St Marys












Welcome to St Marys
A friendly and safe welcome
Find out how we are welcoming new residents into our home, alongside the measures in place to keep everyone safe.
St Mary’s in Holbrook is a well-designed attractive care home providing excellent, quality care and facilities within a comfortable, homely and relaxing environment. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, offering residential and residential dementia care for 59 residents.
At Anchor, we have a long history of caring for older people and we put our residents at the heart of everything we do. 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. St Mary’s is the result of this approach, carefully conceived with all our experience and passion, to meet the needs and expectations of the next generation of older people.
Our dedicated service, combined with St Mary’s comfortable and relaxing environment allow our residents to live a full, rich and meaningful life in the company of supportive, like-minded people.
If you are looking for a home for yourself or a loved one, why not find out more about what St Mary’s has to offer.
The service at St Marys is performing very well
In the latest Your Care Rating survey at St Marys
Features of St Marys
Communal facilities
Shared facilities complementing each private residence:
- Engaging activities programme
- Garden
- Hairdressing salon
- Communal iPad
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
- Nutrition and hydration stations
- Private dining area
- Visitors are welcome to join residents for meals
Life at St Marys
You’ll always find plenty to do at St Mary’s, with a host of daily leisure activities for you to take part in ranging from arts and crafts, reminiscence evenings and exercise classes to cinema and shopping trips. Quiet areas and spacious en-suite rooms ensure peace and privacy when you want it. We adopt a ‘pets welcome’ policy by arrangement with the home manager. Our specialist sensory room and hair salon are all at hand. On warm days take a stroll in the attractive gardens and enjoy the peaceful setting. Or simply enjoy a break at one of the outdoor seating areas. St Mary’s is situated in the lovely village of Holbrook, four miles along the Shotley Peninsula, four miles from Ipswich. St Mary’s has easy access to the local amenities whilst also benefitting from wonderful views of the countryside.
St Mary’s is furnished and decorated to a very high standard throughout with facilities to make you feel at home in our care. Safe and secure home with en-suite rooms offering comfort and relaxation for 59 residents • Resident’s fully equipped kitchens • Specialist sensory room • Comfortable lounges and sitting areas • Separate dining areas • Hair and beauty salon • Engaging events and activities •

At St Mary’s we make the most of meal times. Anchor has won national recognition for the quality of its food and catering service. And with separate dining areas, you don’t have far to go to enjoy each mealtime. All our menus offer freshly cooked, wholesome and appetising offering nutritionally balanced food with a different choice every day. We’‘ll get to know your likes and dislikes, catering for any special dietary requirements so that you enjoy all of the meals we serve.

With social events in the home and the community, arranged in collaboration with residents, you can make your life at St Mary’s a hive of activity or as gentle as you wish.
Activities, interests and ability are discussed when you move in and an agreed plan ensures that these requests are fulfilled. Your suggestions for activities also help shape the planning process.
We know how important it is to maintain close bonds with the people in your life. At St Mary’s, your visitors are always welcome at any time, including mealtimes. We also encourage you to maintain links with the wider community and come and go as you please.
To see the activities for February 2020, click here.

Health
Because each of us is unique, we encourage you to choose how your care is planned and delivered at St Mary’s. We work closely with you and your family, to build a personal picture of your needs. Little things can make a big difference, so we always strive to understand what is important to you. We call it person centred care because it’s built around you or your loved one. It’s there to help you settle in really quickly, with regular reviews to keep things up-to-date. Dedicated staff ensure care, support and understanding is tailored to your exact needs. They will ensure that you continue to enjoy maximum independence and 24-hour peace of mind, knowing that all the help and assistance you might need is always at hand. All carers employed by Anchor are given intensive training and are required to complete NVQ qualifications and a range of in-house courses to assure you of the best possible care. We provide high quality care and support for residents living with dementia by treating them as individuals. All of our employees are trained and supported by our dedicated dementia team to ensure residents feel valued and able to live life to the full. Ever ready to offer support to family and friends via access to information and advice, their approach respects the uniqueness of each person rather than focusing on the diagnosis of dementia.
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 St Mary’s 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 St Mary’s 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.

Kristy Smith
Home Care Manager
Our Home offers a warm, safe, friendly and fun environment for anyone looking for sheltered or residential care. I am proud to say that our professional caring team provide wonderful tailored care, excellent food, fun activities and plenty of great company.

Allison Dowson
Administrator
People approach me for answers and reassurance about all kinds of different aspects in relation to life at St Marys and if I don’t have the answer, I’ll soon find it! Our team here are friendly and ready with a smile along with a cup of tea, biscuit or if you’re feeling naughty a slice of cake. Come for a visit and I’m sure you will agree that we have a lovely home.

3 week's care for the price of 2
As a thank you, we'd like to offer you the opportunity to receive 3 weeks care for the price of 2 weeks when you move into one of our participating care homes on a short stay respite basis.
A safe welcome

Staying safe
We continue to welcome new residents to our home safely. We regularly test residents and colleagues, have been prioritised for 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 two-week 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 the potential for cross-infection. 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 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 be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The roll-out to Anchor care homes is underway with vaccination teams coming into the home to administer the vaccine.
All new residents will also be prioritised for a vaccination on move-in.
Each of our homes is different so please speak to the care home manager once you have made an enquiry.
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 concerned and remain committed to them happening. Throughout the pandemic we’ve been doing everything we can to enable residents to see relatives and loved ones wherever it is safe, appropriate, and in line with Public Health England guidance.
Our teams have worked hard to facilitate visits in our gardens and external areas at some of our homes and, where full safety criteria has been met and local health protection advice permits, we now have an inside visiting space with a screen.
Of course, this is all subject to changes in government guidance and local lockdown restrictions.
We will always permit visits in exceptional circumstances.
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.
In these challenging times we’ve invested significantly in technology – such as Skype and FaceTime – so you can stay in regular touch.
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
St Marys
Woodlands Road, Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2PS

