






MHA’s The Martins offers a truly unique setting, with a stunning cathedral just beyond its garden. The home provide residential and dementia care for 42 residents who enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of living next to a 1,000-year-old cathedral, complete with the sounds of bells and choirs, and direct access to the Abbey Gardens.
Vibrant and full of life throughout the seasons, the beautifully maintained grounds feature a charming summer...
Care Provided by The Martins
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Alcohol / Drug Misuse
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 42 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
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Martins for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Martins 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
- MHA
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (42)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (42)
The Martins Reviews (46)
The Martins has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.610) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Martins has 46 reviews.
Dementia strips those with it of everything, but most obviously and affectingly of the ability to properly communicate and to understand what's happening. The impact of that on their families can be huge and can make things incredibly isolating and lonely. Others don't ever really understand - that sense of 'are they any better yet?'
Your staff understand. Your staff too talk openly and honestly about things and it is the most wonderful and needed help. Thank you.
Thank you!
Many thanks for taking the time to leave your review, it is very much appreciated, and I will ensure that it is passed on to the team. The impact that dementia has on loved ones is incredibly difficult and I am glad that you feel the staff here at The Martins are understanding, open and honest when talking to you. Your Mum is a delightful character, and we are all very fortunate to know her.
We have been delighted with my mother's care. The Martins is a beautiful, well-run home with excellent carers. She is as happy as she can be and we are very grateful.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review and I will ensure that this is passed on to the Team. Your Mum has really settled well into The Martins and when attending resident meetings and asked about the meals here she is always very complimentary. She enjoys having many visitors and going out often, I am glad that she is happy.
My Dad has now been a resident of the home for the last 10 months and settled really well. The staff are kind, helpful and very considerate to his needs. He is now eating so much better than he was at home and enjoys the variety of meals on offer, tailored to his specific dietary needs, always being given a choice. He enjoys the variety of activities on offer and he very pleased that he is still able to take part in times of prayer and communion. The staff ensure the family are told should there be any medical issues such as falls/illness as soon as is practically possible. Any questions or concerns the family have are dealt with efficiently and as promptly as possible. The younger members of the family are always made welcome and appreciate time given to them by the staff when visiting great grandad.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review. I will ensure that it is passed on to the team. Your Dad has settled extremely well at The Martins and made new friends who he enjoys chatting and spending time with. We are all so very glad that he is happy and content living here.
I feel this is my home now. The staff are very caring and make sure you are always ok.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review, I will ensure that it is passed on to the team. We are so pleased that you have settled and think of this as your home now, it is a pleasure to have you living at The Martins.
The Martins have made my mum feel at home. The staff and management are always helpful and have turned mums life around. So grateful for all their care and support.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review, I will ensure that it is passed on to the team. Your mum has now settled in so well living at The Martins and she really enjoys joining in with the entertainment in the main lounge and it is a pleasure to see her enjoying life.
Everyone plays their part to make the residents and visitors feel part of one big family.
The home is well run in every aspect and in a perfect location.
We are extremely lucky to be located where we are and have the amazing outlook and gardens to enjoy. It is important to us that everyone is welcomed to The Martins, and we are supported so well with friends and families who visit regularly.
The team have not only given the best care to my mother but also helped put our minds at rest in wanting to know our mother is cared for and happy. We would definitely recommend this as a place for your loved one to live in their later years.
Our aim is to enable our residents to live later life well and at times this can be challenging, however, your Mum has settled in so well and is always very happy and still enjoys a spot of...
On first visiting the Martins this worry turned to relief!
Everyone was so thoughtful and thorough explaining everything to us surrounding his care. We were shown his room before he moved in and the caretakers put up pictures, photos, etc to ensure he would feel at home once he arrived.
My Dad has settled in really well and I'm kept informed of any concerns, falls or changes that need to be made.
The staff are friendly and he is well looked after with freshly prepared meals.
My only slight concern is his laundry going missing even though we have labelled everything but usually if I ask this gets sorted quickly. Also, staff shortages over the summer. We would love Dad to get outside every day, even to just do a lap of the garden as he has always loved the outdoors but this is not realistically possible with staff numbers.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review and I will ensure that the team are made aware. Your Dad has settled in so well at The Martins and when I am walking around the home I always stop and have a chat with him, he is usually eating a packet of sweets that you have brought in. Your Dad...
When my mum arrived , she was not in a good state of health , her care has been amazing and we have all noticed how she has come on leaps and bounds , and refers to this as her home now which she loves , we were really worried about how she would settle in but the staff have all been amazing in looking after her and helping to become our mum again
Thank you very much for taking the time to leave this lovely review and I will ensure that the team are made aware. We are all so pleased how your Mum has settled in at The Martins and that she calls it home, she really has come on leaps and bounds with her health and mobility and is very happy and content; she is an amazing lady.
Awesome staff, professional and caring. I no longer worry about the safety of my Mother. My Mother is very happy and feels cared for by staff.
Staff are always welcoming and keep you updated all the time.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review. Your Mother has settled in so well at The Martins and it is lovely to see her so happy, and especially for your family to know that she is safe and cared for. I will ensure that I pass this on to the team.
I became a resident at The Martins in June 2025 after a sudden decline in health issues. From the day I came I have been able to settle quickly and am pleased that I chose this way of the full-time care I now need. My family are also pleased for me and I still have a lot of freedom to keep touch with the wider world, friends and family. My only regret is poor internet connection (very poor).
Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review, I will ensure that this is passed on to the team. We are very glad that you settled quickly at The Martins and able to have kept your freedom and in touch with the wider world, including going out on your mobility scooter. We have recently had an upgrade in the internet and many apologies for it still being poor, I will look in to this.
