
St Mary's you are amazing!Kevin B(Son of Resident/Service User)

Whenever we have visited St Marys, the staff are always very helpful and friendly.Jill C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

You will always hold a special place in our hearts. Keep doing the wonderful job you do.C G(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

St Mary's you are amazing!Kevin B(Son of Resident/Service User)

Whenever we have visited St Marys, the staff are always very helpful and friendly.Jill C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

You will always hold a special place in our hearts. Keep doing the wonderful job you do.C G(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

St Marys, in Ipswich supports up to 60 older people to live a comfortable lifestyle, as well as offering dementia care. It is located in an idyllic peninsula setting in the village of Holbrook.
The home continues to welcome new residents for a range of residential care services, including convalescence care, respite care, trial stays, and long term care for those who can no longer look after themselves.
The St Marys care...
Care Provided by St Marys
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 60 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
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- 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 St Marys 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 St Marys for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact St Marys 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
- Anna Dabrowska (Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (60)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (59)
Visiting
- Visitors are welcome at St Marys.
Parking
- Onsite parking is available, including disabled spaces.
St Marys Reviews (157)
St Marys has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.811) out of 10, based on 28 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time St Marys has 157 reviews.
Questions are answered straight away, and everything is done to include each person’s needs and characteristics.
During Covid, our mum has been kept safe and well with the usual routines being followed wherever possible - an incredible achievement!
Well done, everyone, at St Marys! My sister and I are grateful to you all.
My mother passed away at St Mary's in July 2021. We were kept informed in the period leading up to her final days and were allowed to visit and stay with her in her room during the day and overnight when it was felt that we should be with her. All the staff made sure they popped in to speak to her and say goodbye, which meant a lot to us.
We would like to thank everyone and are very grateful for everything they did for Mum.
Wonderful place to live with very caring workers. My aunt has settled amazingly well there! At 99 years of age, I was worried that she would miss her old home and friends, but she is very content. I would recommend this home to anyone wanting a safe and comfortable place for their loved ones.
My mum was in St Marys for 18-months during the Covid pandemic. We felt so grateful she was somewhere we were comfortable with and safe as they remained Covid free. As restrictions reduced, we were able to visit, but my mum became end of life. We were able to have six days of quality time; she was so well cared for and loved by staff - it helped our family cope with her death. We are so grateful to St Marys.
Our first experience of St Marys was when my wife and I visited the home to see if we felt it was to be suitable for our mum. On first entering the home, we immediately felt a lovely, caring atmosphere and like a home, not a "hotel". Management was very informative and assuring. As Mum moved in, we soon established we had made the right choice. She settled very quickly and was made very comfortable. Towards the end of her life, the staff were very compassionate to both her and the family. Well done, St Marys!
Since the group has taken over, what a good level of care to a very high standard. At the centre, if this for those of us who cannot visit often is the exceptional level of communication. Keeping us informed during Covid times of processes and activity. Last night, my mother, who has severe dementia, had a fall and lost consciousness. Both my sister and I had received calls before the ambulance had arrived, and we were kept informed and updated until her recovery and return to her happy place. We can only admire the care and commitment to our elderly and confused (but happy) mother.
Mum was moved to St Marys from another care home in August 2020. It was a struggle in the first couple of months to settle Mum down. In fact, it is no understatement to say that the management was very concerned about whether they could meet Mum's care needs. I did think at the time that we would be faced to move Mum to another care home. However, the management and staff pulled out all the stops and succeeded. I was so relieved. St Marys is a "no-frills" care home, but the level of support provided to Mum has been excellent. We are all so pleased we moved Mum to St Marys.
St Marys has provided exemplary care for our Mum since she went in just before the first lockdown. We have been kept fully up to date by the staff, who have managed the home fantastically throughout. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend - in fact, I have - my mother-in-law is coming to stay next week!
I am thankful that St Mary’s has met the challenge full-on and has managed to navigate the required changes with ease.
In spite of not being able to have “normal” visits we have been able to have window visits which at least allows both resident and visitor some sort of connection.
The staff are now getting ready to navigate the next challenge of vaccine administration and inside visits. I feel confident in their ability to organise this and I am grateful that my mother is safe and cared for and we as families are kept up to date on the sometimes daily changes.
My mother has a phone in her room, so we can at least keep up with her and she with us.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend St Mary’s to anyone looking for a well run, happy and safe residence.
My mother has lived at St Mary's for more than 8 years and the care and companionship they provide has been wonderful. At every stage of her dementia they have put her first and any necessary changes have been made with thought, affection and compassion. The last year has been tough, as I've been unable to visit, but staff have kept up my spirits with a wide variety of interactions online and over the phone. Their careful planning and handling of COVID restrictions gives me confidence I will be able to visit safely very soon.
Mum arrived in a bit of a state having had a fall and now needing constant watchful support she was transferred directly from the hospital. I think it was a confusing time for her but the staff have been very welcoming and supportive, taking the time to get to know mum and gradually introducing her to the activities and life at St Mary's. Six weeks on and mum is much more settled, cheerful and interacting well with after being so isolated at home. A huge thank you to everyone at St Mary's.
