The Firs care home












Welcome to The Firs
A friendly and safe welcome
We’re vaccinated. Find out more, alongside all the measures in place to keep everyone safe.
Anchor's The Firs care home in Felixstowe is a trusted provider of residential care for elderly people, and we offer support for older people who have residential and dementia care needs.
Our care home’s well trained and helpful staff provide 24-hour care and support to help you maintain your chosen lifestyle.
At The Firs, activities play an important role and we aim to enhance our residents’ quality of life by providing a varied range of social activities.
We pride ourselves on the quality of our catering, with our Chef preparing meals daily with a varied choice from fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Set in a quiet location in its own beautiful wooded natural grounds, The Firs is close to local services and amenities. These include beaches, a promenade and award-winning cliff gardens a short drive away.
In times of uncertainty, Anchor is a care provider you can depend on. We are proudly not-for-profit with more than 50 years of experience.
We’re here to help and look forward to giving you a warm welcome.
The service at The Firs is performing very well
In the latest Your Care Rating survey at The Firs
Features of The Firs
Communal facilities
Shared facilities complementing each private residence:
- Engaging activities programme
- Garden
- Communal lounge
- Conservatory
- Library
Care and support
In addition to residential care, we also offer:
- Respite care
- Palliative care
- Huntington's disease
- Dementia care
- Convalescence care
Food and dining
We promote wellbeing through a positive dining experience:
- Communal dining area
- Visitors are welcome to join residents for meals
Life at The Firs
At The Firs care home, we provide quality 24-hour residential care and specialist care for residents with dementia.
We support and develop our staff on an ongoing basis to enable them to provide the highest quality care for our residents.
At our home we have:
- A library
- A shop for small items
- A games room
- A bar
- A hairdressing salon
- A lift to upper floors
- A personal laundry facility and laundry service
- A pay telephone or the facility for a private telephone line in each room
- Regular religious services and meetings should you wish to take part
- Newspapers which can be ordered and delivered daily to your room
- Wheelchair access and car parking
Nearby facilities:
- Felixstowe town centre is 1 mile away and can be reached using excellent bus services
- The nearest main hospital is Heath Road Hospital Ipswich, while local hospital Felixstowe General is 1 mile away
- Felixstowe Railway Station is 1.5 miles away, while Ipswich Railway Station with services to London Liverpool Street, is 18 miles away
- A theatre, swimming pool, golf course and supermarket are under 2 miles away
The Firs is a unique, purpose-built residence which was designed to provide residential social care and dementia care. Set in a quiet location and in its own grounds, The Firs has single en-suite rooms, the majority of which have lovely views of the gardens.
Our home is fully furnished and decorated to a high standard with a call system which ensures that help is at hand 24 hours a day.
We also have:
- Most rooms with views of the gardens
- A television point and connections for satellite and digital TV
- Tea-making facilities available to make drinks for you and your visitors in unit lounges
Other accommodation facilities include:
- Cosy lounges with TVs and quiet areas for reading and relaxing
- Bathrooms specially equipped so you can relax in comfort
- Safe, enclosed gardens
We encourage you to bring small personal items to enhance your room.

We know how important mealtimes are to our residents, so we always try to make this a sociable and enjoyable experience, whilst recognising individual choice.
The Firs' Food Promise ensures all our menus offer freshly cooked, appetising and nutritionally balanced meals including:
- Cooked breakfast every day
- Wholesome homemade soup everyday
- Freshly baked biscuits and cakes everyday
- Traditional Sunday Roast
- Fish and Chips weekly
- A variety of snacks available all day
Our Chefs understand the nutritional needs of older people and ensure that our meals are prepared using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
We serve tasty, wholesome dishes and involve residents in selecting our menus at a local level. We offer daily choice of meals and cater for special dietary needs and preferences, helping keep our residents healthy and well nourished.

Our care home organises and arranges a variety of opportunities for our residents to enjoy daily activities in our home and in the local community.
We work in partnership with the National Association for Providers of Activities for Older People (NAPA) and encourage activities that enhance our residents’ lifestyle, health and wellbeing.
Residents preferred activities, interests and ability are discussed when they move in and an agreed plan ensures that these requests are fulfilled (wherever possible). Our residents’ suggestions for activities also help shape the planning process.
We organise supervised day trips to leisure facilities and places of interest as well as social events in the home, including themed restaurant evenings, arts and crafts, quizzes and regular entertainers.

