
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.
All in all, extremely happy.
This was very much appreciated; during this sad time.
Mum has been at The Firs for well over a year, and I am really happy she is now there. She is well looked after, the staff are very friendly and attentive, also making me and the family feel welcome when we come to visit. Nothing’s seems too much trouble. The facilities are good, and her room is bright, clean and comfortable. It’s so good knowing mum is safe, and well looked after.
Extremely excellent care right from reception to Manager. Very kind and compassionate with residents and always going the extra mile. I am very happy with my mother's care after four and a half years. The only thing I wish is that she was nearer to me but she has a friend that has been the first port of all in an emergency so will want her to stay there for the rest of her life.
I have always thought The Firs at Felixstowe was brilliant but right now, during these difficult times, The Firs have shown just how brilliant they are. Weekly we pop by to deliver my mum some treats and they are always so happy to see us and they are always so reassuring at the moment when we are all at home and so worried. They now have a mobile device so we can all video call and chat and keep in touch, they call if there are ever any problems and they always seem so positive and bright. Seeing them from a distance if only for a few minutes really makes me smile. I really do believe my mum could not be in safer hands. Thank you to the manager and team for everything - you are all amazing and tonight, once again we will be clapping for you all.
All the staff at The Firs are dedicated, hard-working, professional, friendly and thoughtful. The home is clean, bright and homely. I would like to praise everyone who works there during this particularly very difficult period of time. Thank you so very much for everything you do and for caring for my dad. During this worrying time when I have not been able to visit my dad thanks to you for helping me see and speak to him via video call. Once again thanks to the Manager, all the wonderful carers, members of the admin team and to Chef and his team for continuing to provide such lovely cakes and desserts which are enjoyed by my dad. Stay safe and keep well.
Staff friendliness, professionalism, work ethic, cleanliness, overall happiness and care for the residents that call this beautiful place Home.
The staff always have a smile and go above and beyond their own duties to make you feel welcome and part of their family.
Our friend/relative speaks highly of her home.
So we applaud you all from the bottom of our hearts and thank you for your hard work and dedication, now more than ever.
My father is well cared for, the entertainment is good for the residents. Food menus are varied and all cooked fresh, with sample taster sessions available to assist the residents when new dishes are introduced. The staff are very friendly and professional. There is a very warm reception upon arrival. Got to know the staff and residents well, visiting regularly and it feels like extended family visits, it all makes for pleasant visits at a time when your apprehensive for your family member who requires this care, would recommend.
Very friendly staff and carers. Always helpful. Always seems very clean every time I visit, nice big spacious room if you want to get away from the TV lounge etc.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are in extremely worrying times. All families with loved ones in care facilities are naturally concerned. I would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all the staff at The Firs for their dedication, professionalism and care. Wishing you all, and your families, very best wishes.
A very comfortable home for the residents. Well taken care of in pleasant surroundings. Good quality food and drink provided with a great team of staff. Management team always happy and helpful. It's a difficult time at the moment with the coronavirus, but feel very happy for the safety and care during these troubled times. We know my mother-in-law is being looked after with love and care.
The Firs is always clean and tidy, it doesn't smell of urine. "First thing I noticed". Food is served looks good, always on time. The residents look happy and are often singing. My friend doesn't mix much, however, she is happy in her own little way. Staff brilliant.
My gratitude to all at The Firs for a job well-done every day. Thank you!!!
There had been a recent incident that resulted in a hospital stay for my father. A full investigation was carried out by home management and following 3 meetings we (the family) are all content that lessons have been learnt and addressed.
The staff here are very caring. They always seem so busy though. I wish there were more of them to help but they do a great job.
Thank you for taking the time to review The Firs and we’re pleased that you are extremely likely to recommend our home. We use a dependency tool to calculate the required number of staff on each shift. This is to ensure we can provide activities and engagement, in addition to high quality care for our residents.
My husband has been in this home now for 2 years, he has been very well looked after and I am sure he is happy in his own little ward. I have no complaints.
Compared to other care homes I have visited The Firs is of a high standard - particularly in terms of comfort, facilities and the care given by staff.
I am very happy with my husband's care, all the staff are very friendly.
All staff brilliant, food always looks fresh and nice. Very approachable new manager. Thank you all!
Friendly staff, easy assessment, good relations with residents. Nice location, easy access, secure facility.
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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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.