
The Firs is a fantastic care home. Always a warm welcome from the staff and they are always nearbyPeter B(Son of Resident/Service User)

We hit the jackpot with The Firs and I can't thank the manager and staff enoughJulie R(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


The Firs is a fantastic care home. Always a warm welcome from the staff and they are always nearbyPeter B(Son of Resident/Service User)

We hit the jackpot with The Firs and I can't thank the manager and staff enoughJulie R(Daughter of Resident/Service User)


Set in a peaceful location with leafy gardens and light-filled spaces, The Firs offers more than just a place to live – it’s a place to feel at ease. Residents can relax in the comfortable lounge, share time with others in the dining areas, or enjoy a quiet drink in the bar. With the scent of sea air drifting through the garden, the calm, unhurried rhythm of life here provides...
Care Provided by The Firs Residential Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 38 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
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Firs Residential Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Firs Residential Home 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
- Buckland Care Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Emma Breslan (Registered Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed with both male-only and female-only unit(s)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Last Refurbishment: 2023
- Number of floors: 2
Room Information
- Single Rooms (38)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (38)
Visiting
- No restriction on visiting times
Parking
- Private parking on site available
The Firs Residential Home Reviews (92)
The Firs Residential Home has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.842) out of 10, based on 28 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Firs Residential Home has 92 reviews.
My grandpa was diagnosed over a decade ago with vascular dementia. My mum single-handedly cared for my grandpa until June where she could no longer mentally care for him. The Firs was recommended to me by a friend. It was perfect - a gated dementia care home. Very clean and friendly. Management and staff have changed since my grandpa's admission in June and in my opinion for the better. New manageress has a strong passionate care focus. Spend many hours revising and creating my grandpas care plan. They run weekly outings for the residents If they wish to participate. But have daily indoor activities. My grandpa's health did deteriorate and his health needs became complex very quickly. Management amended care plan quickly and efficiently, Coming to meetings with doctors etc. His care was beyond anything my family expected. He entered palliative care in August. The staff gave my family help, guidance and support during this difficult time. Could not recommend enough.
Very pleased with the progress my very elderly aunt is making under their care.
She is well, happy and relaxed. There is a lovely atmosphere in the home.
I am pleased with the facility and level of care. Concerned that a lot of money is spent on changes and facelifts and furniture which may not be necessary and it all comes from the cost of residential placement.
The care, staff and atmosphere at The Firs are just what are needed to reassure me that mum is being well looked after in a safe environment. In the search for the right place, I visited many other local facilities and The Firs is among the best.
We chose this care home 5 years ago as a suitable place for mum who suffers from dementia. We had visited several other care homes and came to the conclusion that The Firs was a friendly, caring, professionally run and well-maintained establishment. We still maintain that our decision was the best one we could have made and are confident that mum has received the best possible attention during her residency and seems to be perfectly happy and content there.
The staff are friendly and the home is kept clean and dad is always raving on about the fabulous food they make and how much he loves them all. Really couldn't ask for a better place for my dad to be!
Staff are welcoming and show great compassion to all in their care.
Mum was worried she wouldn't like moving into a home but she has made close connections with all of the staff and they have made it home for her.
After a long stay in hospital, she was happy to return to the home.
Sadly he has now been moved to a nursing home.
Thank you for your kind words. We were sad to say goodbye to your husband.
All of the staff work as a team with one objective, and that is to give all of the residents first-class care with attention to humanity and detail. The activities are varied, interesting and the grounds are ideal to be out in during the warmer weather. The food cooked on the premises is varied and targeted to individuals when required. Additionally, the feedback to the residents family, friends and carers is first class.
What more can be said than the chart below; which gives a fair summary of my experiences based on my wife's 17months at The Firs. The management and staff are continually available and as a result, I have never seen residents having to wait for attention.
When I was first invited to join The Firs about 18 months ago, I went to stay in a temporary location whilst a new block was being built. The manageress was kind enough to assure me that I would have first refusal on the new block and chose a residence which had an attached shower and 3 windows opening onto the garden. What could I have better?
I was given a real welcome when I came to this home when the home I was in previously was suddenly closed down in February 2015. The Firs is a lovely home set in beautiful gardens. I have a nice room with an en-suite loo and basin and a really lovely view of the garden and trees. The staff are truly caring and friendly. I am very well looked after and happy here.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 20 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 (39) & Events (0)
- 24 Jul 2026
The lively fortnightly sessions have become a firm favourite at the home, with residents enjoying a range of gentle, adapted exercises designed to support movement, strength and confidence. From arm...
- 02 Jun 2026
Residents at The Firs Residential Home came together for a special afternoon of music, memories and celebration to mark VE Day. The home was filled with a wonderful sense of...
- 02 Jun 2026
Residents at The Firs Residential Home came together for a special afternoon of music, memories and celebration to mark VE Day. The home was filled with a wonderful sense of...
There are no upcoming events for The Firs Residential Home.
Awards / Recognitions (8)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: The Firs Residential Home
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Buckland Care Ltd
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Buckland Care Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for The Firs Residential Home.
Meet the Team (1)

Emma is a highly experienced care professional with over 25 years in the care industry.
She has recently worked as a turnaround manager. She has achieved Outstanding ratings in previous care homes and was proud to be recognised in the Top 20 Care Homes in the UK awards. Known for her pure dedication to providing the highest possible standard of care, Emma has successfully managed and inspired some of the most effective and compassionate teams in the sector.
Emma lives locally in Lympstone village in Devon and comes from a proud military family background — her husband served 28 years in the Devon & Dorset regiment, and she has two sons, both serving in the Army. Her daughter and grandchildren live locally in Exmouth. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren and making the most of family life.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact The Firs Residential Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Firs Residential Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.
