
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 lived at St Ives House for four years and during that time, her Alzheimer's steadily progressed until she lost her battle with it in early February. The love, care and attention that she received during her time at St Ives were truly remarkable, from housekeeping to management, all the staff gave us the confidence that Mum was definitely in the right place. When the end came, her lovely carers were so supportive of us as a family and we cannot thank them enough. We will be forever grateful.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave St Ives House a review. I am so sorry to learn of your mother's passing. Wishing you and your family all the very best for the future.
An exceptional care home for friendliness, attention and treating residents as if it was their own home. We all have problems at some time but nothing was ever too much trouble. The home is extremely spacious and set in beautiful grounds. I would not hesitate to recommend it to others.
Thank you for your five-star review; the team at St Ives House will be delighted. All the best.
After three previous care home trials, St Ives House was clearly the best and just a shame we didn't try here at the beginning as it turned out to be almost perfect and a real home from home.
Thank you so much for your review. Wishing you all the best.
It's a difficult time when you realise you need to place your parents into a care home, but we were fortunate to know of St Ives House. My mother was a resident for two years, and my father for four years. The home has a lovely, happy and welcoming atmosphere and is well-managed. The different needs of the residents are cared for superbly. Most important are the staff who provide personal care, who are so patient and caring. They are amazing. We know our parents were well cared for.
Many Thanks.
The care received by both has not only been outstanding but highly personal and sympathetic. They (and I) have found the management and staff to be very friendly, approachable and communicative.
Furthermore, the house and gardens are beautifully presented.
Thank you for your lovely review; I will pass on your feedback to the team. Wishing you all the best.
Throughout her time there, she was treated with love and dignity by all the staff, from the housekeeping and kitchen staff right up to the senior managers. We were always kept informed of how she was doing and always made her very welcome when we visited.
In the last few weeks of mum's life, they really went above and beyond, making sure if we weren't there, the staff went in and sat with her and chatted with her. This above-and-beyond level of care even extended after her death, as did the support offered to us. I have done this in the past and wouldn't hesitate in the future to recommend St Ives. The staff really do become part of an extended family for both residents and their relations.
Thank you for your review. I am so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. It is so pleasing to know that she settled into St Ives well and enjoyed her time with us. I will pass on your comments to the team. Wishing you all the best.
Very clean and tidy home. The residents are well looked after and we are always kept informed of my mother's condition. The carers are very friendly and look after my mother very well. The organised party at Christmas and birthdays are always carried out well.
Thank you for your wonderful five-star review. I will be sure to pass your feedback on to the team at St Ives House, all the best.
Clean, bright care home, always beautifully clean. The staff are very kind and sweet to my mother-in-law who is now suffering from dementia. Excellent care and always very welcoming to members of our family.
Thank you for leaving St Ives House a review, I am so pleased to hear how happy you are with the care we are providing your mother-in-law. Wishing you all the very best.
Our mother spent nearly two years at St Ives, where the wonderful staff and management cared for her with the dreadful effect of Dementia and Alzheimer's, making their work even more difficult. At the end, the staff were all extremely thoughtful to Mum and her two boys through very difficult times. We could not have wanted anything better for Mum throughout her stay at St Ives.
I am sorry to hear of your mother's passing. I am extremely grateful that you have taken the time to review St Ives House. I will pass on your wonderful feedback to all the team. Wishing you all the very best.
My parents have been happy residents of St Ives for some years now, and when my uncle's care home closed during the pandemic, we had no hesitation in bringing him to St Ives. It is light and airy, with very dedicated staff who underpin the warm ambience of the home and provide great care with respect and dignity. It is well-managed, and communication with families is excellent. Any problems we have had have been resolved swiftly and efficiently. I feel that my relatives are completely safe in their hands and their care and happiness are central to everything they do. Great people!
All the best.
Sadly this review is based on a short time as our relative's health deteriorated quite quickly. However, the care she received was excellent in every way. It was such a pity that she was not well enough to partake in all the cavities that this lovely care home offers.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. It really does mean a lot to the team. Wishing you all the best.
