Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care
At a Glance
The information you need to decide whether this home warrants a closer look.
Nursing homes
Staff warmth score
of reviewers answered yes
Good to know
- Registered beds57
- SpecialismsCaring for adults over 65 yrs, Caring for adults under 65 yrs, Dementia, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairment
- Last inspected2023-04-20
The Evidence
What the review data, the inspection reports, and the dementia-care evidence base tell us about this home.
What families say
Families describe a place where their loved ones have settled well after difficult transitions from other care settings. The atmosphere feels calm and purposeful, with activities that keep residents engaged and connected. Staff take time to understand each person's needs, particularly those living with dementia who may have struggled elsewhere.
The eight family priority themes
- Staff warmth72
- Compassion & dignity72
- Cleanliness68
- Activities & engagement60
- Food quality60
- Healthcare68
- Management & leadership70
- Resident happiness68
What inspectors found
Inspected 2023-04-20
Is this home safe?
Is the care effective?
The Effective domain was rated Good at the March 2023 inspection. This covers care planning, staff training, nutrition and hydration, and access to healthcare including GPs, district nurses, and specialist services. Ivydene lists dementia as a specialism alongside physical disabilities and sensory impairment, meaning inspectors will have looked at whether training and care approaches are appropriate for these groups. No specific detail on dementia training content, care plan review frequency, or food quality is included in the published text.Is this home caring?
The Caring domain was rated Good at the March 2023 inspection. This domain covers staff warmth, dignity and respect, independence, and whether people feel heard. A Good rating indicates inspectors were satisfied that residents were treated with genuine care and that their privacy and independence were supported. No direct observations, resident quotes, or family testimony are recorded in the published text for this domain.Is the home responsive?
The Responsive domain was rated Good at the March 2023 inspection. This covers whether the home tailors its care and activities to individual needs, responds to complaints, and supports people at the end of their lives. Ivydene's mix of specialisms (dementia, physical disabilities, sensory impairment) means responsiveness to different communication and mobility needs is particularly important. The published text does not include specific activity examples, individual engagement descriptions, or end-of-life care detail.Is the home well-led?
The Well-led domain was rated Good at the March 2023 inspection. The home has a named registered manager, Gary Hood, and a nominated individual, Louise Palmer, both identified in the inspection record. Ivydene is operated by Sanctuary Care Limited, a national provider. A monitoring review in July 2023 found no evidence to change the rating. The published text does not include information on manager tenure, staff culture, audit outcomes, or how the home acts on feedback.
Source: CQC inspection report →
What the evidence base says
Ivydene provides residential and nursing care for people over 65, as well as younger adults with physical disabilities or sensory impairments. The home has particular experience supporting residents with dementia. Staff show real competence in helping people with different types of dementia, including those experiencing behavioural changes or vascular dementia. Families report their relatives settling better here than in previous placements, with reduced distress and improved daily routines. All areas worth probing directly during a visit.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home was rated Good across all five domains at its March 2023 inspection, which places it in a solid mid-range on the Family Score. However, the published inspection text is brief and lacks the specific observations, quotes, and detail that would push individual theme scores higher.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe a place where their loved ones have settled well after difficult transitions from other care settings. The atmosphere feels calm and purposeful, with activities that keep residents engaged and connected. Staff take time to understand each person's needs, particularly those living with dementia who may have struggled elsewhere.
What inspectors have recorded
The nursing team brings professional expertise to complex care needs, with families noting how staff respond quickly to concerns without getting defensive. Communication flows both ways, with the team actively asking for family input about their loved ones' preferences and needs.
How it sits against good practice
While some concerning incidents have been reported that families should ask about, the consistent picture is of professional care delivered with genuine warmth.
Worth a visit
Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home, on Staniforth Drive in Ivybridge, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent assessment in March 2023. The home is run by Sanctuary Care Limited with a named registered manager, Gary Hood, in post. It supports 57 people across a wide range of needs including dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, and it holds a nursing registration. A Good rating across every domain is a genuinely positive baseline, and a subsequent monitoring review in July 2023 found no reason to change that assessment. The limitation here is one of detail, not concern. The published inspection text is brief and does not include specific observations, direct quotes from residents or families, staffing ratios, or examples of individual care. That means many of the things families care most about, such as how staff respond to distress, what happens at night, and how activities are tailored for people who cannot join a group, simply cannot be verified from the report alone. On a visit, ask the manager to show you the staffing rota for last week (not a template), ask how many permanent staff work regularly on the unit where your parent would live, and spend time walking the corridors to observe how staff and residents interact when no one is putting on a show.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where consistent care meets genuine understanding for residents facing complex challenges
Compassionate Care in Ivybridge at Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home
Finding the right support for someone with dementia or physical disabilities requires more than just clinical competence — it needs genuine understanding and steady hands. Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home in Ivybridge brings both professional nursing expertise and a settled approach to care that helps residents adapt to their new surroundings. The recent refurbishments have created bright, comfortable spaces where people can feel genuinely at home.