Everything at St Marys is wonderful. My mum has had such wonderful care since she moved in in February. She has had some difficulties but all the staff have been so kind and caring through these difficult times. It was such a relief through lockdown that I knew Mum was safe and extremely well looked after. We are kept well informed about everything that is happening in the home. Outside visits are well organised and such an important part to keep Mum's spirits up. Thank you to all the wonderful staff.
My mother-in-law moved into St Marys in June. This followed a difficult time for mum, both physically as well as mentally, as she was isolated in her flat during the Covid-19 lockdown. The team at St Marys has been wonderful in helping to make the transition as smooth as possible. This has been very reassuring for my husband too, and when we visit now (socially distanced) it is so warming to see mum happy and to know that she is enjoying her new home, and engaging with other residents. Thank you to the team for putting a smile back on her face, your care and compassion is, and always will be, appreciated.
My father has been in St. Marys for a year and a half and has been exceptionally happy. He enjoys the food, the care and attention and the company. He is well looked after by caring, enthusiastic and very patient staff. The staff are now all employed by the home, rather than shared agency workers, which is great for ongoing understanding and familiarity. A bonus of that this year is that it helped keep COVID out completely. The hotel-like buildings are fully clean and suitably equipped. We were so fortunate to find this care home just ahead of Dad needing it.
My mother and stepfather moved to St Mary’s 2 years ago and the staff were exceptionally helpful in accommodating them with rooms opposite each other. From then until my mother recently passed away aged 96, they had the best care and were wonderfully looked after. Since my mother’s death, the staff have been particularly caring to my stepfather and he is very happy there. It really is like one big happy family, and we are always made welcome when we visit. I would definitely recommend St Mary’s having been through the trauma of finding suitable accommodation for two very reluctant parents.
St Marys provides an excellent standard of care for residents. The staff are friendly and always go the extra yard to help. My father has been here for 2 years and I am delighted that I chose St Marys, it has helped me enormously to know Dad is being cared for so well. He loves it too!
The care that the manager and her team have given my dad both before and during the Coronavirus pandemic has been completely amazing. We feel so grateful to everyone and it has been immensely reassuring to know that Dad is safe and happy. Nothing is too much bother for any staff member and they know Dad so well. Particularly moving were the efforts made to celebrate VE Day. Dad was involved so brilliantly. The carers seem to know just how to encourage the residents to keep as active as possible, and also to remain positive. The cleanliness of the home and empathetic care and attention to detail for personalised care for each resident just cannot be faulted. Thank you.
We have continued to be very pleased with the care that my mother is receiving at St Mary's. This is a most difficult time and although we live in the same village it has been very difficult not being able to actually visit. The manager has been amazing and has arranged video conferencing and video and phone contact which has been no trouble. I am looking forward to fixing up a socially distanced meeting in the gazebo! It has been good to follow the resident's entertainments, etc. on Twitter.
So happy Mum moved here...she has settled in so well and is receiving wonderful care from the amazing team at St.Marys. Without being able to invite in any external groups to provide entertainment/activities the carers have all done so well to take on this task themselves.
So lucky to have remained Covid free, thank goodness!
Just wonderful!
The care and attention that my mother receives at St Mary's is far more than I ever expected. She has only been there since December 2019 but, despite her developing dementia, she now sees it very much as home. The residents always have a wide range of morning and afternoon activities to keep them occupied, and the food always looks and smells great. My mother is prone to certain recurring medical issues, but the carers are always totally professional in helping her get through them. During the current coronavirus outbreak St Mary's look to be doing everything they can to ensure that all residents are safe and well. The new manager has been particularly good at keeping family and friends of residents up to date with what is going on. I would certainly recommend St Mary's to anyone.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 23 August 2025Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledOutstanding
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
2 Bed Vacancies
Posted: 27 July 2026We currently have two vacancies for care. Please contact St Marys for further details.
News (7) & Events (0)
- 27 Mar 2026
An Ipswich care home is delighted to have been classed as Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the second highest rating possible, as well as being rated Outstanding for...
- 23 Jan 2026
Residents at Anchor’s St Mary's care home in Holbrook have been celebrating the kindness of a local pupil. Emily, a student at Holbrook Academy, has developed a wonderful bond with...
- 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...
There are no upcoming events for St Marys.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for St Marys.
Meet the Team (3)

Hi, I’m Anna. I’ve been with Anchor for almost a decade.
My focus as Home Manager has solidified around pioneering dementia care and fostering a people-oriented environment. Our team, through collaborative efforts, has significantly enhanced operational efficiency and resident satisfaction, upholding high standards of care.
With a strong foundation in care management, I've launched initiatives that promote staff development and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations.

Hi, I’m Allison, and I have been the administrator for St Mary’s for over 10 years now.
My role requires a fair few different hats, including reception, payroll, recruitment, purchasing, and finance, to name a few, and I love the variety that the role brings. My main focus, however, is to be approachable for all residents, family and staff. We operate on an open-door policy, so pop in and say hello; there’s always cake and coffee to be found.

Hello, my name is Marco, and I am the Deputy Manager at St Mary´s care home. My goal is to ensure the care we provide is person-centred, loving and caring.
I like to lead my team by example. Having years of experience in rehabilitation and psychiatric hospitals has given me a baggage of tools that I use daily to coach and guide my team to deliver the best care possible and ensure our residents remain safe, healthy, and happy.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact St Marys to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. St Marys has an Enhanced Service -more info.