you for taking the time to review The Firs and we are pleased that you rate our staff as excellent. We encourage residents to personalise their rooms to suit them as much as possible. Our food is cooked fresh daily within our home and we regularly feedback from residents to ensure our menus...
Very welcoming. Nothing is too much trouble. The staff is always very polite and pleased to see you and respond to any concerns or questions with such care.
We have found dad to be extremely happy and very well cared for at The Firs. He has dementia and this is the first care home he has been in where he doesn't ask to come home from. He always looks clean, healthy and happy which is so important to us. He has a lovely bedroom which again is the first to look like a bedroom and not a hospital room. We are so happy he is happy and all the staff treat him and mum with kindness and respect.
My husband has been in The Firs since early Feb this year. I find his care and safety of the highest order. The staff are caring and helpful both to him and myself. I am made to feel welcome when I phone The Firs and also when I visit. Thank you all very much.
Excellent care for my nan. Staff are always polite, happy and caring. Great activities provided. A clean and welcoming care home. My nan is very happy at The Firs and has been for many years, long may it continue.
Always found my mother well cared for, staff extremely attentive, polite and nothing seems too much trouble for them. Sometimes during difficult circumstances and situations, they all pull together to look after the respective clients who are sometimes less than helpful but they carry on regardless and do a fantastic job in trying times. I couldn't get better care for my mother anywhere else. Thank you.
It is giving excellent care to my mother-in-law and we are reassured that she cannot be looked after any better.
Thank you all so much.
My great aunt always has a smile on her face which is reassuring and confirms she is well cared for and looked after and in this current lockdown situation, it is such a loving and caring touch that staff have family video calls so that we can keep in touch with our loved ones. The Firs also offers daily activities for the residents which on numerous occasions my children and I have joined in with when visiting. Would definitely have no hesitation in recommending to friends and family.
My mother has been in the care home for a while now and as I live overseas it was important to us that she was happy and well cared for which she is. There are lots of activities at the home, it is also not overly crowded, there is a lovely garden which my mum enjoys a lot, the staff are friendly and happy to help with anything asked. My mum had a hard time at the beginning as she could be very difficult due to her dementia but the staff were wonderful and put my mind at ease that all would be ok when she settled down, within a few weeks she was happy and settled.
My father is being treated with care and dignity and had no complaints about any aspect of Firs itself or the staff. I was made to feel welcome on my visits and spent many a happy hour there chatting to residents and staff.
Right now the staff are having to do more as no one is able to visit (our trips irregular at best of time due to distance) however the care home have increased communication levels and send a monthly newsletter so we are aware of current situation and include photos of all residents which are lovely to see now.
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.
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