Who they care for
Ivydene provides residential and nursing care for people over 65, as well as younger adults with physical disabilities or sensory impairments. The home has particular experience supporting residents with dementia.
Staff show real competence in helping people with different types of dementia, including those experiencing behavioural changes or vascular dementia. Families report their relatives settling better here than in previous placements, with reduced distress and improved daily routines.
“While some concerning incidents have been reported that families should ask about, the consistent picture is of professional care delivered with genuine warmth.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
The DCC Verdict
Our editorial view, built from the three lenses: what families tell us, what inspectors record, and how the home sits against good dementia-care practice.
DCC Family Score
Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home was rated Good across all five domains at its March 2023 inspection, which places it in a solid mid-range on the Family Score. However, the published inspection text is brief and lacks the specific observations, quotes, and detail that would push individual theme scores higher.
Homes in South West typically score 68–82.The three-lens summary
What families tell us
Families describe a place where their loved ones have settled well after difficult transitions from other care settings. The atmosphere feels calm and purposeful, with activities that keep residents engaged and connected. Staff take time to understand each person's needs, particularly those living with dementia who may have struggled elsewhere.
What inspectors have recorded
The nursing team brings professional expertise to complex care needs, with families noting how staff respond quickly to concerns without getting defensive. Communication flows both ways, with the team actively asking for family input about their loved ones' preferences and needs.
How it sits against good practice
While some concerning incidents have been reported that families should ask about, the consistent picture is of professional care delivered with genuine warmth.
Worth a visit
Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home, on Staniforth Drive in Ivybridge, was rated Good across all five inspection domains at its most recent assessment in March 2023. The home is run by Sanctuary Care Limited with a named registered manager, Gary Hood, in post. It supports 57 people across a wide range of needs including dementia, physical disabilities, and sensory impairment, and it holds a nursing registration. A Good rating across every domain is a genuinely positive baseline, and a subsequent monitoring review in July 2023 found no reason to change that assessment. The limitation here is one of detail, not concern. The published inspection text is brief and does not include specific observations, direct quotes from residents or families, staffing ratios, or examples of individual care. That means many of the things families care most about, such as how staff respond to distress, what happens at night, and how activities are tailored for people who cannot join a group, simply cannot be verified from the report alone. On a visit, ask the manager to show you the staffing rota for last week (not a template), ask how many permanent staff work regularly on the unit where your parent would live, and spend time walking the corridors to observe how staff and residents interact when no one is putting on a show.
The three questions to ask when you visitSave this home. Compare it against your shortlist.
Let our analysis show you how Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care measures up against the other homes you’re considering. Free account.
In Their Own Words
How Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home – Sanctuary Care describes itself — collected from its own website. DCC has not edited or independently verified the content in this tab.
Where consistent care meets genuine understanding for residents facing complex challenges
Compassionate Care in Ivybridge at Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home
Finding the right support for someone with dementia or physical disabilities requires more than just clinical competence — it needs genuine understanding and steady hands. Ivydene Residential and Nursing Home in Ivybridge brings both professional nursing expertise and a settled approach to care that helps residents adapt to their new surroundings. The recent refurbishments have created bright, comfortable spaces where people can feel genuinely at home.
Who they care for
Ivydene provides residential and nursing care for people over 65, as well as younger adults with physical disabilities or sensory impairments. The home has particular experience supporting residents with dementia.
Staff show real competence in helping people with different types of dementia, including those experiencing behavioural changes or vascular dementia. Families report their relatives settling better here than in previous placements, with reduced distress and improved daily routines.
Management & ethos
The nursing team brings professional expertise to complex care needs, with families noting how staff respond quickly to concerns without getting defensive. Communication flows both ways, with the team actively asking for family input about their loved ones' preferences and needs.
The home & environment
The home has invested in making spaces feel fresh and comfortable — new beds, modern furnishings, and thoughtful touches that residents appreciate. Mealtimes bring variety and proper portions that people actually want to eat. The bright, clean environment creates a pleasant backdrop for daily life.
“While some concerning incidents have been reported that families should ask about, the consistent picture is of professional care delivered with genuine warmth.”
DCC does not edit or curate content in this tab. For independently curated information, see The Evidence and DCC Verdict.