My sister, a resident at The Martins, has gone through a difficult time over the past year with her ongoing dementia. Her behaviour became progressively more challenging towards both staff and other residents, ending in a reportable safeguarding incident. With a high degree of internal staff professionalism and help from the team at Dementia Intensive Support Team and the GP, she is now so much more content, and is living in a much calmer and controlled way. I cannot speak highly enough of the empathetic and caring way that The Martin's Team helped her through a very difficult time
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this kind and honest review, it is much appreciated, and I will ensure that it is passed on to the team and the health care professionals involved. It has been a difficult time for your sister since moving into the Martins, however, we are happy that she is now content and settled.
Very satisfied with the way my aunt has been treated. She seems very happy with everything and especially the carers and we couldn't be happier knowing she is safe and well.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review it is much appreciated, and I will ensure that it is passed on to the team. Your aunt has settled in very well she is a joy to care for, it is always a pleasure to chat with her and nice to see her so happy.
We were worried about her living there, but she is so happy, she likes it better than her house, she likes all the staff and the people that live there. She is so relaxed as she is not living on her own and she has nothing to worry about now, we are very welcome when we come to visit her.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review, it is much appreciated and I will ensure that it is passed on to the team. We are so pleased at how well your relative has settled in at The Martins and I speak on behalf of the team that she is a pleasure to care for; it is wonderful to hear that she is so happy and relaxed.
I asked my mum-in-law today 14/02/24 what she thinks of The Martins and her words are "smashing!" We have no concerns regarding the care, food, hygiene, carers, and communication is second to none. She is so well looked after she loves being here. The staff go the extra mile to look after her.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave a review, we are so very glad that your mother-in-law is comfortable and happy here; she is a pleasure to care for. I will ensure that this is passed on to the team that work so very hard.
The Martins is a lovely venue with reliable caring staff and totally trust them to provide an excellent level of care for my friend as well as emotional support. The staff are friendly and competent.
Many thanks for taking the time to leave this review, I will ensure that it is passed on to the team. Your friend has settled in so well at The Martins and has made lots of new friends. I know that she looks forward to your visits especially when she goes out to have her pamper days.
Very satisfied with the care.
Many thanks for taking the time to complete this review, I will ensure this is passed on to the team. We enjoy you visiting your dear wife and seeing what pleasure you both get from sitting in the beautiful gardens here.
Thankfully I have family who can visit my mum most days to check on her, and they are always impressed with the quality of care she receives. It takes a special team to take care of those who need constant care and assistance, and it seems as if The Martins has a formula that could be replicated for other homes.
I will be back in October and November and I cannot wait to resume my visits and talk with the staff about my mum. Please continue to excel and lead the way.
Many thanks for taking the time to complete this review. Your mum is a pleasure to care for and has settled very well into the home, she particularly enjoys sitting in the lounge watching the world go by. I will ensure that your comments are passed onto the team, and we very much look forward to your visit later this year.
The care team and leadership display a positive and compassionate attitude and genuinely demonstrate care and companionship when carrying out their duties. I am pleased that they allow and encourage independent thought and choice for my cousin as often as possible while managing her care needs with skill.
Thank you for your review; it is always lovely to hear that resident's family members are delighted and have positive words of encouragement for the whole team here at The Martins. I will pass on the comments to the team so that they know just how appreciative you are of their hard work, compassion, and commitment.
She settled in immediately, the transition was smooth and without any hiccups whatsoever.
The rooms and bathrooms are immaculate with hand bars, disabled equipment etc for extra help and safety if required.
There is a hairdresser and manicurist on site and a daily mobile shop.
The staff are without say the absolute best, nothing is too much trouble and they always conduct themselves in a professional yet warm manner, all that a family could ask for.
The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming and most residents are free to move about within their departments.
I know it’s not always an easy decision when a member of your family needs that next step up into a residential or care home, but I can honestly say I have no hesitation whatsoever in highly recommending this home to anyone.
Thank you for this lovely and heartwarming review and recommendation, I will pass on to the team and continue to thank them for their commitment and hard work.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 13 October 2022Good
- CaringOutstanding
- 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)
- 30 Jan 2025
There’s nothing like MHA at Christmas. Our care homes, retirement living schemes, and communities are filled with tinsel, Christmas trees, and lights - a burst of light in the gloom...
- 30 Jan 2025
Working in social care is not for the faint hearted. Long hours, challenging circumstances and dealing with vulnerable individuals would put plenty of people off. Despite all this, 19-year-old Olivia...
- 30 Jan 2025
A 24-year-old care assistant working at MHA Heather Grange care home has been recognised for her tremendous work ethic and attitude and has been awarded the home's employee of the...
There are no upcoming events for The Martins.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for The Martins.
Meet the Team (1)

With a career in care spanning over 25 years, Melanie McGarr is the home manager at MHA The Martins. Mel brings a wealth of experience and dedication to supporting others, having begun her journey working for 18 years in a secure environment with adults living with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour, before changing her focus to older people’s care.
Joining MHA at a sister home, Mel spent 7 years progressing from Senior Care Assistant to Deputy Home Manager. From the outset, her goal was to become a Home Manager, and in January 2023, she was offered the opportunity on secondment to lead The Martins, a role made permanent the following year.
Passionate about helping residents live later life well, she approaches her role with warmth, commitment, and resilience. She recognises that while the role has its challenges, it is also deeply rewarding, and she feels fortunate to be able to make a positive difference every day.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Martins
What types of Care is The Martins registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Visual / Hearing Impairment, Alcohol / Drug Misuse are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does The Martins have?
There are 42 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at The Martins?
Own Furniture if required, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Minibus or other 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 Martins to the centre of Bury St Edmunds?
0.2 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 Martins to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Martins has an Enhanced Service -more info.