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Handford House

27a Cumberland Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3PA
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She is very happy here, the staff go above and beyond to meet her needs.June C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)
Handford House, Ipswich
The staff are very friendly and helpful and chatty with my husband.Rosemary H(Wife of Resident/Service User)
Handford House, Ipswich
Handford House, Ipswich

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 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

Type of carePermanentRespite
Residential CareFrom £1,500From £1,550
Residential Dementia CareFrom £1,500From £1,550
Nursing CareFrom £1,500From £1,550
Nursing Dementia CareFrom £1,500From £1,550

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

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)

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8.7

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.

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Showing 84 reviews matching selected criteria
Review from Susan S (Daughter of Resident) published on 9 August 2016 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience

The staff have been wonderful to my mother as she was in a very bad state having being sent there from hospital. The activities used to be wonderful when she first arrived and they were organised by a staff member who later left. Since then, there has not been much. I come three days a week and feel activities could be improved.

Reply from kay Farrell, Home Manager at Handford House
Our activity co-ordinator has left for another position, we now have 2 activity staff but they are new in the role and so need support and encouragement and are in the process of finding out the social needs of the residents.

Activities that happened recently are Sports Days every Thursday with a...  

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Review from Julie B (Sister of Resident) published on 7 July 2016 Submitted via Postal Card
Overall Experience
My sister was in supported living before being very ill with heart problems and we needed somewhere for her to live. She visited a few places and none were suitable. We took her to Handford House and she immediately said this was the place for her.

She has learning disabilities, which the home were not used to, but they had no hesitation in taking her in. The staff and management have been totally supportive of her and she is so happy to be a resident at this care home. Great service.

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Review from Donna A (Daughter of Resident) published on 8 February 2016 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My mum has been at Handford House since March 2015 following 3 months in hospital. It was difficult to find a home that would meet mums needs of both nursing and dementia care. Most homes seem to address one or the other.

As a family we had concerns about mum having to go into nursing care as she had been living independently prior to her stay in hospital. After a short period of being unsettled which was fully expected and explained to us by the Manager, mum soon settled in very well.

The staff are good and many are exceptional. They treat every resident as an individual with care and dignity. Mum has early stages of dementia and the staff make her feel as if she is part of their bigger family. Mum has a wicked sense of humour and the staff recognise this and encourage her to spend as much time as she wants with both staff and other residents.

The food is very good and if there is nothing on the menu that mum wants they are happy to make something different for her.

Bedrooms and communal areas are kept very clean and there are rooms designated for activities and relaxation. One even has a little bar area where residents can socialise.

We, as a family, visit mum everyday and I can honestly say we are made to feel very welcome. Mum now sees Handford House as her home and is very happy there.

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Review from Michael S (Son of Resident) published on 12 October 2015 Submitted via Website
Overall Experience

My mother moved to Handford House early April 2015 after spending 6 weeks in Ipswich hospital where she was being treated for a very serious stroke. She needed 24 hour care. She couldn't do anything for herself and could only communicate in a very basic manner. Most days when visiting we were unsure whether she was aware of us being there or not. However all the staff at Handford house, whatever their position, treated mum with great care and respect, as if she was fully aware and involved in day to day life. So much so that one day when we were visiting, she managed to say just one thing, and that was, "They make a fuss of me here" Sadly she died peacefully in the early hours of June 30th. I would say that everyone at Handford House made mum's last weeks as good as they could be.

Facilities
Care / Support
Cleanliness
Treated with Dignity
Food & Drink
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Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 19 March 2025
Overall
Good
  • CaringGood
  • EffectiveGood
  • ResponsiveGood
  • SafeGood
  • Well-ledRequires improvement
Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

News (8) & Events (0)

News
  • 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...

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events for Handford House.

Awards / Recognitions (11)

Accreditations

There are no accreditations posted yet for Handford House.

Meet the Team (4)

Agnieszka McDonald
Agnieszka McDonaldJob Title:Home Manager

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.

Nicholas Pearkes
Nicholas PearkesJob Title:Activities CoordinatorJoined: 2025

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.

Jennifer Adams
Jennifer AdamsJob Title:AdministratorJoined: 2025

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.

Catherine
Catherine Job Title:Clinical Deputy ManagerJoined: 2026

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.

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