What's happening at St Marys
Such fun @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #funny #MondayMotivaton #comedy #tincan https://t.co/iatURYAUdO
twitterClearly some mischief afoot @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #bestfriends #CaringforLife #SaturdaySocial #naughty https://t.co/tslhlvr25W
twitterWe are a lovely bunch @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #bestfriends #SaturdayMorning #dontbealone #CaringforLife https://t.co/pV49vZJt4v
twitterMaking sure we are keeping clean and tidy @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #fridaymorning #FridayMotivation #Independence https://t.co/F4VC6y52rS
twitterEveryone so delighted @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #resident #safety #ThankfulThursday https://t.co/b9hGgFkKMC
twitterThankyou to @ESNEFT @NHSEngland for today. We are so grateful @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #NHS #Superheroes #ThursdayThought https://t.co/cJFt34nzBP
twitter#vaccine day @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #CoronaVaccine #ProtectTheProtectors #thursdayvibes https://t.co/xPwXxydDOr
twitterWatching the inauguration @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #Inauguration2021 #currentaffairs #BidenHarrisInauguration https://t.co/iK2FXxGQCc
twitterConsidering working in care? We would love and look after you as you learn everything you need to be a superhero @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover @AnchorJobs #Superheroes #InThisTogether #Careers https://t.co/bvrZDt7oTY
twitterMassive day @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #Day One #tuesdaymotivations #tuesdayvibe https://t.co/HIEb07hZdM
twitterFist pump from @StMarysCareHome @IpswichHosp @AnchorHanover #BringBackMySmile #VaccinesSaveLives https://t.co/pCNCkISxt9
twitter#vaccination anyone? Yes please from us all @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #CovidVaccine #Pfizer #soexcited https://t.co/g3R3OoMHRj
twitterWhole staff vaccinations today @IpswichHosp. I am so excited I can’t sleep! Thankyou to the @ESNEFT in advance and see you in two hours or so. Thankyou from us all @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #CovidVaccines #StayHomeSaveLives #BlessedAndGrateful https://t.co/RThD2DdQKF
twitterSharing support and wanting to help in anyway. Call 01473 328111 if you would like the brochure they sent us @StMarysCareHome or call them directly @AnchorHanover @CinnamonTrust #PetsAreTheBest #sharingiscaring https://t.co/gFpaWaZumc
twitterLife history exploration @StMarysCareHome. Look at what one of my residents painted in the 1980s. So beautiful @AnchorHanover @Artsincarehomes #artistsontwitter #AMillionLittleThings https://t.co/AMf6yLlaFd
twitterVaccinations taking place across Anchor Hanover care homes
We are delighted that following the government’s announcement that care home residents and workers will be prioritised, COVID-19 vaccinations are well underway in our care homes. Read more.
Not long now everyone. Hold on x @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #itwillbeok #future #vaccineuk https://t.co/ok3yCcYG0p
twitterWe are excited about soon getting our vaccinations @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover. Will you get yours? #coronadebat #vaccinationCovid #whynot #WeCanBeHeroes https://t.co/LoRiNFBm4v
twitterAnd again, suddenly it’s all worth it x such kind words for us @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #thoughtoftheday #AMillionLittleThings #COVID19 https://t.co/eweQJk2t7n
twitterThe most wonderful time of the year – Christmas at Anchor Hanover
Despite the holiday looking a little different this year, within our care homes, Christmas remained as important as ever...
Why not try us out and stay for three weeks for the price of two? Bargain! #trybeforeyoubuy #dontbealone we will love and look after you @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover https://t.co/mqdznk1V6a
twitterSharing is caring @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #bogus #becareful #StaySafe https://t.co/SbHMEuW2vO
twitterJoin us @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover we will love and look after you x #bubbles #BringBackMySmile #friends https://t.co/6CnpHikTPz
twitter9 simple ways to stay fit and healthy this winter
To help older people across the country stay active and healthy throughout the winter period, Anchor Hanover has developed a series of simple, accessible and effective fitness tips.
DJ smith and then quiz master. Consider my spirits lifted and my soul regenerated. Thankyou to my gorgeous residents for helping me see past the swabs! Love you all x Joyeous moment of togetherness @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #Singing https://t.co/aSWZGNcEVd
twitterOn the 26th January we celebrate all superhero’s at st marys. That is every resident, staff member and relative who together have been just super! One of our games will be ‘guess who is behind the superhero mask’. Can you? #Lockdown3 #Superheroes https://t.co/yD2Nwnb9AR
twitterBirthdays are so special with those you love @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #nationallockdown #level5 #vaccinations #weloveyoudream https://t.co/EfogEYxLqG
twitterHappy Saturday @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover @AnchorJobs #AMillionLittleThings #cute #teddybear #carer # https://t.co/KKx373AtJ9
twitterJust imagining @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #HappyNewYear2021 #Bye2020 #Happy2021 https://t.co/brVdddIanx
twitterHappy new year from us all @StMarysCareHome @AnchorJobs @AnchorHanover the future will be golden #2021MakeAWish #GoodBye2020 https://t.co/hdLA8dOFl9
twitterLearning new skills and just being together @StMarysCareHome @AnchorJobs @AnchorHanover #DailyBriefing #friends #suduko https://t.co/cjpBYQ9prE
twitterCome and join our wonderful team @StMarysCareHome @AnchorHanover #bestjobintheworld #beautiful @AnchorJobs https://t.co/NRL9E2eInQ
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