
She is very happy here, the staff go above and beyond to meet her needs.June C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff are very friendly and helpful and chatty with my husband.Rosemary H(Wife of Resident/Service User)


She is very happy here, the staff go above and beyond to meet her needs.June C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff are very friendly and helpful and chatty with my husband.Rosemary H(Wife of Resident/Service User)


Located in the oldest Anglo-Saxon town in England, Ipswich in Suffolk, Handford House takes a holistic approach to providing outstanding care to residents with nursing, respite, dementia, or palliative care needs.
The passionate team take pride in providing warm, welcoming and friendly care, embodying the ethos of dignity and respect for residents at all times.
The home is specifically designed to provide a comfortable, accessible and safe respite for residents....
Care Provided by Handford House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Younger Adults
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 52 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
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- 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 Handford House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Handford House 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)
Support you may be entitled to
- If you chose a care home based in England, you may be eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), which helps cover the cost of nursing. This is worth £267.68 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Healthcare Homes Group Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Agnieszka McDonald(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 50+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (52)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (32)
Handford House Reviews (84)
Handford House has a Review Score of 8.7 (8.665) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Handford House has 84 reviews.
Thank you staff and carers.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
From start to finish we will be forever thankful to the carers at your home. Always professional and at the end, Mum and myself were made comfortable to stay over. Another resident was moved to a different area so Dad had peace. We wish Dad had come here first as 2 other places didn't understand dementia. Thank you, you're all fantastic!
Very caring people. Nothing too much trouble. I will book myself in for a rest one day.
Very helpful staff, clean and tidy. Plenty to do i.e puzzles, TV, games and meet with other people in the pod lounge.
I have found Hanford House to be a fantastic care home for my uncle who is being cared for end of life and has numerous complex needs. The staff at Hanford House are all very friendly, helpful and polite the home is very clean and always decorated for halloween, christmas etc. Making it a very comfortable place for my uncle for his remaining time. Thank you.
Friendly staffs, excellent service.
I think we picked the best care home in the local area.
Thank you very much. We are all about delivering good care to all our residents at Handford House.
My grandmother is well cared for and all staff are friendly and helpful.
I agree, all our staff are passionate about delivering good quality care to all our residents and giving families the rest of mind that their loved ones are well taken care of in our home. Thank you very much for the review.
All the staff are friendly and helpful. They talk to all the residents, and they have been taking good care of me since I arrived at the home. There are always games and activities to keep me busy.
Thank you very much for your review. The games and activities are always fun and a good way to get some exercise.
Good care, friendly staff.
Good care. clean room, friendly staff, helpful and polite.
Thank you very much for your kind and honest review.
Dad always seems happy here. The staff are friendly, efficient and very helpful. The facility is nice and the garden is ok. Some frustrations are laundry sometimes going missing, other residents wandering into other's rooms and belongings going missing. Otherwise generally nice.
Always nice to see plenty of staff available whenever we visit them. I have noticed that mum is always happy when she gets attention from staff as she is bedbound and loves to see friendly faces in her room. The hard work done by all the staff is much appreciated.
My daughter is very well looked after, I don't have any problems. The staff and management are very helpful.
The team appreciates your kind words on how well your daughter is being looked after. Thank you very much.
The staff are amazing all are welcoming and friendly. Couldnt have wished for a better place for mum. Angels in disguise.
From the day my father arrived at Handford House, he has been treated with care, dignity and respect. All the staff were amazing and kept me informed at all times.
No words can express how the family feels about how happy our mother is with you. The outstanding staff which will go up and above their job.
Dad initially came into the home for end-of-life care. However, his treatment and care have been amazing and because of this he is now in a stable position and we have got our dad back again. Yes, he has continuing health issues but we know he is being well looked after by lovely staff.
Now after today's event regarding medication, I am seriously concerned for his welfare.
I’m sorry that this has happened to your friend. We are already aware of this incident and we have taken immediate actions to ensure this does not happen again. We have also been in regular contact with the next of kin of your friend. She is aware of our action plans and the circumstances around...
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 19 March 2025Good
- CaringGood
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledRequires improvement
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 (8) & Events (0)
- 04 Dec 2025
Residents at Handford House, a care home in Ipswich, received a handwritten letter from Sir David Attenborough. The 99-year-old broadcaster replied after residents wrote to him, sharing how much they...
- 04 Dec 2025
Residents at Handford House, a care home in Ipswich, received a handwritten letter from Sir David Attenborough. The 99-year-old broadcaster replied after residents wrote to him, sharing how much they...
- 13 Nov 2024
Handford House is thrilled to announce the appointment of Renata Sulugiuc as the new Home Manager. With over 14 years of experience as a registered nurse and a strong background...
There are no upcoming events for Handford House.
Awards / Recognitions (11)
- 07 May 2026Recipient: Handford House
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Healthcare Homes Group Ltd
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Healthcare Homes Group Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Handford House.
Meet the Team (4)

I’m passionate about building meaningful relationships with residents and their families, and creating a warm, safe, and supportive environment where everyone feels valued. I take pride in making a positive difference each day by bringing comfort, dignity, and moments of joy to residents’ lives, while supporting their overall well-being. I hold an NVQ Level 3 qualification and am committed to delivering high-quality care at Handford House.

I enjoy the sense of achievement that comes from interacting with residents and getting to know each of them personally. I like to involve residents in decision-making and conversations, and I’ve already introduced activities such as hand and nail care, quizzes, and games of dominoes. I also take time to speak with families to better understand each resident’s needs and interests. I hold a Diploma in Dementia Awareness and a GNVQ Level 2 in Customer Service, which supports me in providing thoughtful and engaging care.

I enjoy the daily interaction with staff, residents, and their families in such a warm and inviting atmosphere. I always greet everyone with a friendly smile, helping to create a welcoming environment where residents and visitors feel at ease.

Creating a warm and welcoming environment is what I love most about Handford House. I enjoy building strong relationships with residents and their families, helping to ensure everyone feels valued, supported, and cared for.
As a Registered Nurse with 11 years of experience, I am passionate about delivering high-quality, person-centred care. I have a particular interest in supporting people living with dementia and helping to enhance residents' wellbeing, dignity, and quality of life.
My background includes roles within the NHS and as a Clinical Lead in Neurological Rehabilitation and Complex Care Management, providing me with extensive experience in supporting people with a wide range of care needs.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Handford House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Handford House has an Enhanced Service -more info.