
The staff were very helpful and considerate - wonderful.R C(Husband of Resident/Service User)

After some searching and a recommendation from a friend. St Ives was to be her new homeS B(Sister of Resident/Service User)

this place is extraordinary and has excellent care provided to your loved onesJ C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

The staff were very helpful and considerate - wonderful.R C(Husband of Resident/Service User)

After some searching and a recommendation from a friend. St Ives was to be her new homeS B(Sister of Resident/Service User)

this place is extraordinary and has excellent care provided to your loved onesJ C(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

St Ives House is a beautiful residential and dementia care home at Ashley Heath near Ringwood.
The home provides a warm and relaxed environment in an attractive sylvan setting, and has been carefully designed to provide comfort and convenience for residents, relatives and staff.
With 60 en-suite bedrooms and an abundance of light and space, St Ives House provides everything to make it feel homely, safe and comfortable.
St Ives House home sits...
Care Provided by St Ives House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
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
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Smoking not permitted
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- 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 St Ives House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact St Ives 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)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Care South
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Emma Cotton (Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 53+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (60)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (60)
Visiting
- St Ives operates an 'Open House' policy and encourages family and friends to visit. No limited visiting hours.
Parking
- Ample parking at the onsite car park.
St Ives House Reviews (118)
St Ives House has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.794) out of 10, based on 27 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time St Ives House has 118 reviews.
My mother was a resident of St Ives House for just over three years. Despite advancing dementia, poor eyesight and hearing she knew she was well cared for. The staff are highly professional while providing a relaxed and caring environment for the resident. St Ives is a beautiful care home in a stunning location and is therefore a pleasure to visit.
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience. It means so much to know your mother felt safe and well cared for during her time with us. We're grateful for your recognition of our team's dedication and are pleased that both you and your mother found St Ives House to be such a welcoming place.
My Father has been a resident at St Ives, since January 2025, after my Mum passed away. He has Dementia and before he moved to St Ives, was struggling to cope. He took a few weeks to settle and is now happy. All of the staff are kind, attentive, proactive, welcoming. Nothing is too much trouble. Dad is constantly being attended to and encouraged to live a full life, with activities and socialising. My sisters and I would highly recommend using St Ives, whether for residency or respite. We visit Dad often, knowing that when we leave him, he is being cared for in every way. Thank you to every member of staff, who makes up the team.
Thank you for your kind and heartfelt review. We are so pleased to hear that your father has settled well and is happy at St Ives. Your words mean a great deal to our team, who are dedicated to providing compassionate care, support, and meaningful experiences for every resident. Thank you for your trust and recommendation, it is a privilege to care for your father and support your family.
If you are looking for a care home for your relative, then this is the one and you can stop looking. I looked at a number of homes that were local to me before placing mum at St Ives and from the first day they were truly amazing and had her health and care as their focus as she had complex needs. Initially mum was apprehensive but within a week she was happy and settled and really felt at home. Nothing was too much effort, I could not recommend this wonderful place highly enough.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful review. We are delighted that your mum quickly felt at home and that our team could provide the care and support she needed. Your recommendation means a great deal to us, and we are grateful to have been part of your mum's journey.
Celia is always very well looked after. The staff are all very caring and helpful.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you feel Celia is always so well looked after. Our team takes great pride in providing caring and helpful support, and your kind words mean a lot to all of us.
My mother was resident for 9 months until her death at the home. The care and attention she was given was genuine and compassionate from all the staff. Everyone at the home was warm and welcoming and if anything needed sorting/organising eg appointments it was done; nothing was too much trouble. The management team were exceptional and made a difficult time much easier for us all as a family.
Thank you for your heartfelt feedback. We're truly sorry for your loss, and it means so much to know your mother received compassionate care during her time with us. We're glad our team could support both her and your family during such a difficult period, your kind words will be shared with everyone.
My husband was extremely well cared for. The staff nursing and everyone else could not have been more caring.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We're delighted to hear your husband was so well cared for and that our team made a positive difference. Your feedback means a great deal to us and will be shared with all our staff.
Toilet facilities have problems.
Many thanks for your review. We really appreciate your feedback, please do reach out if you would like to discuss this further as we'd like to address any problems ahead of your next stay. Again, many thanks and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
St Ives provides a home from home environment with care and support. The staff are all wonderful and committed to treating residents with respect, dignity and individually. Families are encouraged and made very welcome. There are lots of activities to get involved with and family members are welcome to join in. We especially enjoyed the musicians, bingo and tennis! Quality time can be spent enjoying a coffee or a wander in the lovely gardens.
What a wonderful review, thank you so much. We strive to offer the home from home environment at St Ives House and it means so much that this is felt in your review. I will share your feedback with the whole team and I know it will be greatly appreciated.
I experienced a wonderful welcome in my room, my favourite biscuits were in a basket plus 4 cans of lager. This was a lovely gesture and made me feel very comfortable. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Christchurch and an excellent day out at Bournemouth's new training ground playing walking football, and also did a charity walk. Food, staff and management are all excellent.
Thank you so much for your lovely review - it's made us all smile. We strive to give our residents the best welcome, enriched daily life and comfort during their time with us, so to read your kind words make it all worth while. Thank you again.
