
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.
Lovely facilities very caring staff, stimulating environment. Very clean and well kept.
My husband has received the very best care and attention during his stay in respite. Patience and understanding in use here at all times.
Liked this home on the first visit. Carer and staff are all friendly and helpful.My aunt who despite being reluctant to come into care has settled and decided to stay. Christmas was very special for residents and family alike. Thank you.
Staff are friendly and kind, the home is light and airy, well laid out and with nice furnishings. Food is very good with great variety, the food is shown to the residents so they can select, rather than picking from a list. Nice cakes in the afternoon with tea.
Entertainment previously lacking but much improved now. Will hopefully get even better, with more trips out etc.
The building may be brand new, but the team all know each other of old and this shows in the atmosphere.
Since new manager took over early June 2017 St Ives House my overall marking for this home has gone from a 05 to + 08. My husband has been an inpatient since February 2017. In August this year until September 2017 I was out of the UK I asked the manager to keep an eye on my husbands "overall" care. On return, I found him very happy and well cared for. The manager's overall awareness is "spot on" and clever. 9/10
Beautiful home very well managed and run. The staff couldn't be more helpful, caring and empathetic. Food excellent and well balanced.
The staff are extremely helpful and put your mind at rest for any problems.
They are very happy and relaxed dealing with their patients.
The design of the home is excellent, you can easily find a quiet area to sit with your relative.
All the friends I have taken to the home are very impressed and always look forward to another visit.
The staff are very helpful and are funny.
My grandma is happy there and that's what counts.
My parents moved into the independent living apartments in June this year. They are extremely happy with all aspects. Nothing is ever too much trouble and all the staff are willing, kind, courteous and friendly. The bistro is marvellous and a wonderful high-quality restaurant which my parents love. Well done to the manager and the team.
I visited him several times and he always told me how much he liked the staff and how well they looked after him. The whole atmosphere in the home is exceptionally warm, friendly and very caring. Many thanks to all involved.
My grandma is very happy there, as it always has a nice atmosphere. We are always visiting with friends and family, which my grandma thrives on, we love having lunch in the Bistro, it's become a real social gathering.
Staff go above and beyond to make my grandma laugh and smile.
I highly recommend St Ives for anyone that's looking.
Overall I've always had a lovely experience.
The staff are really nice and attentive.
The spaces are always tidy and the overall environment has always been comfortable.
The staff are really sweet to all residents and friendly with visitors.
It's a beautiful care home.
My mother, who suffers from mild Alzheimers, spent a week of respite at St Ives House recently. She is normally cared for in her own home by myself and my siblings. This was her first stay in a care home. The staff were very friendly and caring and she was given a bright room, as I had requested. She enjoyed her meals and slept well. There were only a couple of negative things concerning her stay. Other wise we were delighted that our Mum enjoyed her stay and even joined in with the activities that were organised for the residents. We feel she benefited from the stimulation of being with caring staff in a lovely setting. The home is spacious and light indoors, with views of the beautiful grounds and has a lovely atmosphere. Mum was able to access her large en suite shower room and on returning home she has said several times, "That was a lovely place."
To my knowledge, not once has she asked to return to her home of over 55 years.
Excellent. Very happy with all the meals. The bedroom facilities are excellent.
What a wonderful place and such wonderful staff. The facilities at St Ives House is exceptional - 5-star!! The staff were all so gentle, compassion and so so understanding. The management and staff could not do enough for my mother and family. I would highly recommend it to anybody and hope that when my time comes that I will be cared for by such wonderful people.
I cannot speak highly enough about the wonderful care my mother-in-law receives at St Ives House. The facilities are 5-star and the staff amazing. My mother-in-law was cared for with gentleness, compassion and understanding. The management and staff could not do enough for both her and the family. I would highly recommend it to anybody and hope that when my time comes, I will be cared for by such wonderful people.
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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