Health
At The Firs our caring and attentive staff work with our residents and their loved ones to create a detailed care plan which ensures our residents individual health and care needs are met.
We know how important it is to care for our residents with the dignity and respect they deserve and this is at the heart of what we do at The Firs care home.
Our commitment to advanced dementia training for our staff has helped the Department of Health pass its goal of 3,000 Dignity Champions nationwide.
Our health and social care partners include:
- A GP who is available on request
- A hairdresser visits every week
- A chiropodist visits on request
- A dentist and optician who visit the home
- The district nurse and physiotherapist who visit by arrangement
Pricing information
We endeavour to be completely transparent about all our charges and fees. For further information please contact us.
How much does it cost?
Care homes
Call us to discuss your specific care needs today
What is included in care home fees?
For many people, moving to a care home is a big decision and it can be difficult to know where to start. Care home fees are based on a range of factors, including specific care needs, which can change over time.
Living in an Anchor care home you can be confident that a single fee covers the cost of your personally tailored 24 hour care and support, utility bills and meals, as well as a fantastic range of daily activities. In an Anchor care home our weekly charge includes:
- cost of personal care
- accommodation
- utilities e.g. heating and light
- all resident catering, meals, snacks and drinks
- laundry undertaken on the premises
- television licence, including for person use
- housekeeping services.
The following extra items and services are not covered by the weekly fees, however we can arrange for them to be provided (at an additional cost):
- professional hairdressing
- personal copies of newspapers or magazines
- personal purchases such as stationery, confectionery, toiletries etc.
- clothing, shoes and slippers
- dry cleaning
- private telephone line rental and calls and cable connections.
In the absence of free provision by the NHS, we can also arrange for the following healthcare services to be provided, these will be charged in addition to the weekly fees:
- chiropody
- optometry
- dentistry
- physiotherapy
- other privately arranged healthcare
- care staff accompaniment to regular medical appointments.
No upfront deposit is required at any of Anchor’s care homes to secure a room.
At Anchor we pride ourselves on offering a truly tailored approach to care and therefore need to fully understand your needs to provide you with an accurate fee estimate. Please call us to discuss your specific care needs today. Alternatively we welcome you to visit us to discuss your situation face-to-face.
Want more information on care home fees?
Learning about the different funding options available to you can also help you feel confident in your decisions. Anchor know that securing care home funding can sometimes appear a rather daunting task and so to help we have put together a free guide covering requesting assistance, top up fees and third-party payments.
Care home feesAt The Firs we have a caring team of well qualified professionals, passionate about what they do and dedicated to ensuring our residents always feel confident that they can rely on a friendly face and helping hand 24-hours a day.
We encourage visits to The Firs so you can meet our team and get a feel of what it would be like to live here. You will be able to look around, meet other residents, find out what goes on and ask any questions you may have. It is important to us that you make the right decision and are happy with your choice of new home.

Julie Real
Administrator
I have been fortunate enough to have worked for Anchor at The Firs for over 23 years, starting as housekeeping, going on to care, Team Leader and now admin. I have really enjoyed each role for different reasons. When you visit us at The Firs I will be your first point of contact and will welcome you with a warm smile.

Julie Reynolds
Administrator
I work alongside my colleagues in a part time capacity, together there is always a warm welcome at The Firs.

Spring 2 weeks free permanent stay offer
We'd like to offer you an opportunity for two weeks' free stay when you move into one of our participating care homes on a permanent basis*
A safe welcome

Staying safe
We continue to welcome new residents to our home safely. We regularly test residents and colleagues, have received Covid-19 vaccinations and are well equipped with high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staying clean
We ensure a sterile environment with regular deep-cleaning and are committed to protecting everyone living and working in our home through robust infection-control measures.