I came in for respite for two weeks due to my health and mental health being very low. St Ives House helped me a lot in socialising with other people, which in turn, helped me to begin to feel a bit better, more like my old self. My eating improved the second week, and having staff just being there was just what I needed.
Thank you for your review. I am so pleased to hear how happy you are following your stay with us; wishing you all the very best.
Mum is really well cared for at St Ives. The staff are caring and provide truly personal support. The food is very nice, and Mum has put on weight since moving in. I would highly recommend St Ives, as Mum feels safe, secure and very well cared for.
Thank you for your review. I am so pleased to read how happy you are with mums care at St Ives House. I'll be sure to pass on your feedback to all the team. Many thanks.
The care and support offered by everyone are superb. I was struggling to keep my wife at home, and in the end, I could not cope. I looked at various homes, and the professionalism of the staff stood out above others; their training and care are first-class, which means my wife is safe and being cared for in a far better way than I could.
Thank you for your review, it means so much to all the team. Wishing you all the best.
She moved in from the hospital in the middle of lockdown. They took great care and were responsive and thoughtful throughout taking great care and attention in all aspects.
The staff are really incredible and instrumental in making this a superb home. They are a team who works together and cares about all of the residents. Unlike many care homes, the staff stay here. They go above and beyond to care for the residents and are truly marvellous. They hosted an amazing Jubilee party, and once again, all the staff go above and beyond and made a tremendous effort. This really is home from home. I would not hesitate to recommend this care home. Such an important decision, and this home ticks all the boxes. A great home with a loyal and caring staff team.
Thank you for your kind words; it means a huge amount to all the team at St Ives House. I am delighted that you also enjoyed the Jubilee celebrations. Wishing you all the best.
My mother spent ten months in St Ives House, and although this wasn't her 1st choice because she wanted to be closer to Ferndown, as it turned out, the care she received was outstanding. There was always excellent communication with myself and the staff, and this was so important as I was over 200 miles away and only able to visit monthly. Initially, Mum found it very difficult adjusting to life in care, but the staff always acted with professionalism and compassion; their good humour and friendly nature were evident in how quickly Mum became comfortable in her new surroundings. I was always kept informed of any changes in her health and attitude, and the staff couldn't have been more helpful when my father was hospitalised through illness and was able to take Mum to visit him. St Ives House is set in beautiful surroundings, extremely well-maintained with first-rate professional staff; thank you all very much.
Thank you for leaving us a review; it is greatly appreciated. I am so pleased to read that mum has now settled into St Ives House. Wishing you the very best.
Our mum has just spent her last 2-months in St Ives House. The care she received has been absolutely first-rate. Having professional experience in care homes, I was apprehensive that the care would be adequate - in fact, it far surpassed expectations. At all times, communication was excellent, and staff were always competent, compassionate and sensible, calling health services appropriately and keeping us informed. Alzheimer’s left Mum confused and cross. The staff cared for her with good humour and professionalism throughout - seeing and cherishing her character underneath. Her death could not have been more peaceful, and the family better cared for. Our father always felt guilty that he could no longer care for her, but he is hugely comforted knowing how expertly she was cared for at all times to the end. We cannot thank you all enough.
I am so pleased to hear that you were all well looked after. I will be sure to pass on your amazing comments to the team.
My mother-in-law was treated with the utmost dignity right to the end of her journey. The staff were very good to her, and I know that she enjoyed a joke with them, especially a member of staff, whom she was very fond of.
Thank you for leaving us such a wonderful review; it really does mean the world to all the team.
The staff are second to none.
They treated her with dignity and compassion.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Your comments mean the world to all the team at St Ives House. Wishing you all the best.
I have stayed here before on two occasions, and I want to be honest here as I love St Ives House, but I found this visit that some things had changed! Due to Covid and recruitment difficulties, so shortage of staff, I found the button call response slow, noticed no steam cleaning as was done before, especially needed with Covid about. I had some nice meals and some not so nice, and twice I didn't get breakfast, but I love the people and the place, so would come again.
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.
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