Good care. Entertainment quite varied. Felt part of a family. Lovely surroundings inside and out. Staff very friendly, helpful and caring, nothing too much trouble. Would always recommend very highly.
Thank you so much for your review. It's great to read that you found the staff to be very friendly, helpful and caring, and that nothing was too much trouble. I'll be sure to pass your kind words on, it means a lot. Thank you again.
When I first arrived at St Ives I had just left hospital and was very weak. After 3 weeks of care at St Ives I was back on my feet and felt well enough to live independently again. Everyone was very kind, helpful and friendly and always on hand. Any concerns I had were dealt with promptly. My family were reassured I was safe and cared for whilst in the home. I would definitely go back again if required.
Thank you so much for your review. I am so pleased that you feel that everyone was very kind, helpful and friendly and that family were reassured. I will pass your feedback on, I know it will be really appreciated. Thank you again, it means a lot.
A really good experience. My brother benefitted from his stay with you. He was looked after well and afforded the dignity and respect he needed. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. The feedback will be passed on to the team and I know it will be greatly appreciated. We are so pleased the stay was beneficial and a really good experience for him. Thank you again, it means a lot when someone takes the time to let us know their thoughts.
My late mother was a resident for nearly 4 years. She was always safe, cared for and looked after as best as possible. Care and compassion when she passed.
Thank you for your review - it was an honour to care for your mum we will share this feedback with the team
My husband was in the care of St. Ives House for 8 months until he died. During this time he received excellent care. The house and gardens are lovely. There were always activities taking place and a weekly trip from the home if wanted. All were well run. I was welcome to visit anytime and always warmly received.
Thank you for your lovely message. We're so pleased to hear your husband felt well cared for-it means the world to the team.
My experience with the St Ives House management and staff has been over a period of nearly five years and the space that I consider them friends is testament to the great care my husband received during his time with them. He was always treated with the upmost dignity and great kindness.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for allowing us to be part of your husband's journey over the past five years. It means a great deal to the team to know that the care we gave brought comfort to you both. To be thought of as friends is something we truly value - and your words are a touching reflection of the dignity and kindness we always aim to provide.
The care given to my mother during the two years she was a resident was exceptional. She was treated with kindness and affection always. From day one, the carers did their best to reassure her as she was extremely anxious and confused. Towards the end of her life, we witnessed how much she meant to all the staff, and the dignity they showed her was so wonderful. She couldn't have been in better hands.
Thank you for your heartfelt words. We're so pleased to hear that your mother felt safe and cared for during her time at St Ives. It means so much to the team to know their kindness and compassion made a difference, especially in her final moments. Your feedback is truly appreciated and will be shared with everyone who supported her.
My experince was exceptional.
Thank you for this 5* review the team will be so pleased.
The team were also a great help to me whilst trying to navigate a very difficult time. A huge thank you to everyone.
Thank you so much for your kind words. We're so glad we could support both your mother-in-law and your family during a challenging time. It means a lot to the whole team.
Mum entered St Ives house in April 2021 as a resident, having previously had 2 stays on respite. There was never any question as to where she would live, she simply loved the home. Mum loved having company, she enjoyed and attended the activities in the home and the visits out to various places. As her needs got more and she became less independent she had the best of care. Mum recently passed away at 107, in her last days the care and attention she received from the home was excellent. A wonderful place, I would highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your mum's journey with us. It was a privilege to care for her, and we're honoured that St Ives House was her chosen home. Your recommendation means a great deal to us.
Thank you to the whole team at St Ives House Care for the love, respect, professionalism, dignity and tenderness shown to my mother and her family during her years at the home. I felt that she was loved and wanted during the last period of her life and despite having to cope with the difficulties of living with Alzheimer's she was able to fill her days with fun and laughter.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review. It means the world to the team at St Ives House to know that your mother felt loved, valued, and able to enjoy her days with joy and laughter. We're honoured to have been part of her journey and to have supported your family.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 11 November 2023Good
- 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 (31) & Events (0)
- 27 Jul 2026
A Ringwood care home resident went bowling for the first time in 10 years with the support of his care home team. Ken, who lives in St Ives House in...
- 02 Jun 2026
Dorset care home residents delighted in a memorable musical afternoon created especially for them by the BSO, Care South and JPMorganChase. Hosted at JPMorganChase’s Bournemouth campus, the midweek event included...
- 27 May 2026
Communities across the south of England gathered at Care South’s care homes to share experiences and raise awareness during Dementia Action Week. Karen Hodges, Group Dementia Lead for Care South,...
There are no upcoming events for St Ives House.
Awards / Recognitions (8)
- 30 Jan 2026Recipient: Care South
- 31 Jan 2025Recipient: Care South
- 31 Jan 2024Recipient: Care South
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for St Ives House.
Meet the Team (1)

I’m Emma and I’m the very proud manager of St Ives House. I have worked with Care South for over 20 years, managing a number of their care homes in Dorset. My earliest memories of wanting to be a carer come from my childhood; Mum was a carer and it was great meeting her colleagues and being there with the residents.
I believe in a loving, caring environment for our residents; there is nothing better than spending my days with them and hearing about their life experiences, they constantly amaze me. I love my job because no two days are the same at St Ives House.
Frequently Asked Questions about St Ives House
What types of Care is St Ives House registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does St Ives House have?
There are 60 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at St Ives House?
Own Furniture if required, Smoking not permitted, Minibus or other transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is St Ives House to the centre of Ringwood?
1.3 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 St Ives House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. St Ives House has an Enhanced Service -more info.