Staying in touch
We maintain regular contact with families and are doing everything we can to enable residents to see relatives and loved ones wherever it is safe to do so. We also offer virtual show rounds to those considering our home.
Useful information
To start your enquiry simply click 'Make Enquiry' and call us or complete an enquiry form.
We’ll provide you with full details of the home, along with any other information you’d like such as sample menus and activity schedules.
While we can’t currently invite you to visit in person, a member of our friendly team can offer you a virtual show round, a video call or a FaceTime appointment, where you can speak to them one-to-one and take a look around the home and any rooms that are available.
We’re keen to show you what daily life is like here and for you to meet the staff providing care. You can also see for yourself the measures we’ve put in place to keep residents safe.
If you wish to take your enquiry further, an assessment will take place to make sure we can meet your loved one’s care needs. This will be arranged in a safe way by the senior care management team at the home and may be conducted virtually or at a safe social distance with the staff member wearing the required PPE.
Ensuring residents’ safety and wellbeing is our absolute priority.
We’ll put together a comprehensive settling-in programme with you and your loved one, designed entirely around their needs. This provides a dedicated package of one-to-one activities and support that minimises any potential risk of cross-infection while settling into the home.
We understand how important visits are and are pleased that government guidelines allow residents to nominate a single named person who can visit regularly during this period, supported by testing.
We’ll use this time to get to know each other and, most importantly, ensure there are plenty of opportunities to maintain regular contact with other family and friends using the latest video call technology.
Our chef will arrange delicious meals to suit your loved one’s preferences and dietary requirements and discuss our menus going forward. And, from day one of moving in, our housekeeping teams make sure bedrooms and laundry services are tailored to their needs.
The home manager will discuss every area of moving-in with you in detail to make sure you and your loved one know exactly what to expect and feel confident and welcomed when they come to live with us
Our homes were among the first in the country to take part in the government’s care home testing programme in July 2020 – and we’ve been regularly testing colleagues and residents since.
- All care home colleagues are routinely tested twice every week.
- All residents are tested on admission to the home and then routinely.
With residents’ safety and wellbeing our absolute priority, we want to assure you that we’re doing everything possible to prevent coronavirus entering our homes.
We are pleased that care home residents and workers have been prioritised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The roll-out to Anchor care homes is underway with vaccination teams having visited every home and all residents having been offered a first vaccine. Vaccination teams are now in the process of revisiting homes to administer the second vaccine.
All new residents will also be prioritised for a vaccination on move-in.
Each of our homes is different so please speak directly to the manager of the care home you’re interested in.
Like any other infectious disease, coronavirus can be prevented from spreading with the right training, equipment and infection-control measures.
We are well equipped and have good stocks of high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) which complies with government requirements.
Our in-house team are highly trained and experienced in ensuring a clean and safe environment and committed to protecting everyone living and working in our home through the consistent use of infection control measures. These measures include regular hand washing, social distancing, putting on clean uniforms upon arrival and the proper use of appropriate PPE.
As members of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), we take cleaning and cleanliness extremely seriously. We use the highest-quality products and are following an enhanced programme of cleaning.
We understand how important visits are for everyone and are pleased that family and friends are able to enter our care homes, supported by testing, for regular visits to their loved ones. This follows a change in government guidance.
Every care home resident can nominate two named visitors who will be able to see them regularly. Additionally, residents with the highest care needs will be able to nominate an essential care giver.
We’re delighted that people living in our homes are able to have more regular, sustained and meaningful contact with a loved one.
Alongside this, our homes continue to offer visits to other friends or family members with arrangements such as inside visiting spaces with a screen and outdoor or window visits. We will always permit visits in exceptional circumstances. We’ve also invested significantly in technology – such as Skype and FaceTime– so you can stay in regular touch.
Of course, visiting remains subject to changes in government guidance and lockdown restrictions.
Each of our homes is different and you’ll have the opportunity to speak directly to the Manager of the care home you’re interested in.
During this difficult time, we’re keeping life as normal as possible so residents feel safe, secure, and happy. Which means your loved one can expect great fresh food, a wealth of activities and friendly company.
Residents continue to enjoy delicious, freshly-made meals every day, with a choice of menu daily, prepared by our expert catering teams.
Our creative activity programmes, developed by our in-house team of wellness coordinators, aims to keep residents as active and healthy as possible, should they wish to take part, ranging from person-centred activities to home-wide events.
Getting here
The Firs
186 Grange Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 2QF

What's happening at The Firs
Party on #willow today, #FeelGoodFriday #movemoremonth #Here4OurResidents #AnchorHanover #FridayVibes https://t.co/XnUm1vVmCB
twitterSheila just came out with this poem for our #poetry afternoon 🥰 #FeelGoodFriday #activeminds #residents #happyface #Here4OurResidents #AnchorHanover https://t.co/nk6rrGzAP2
twitterAnchor Hanover forms pioneering partnership to tackle climate change
Five of the UK’s leading housing associations have formed a pioneering partnership to improve the energy efficiency of their 300,000 homes for more than 600,000 customers, while creating new...
Della #loves a sing along and #Dance #AGoodDay #keepingactive #happy #Goodtimes https://t.co/5g8UvTPF6W
twitterWe had a #visitor this afternoon #CatsOfTwitter #petsitting https://t.co/avu5wABZ25
twitterSelf led #Activities are always #good 😊 #thursdaymorning #carehomes #residents #AnchorHanover https://t.co/VgBxWgEBsn
twitterNew research exposes UK’s reluctance to talk about dementia
New research by Anchor Hanover has revealed the nation’s lack of awareness of the prevalence of dementia, and our deep-rooted reluctance to think and talk about it.
Here's Josie giving all the #eastereggs out to our #lovely #residents #Easter2021 #EasterSunday https://t.co/kCzMNTNZ32
twitter#EasterSunday service @TheFirsCH #HappyEaster https://t.co/cwCVPoMz1V
twitter#Easter #bonnet making @TheFirsCH #EasterSunday2021 #EasterBunny #AnchorHanover https://t.co/pTvk2UbWEv
twitterA very #HappyEaster from all @TheFirsCH #Easter2021 https://t.co/cdbgL4vPBd
twitterThank you to the Felixstowe @TheSalvationArmy for their must generous gift to cheer us today at Easter. #HappyEaster #UKGiftHour #caring #Felixstowe https://t.co/360ho21Zpy
twitterLovely present of cupcakes 🧁 for Easter from our friends @BillieBox #caring #Easter2021 #friends https://t.co/qnXwASBPTn
twitterBrian and Zoe reminiscing 🥰 #carehomes #residents #carestaff #ThursdayThoughts #AnchorHanover https://t.co/qxBS3icAyd
twitterAndrew our brilliant Chef at The Firs & his son are being very brave and doing a Skydive for Kidney research UK . Please, please donate what you can, click on the link below to go to our JustGiving page. Please also share our page. Big Thanks in advance ! https://t.co/3O4bljTwEy https://t.co/UanCFXQ6oB
twitterLots of #artsandcrafts being #enjoyed @TheFirsCH #TurtleTuesday https://t.co/2j0IdaRUPP
twitter#sweetshop open 😁 #Here4OurResidents #tuesdaymotivations #sweettooth #Enjoy Josie 🥰 #AnchorHanover https://t.co/UjCL29NPI8
twitter#Easter2021 crafts happening @TheFirsCH today #tuesdaymotivations #TuesdayFeeling #care #AnchorHanover https://t.co/Pzbd52INUU
twitter#Sunsout @TheFirsCH #Felixstowe it was lovely to see our #residents enjoying #sunshine #AnchorHanover https://t.co/fp8GkKeuw5
twitterAnchor Hanover announces new landmark £300m sustainable and unsecured refinancing
Anchor Hanover Group, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people, has completed an innovative refinancing of its bank debt which sets two new benchmarks for the...
Lovely to see, ready for the summer again! #summer #beachlife #HolidayMemories #WeLoveFelixstowe https://t.co/nGJbASFJ8y
twitterVery competitive precision bowling going on #bowls #active #Mondayvibes https://t.co/0UpnwOg344
twitterGreat start to the week! #Friends #MondayMotivation https://t.co/mjV7ckk7id
twitterSaturday afternoon fun #SaturdayVibes #qualitytime https://t.co/J0OjjFRcwE
twitterIt was 1960s day here today! Cue music, laughter, and 1960s inspired food #AnchorHanover #1960s #FridayMood https://t.co/WF5iOJAmTp
twitterWelcoming our families back with a goody bag containing PPE for their visit and a little something extra ! #visiting #welcome #caring https://t.co/XQwP58kOqn
twitterWe all #love a puzzle #carehomes #Carestaff #AnchorHanover https://t.co/heFt7aFrex
twitterMr & Mrs #enjoying reading the paper #together #livingwithdementia #activeminds #ThursdayThoughts #AnchorHanover https://t.co/PTF2Y2RWm0
twitterUK’s first purpose-built LGBT+ Extra Care housing facility moves forward in Manchester
Proposals to deliver the UK’s first purpose built and co-produced LGBT+ older person’s housing scheme have taken a leap forward as Anchor Hanover has been chosen as preferred partner to deliver it.
Whether you are looking for a loving care home or just some advice @TheFirsCH are here for you #Suffolk #carehomes #advice https://t.co/dPiCjHvkeC
twitter#reflectionday #OneYearOfLockdown #ourresidents #careworkers #Here4OurResidents #AnchorHanover https://t.co/UdLZJIB3d5
twitterOur PPE tree for our families coming to visit again! #care #WelcomeWithDignity #socialcare https://t.co/2UBTMvrTMf
twitterWe're so lucky to have some friendly wildlife in our gardens 😍 We've named him Nutkin! #nature #animals #care #AnchorHanover https://t.co/jgYcCobvwJ
twitterWe know care home funding can seem like a daunting topic. Watch our series of short videos created with @Eldercaregroup to get answers to some key questions & feel more informed https://t.co/hHZFb3Rxed #heretohelp @TheFirsCH #Suffolk #carehomes https://t.co/lgekbugTgq
twitter#cocktails this afternoon for #RedNoseDay @TheFirsCH #HappyFriday #rednoseday2021 #Here4OurResidents #AnchorHanover https://t.co/toSOXgN4DI
twitterAnchor Hanover signs up to Disability Confident Scheme
Anchor Hanover, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of specialist housing and care for people in later life, have joined the Disability Confident 2021 scheme.
National Day of Reflection
Tuesday 23rd March marks the anniversary of the first coronavirus lockdown. The charity Marie Curie is launching a National Day of Reflection on this day, to remember those...
#flower arranging was enjoyed by the #gents @TheFirsCH #carehomes #residents #AnchorHanover https://t.co/oNyX4qFKb8
twitterThanks Denny for your #help #carehomes #residents #SaturdayMorning https://t.co/g8eaF1cI67
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