Residential care home near Derby, in the village of Breaston
The Firs Residential Home is a small, family-run residential care home in Breaston, the village between Derby and Long Eaton, and a residential home for elderly people who want to stay close to family. We look after older people who can no longer manage safely at home but do not need a nursing home, and for more than 30 years we have cared for families from across the Long Eaton area. This page explains what residential care is, who it suits, and what it looks like day to day at The Firs.
Families on carehome.co.uk rate The Firs 9.7 out of 10 from 56 reviews (as at September 2026).
What is a residential care home?
A residential care home provides a room, meals and help with everyday living, with care staff available 24 hours a day. Support usually covers washing and dressing, taking medication at the right time, getting about safely, eating well and having company. It is for people who need that help consistently, but whose health needs can be met by visiting professionals such as a GP and district nurses rather than by nurses on site.
Residential homes for elderly people vary a great deal in size and feel. The Firs is deliberately small, with 28 beds, so residents are known by name and families deal with the same staff each time they call or visit.
Who residential care at The Firs is for
Most of the people we care for are older adults who have found that living alone has become unsafe or isolating. Common reasons families contact us include falls at home, forgetting medication or meals, a hospital stay that has left someone less able than before, or a family carer who can no longer cope on their own.
We are registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide residential care for older people, for people living with dementia at the mild, moderate and advanced stages, and for people with mental health conditions, including adults under 65. We also offer long-term day care for people who live at home but would benefit from company, meals and activities during the day. Before a stay begins we talk with you about your relative's needs and routines, so we can be sure we can care for them well. You can read more on our dementia care page and our mental health support page.
Residential care or nursing care?
This is one of the first questions families ask, and it matters to get it right. The Firs is a residential care home, not a nursing home. We do not employ nurses on site, and we do not provide nursing care.
What we do provide is 24-hour personal care, and health support from visiting professionals. NHS district nurses come to the home when a resident needs nursing input, and a GP holds a weekly ward round.
If someone's needs change over time and they come to need nursing care that cannot be provided through district nurses, we will talk openly with the family, the resident's GP and, where relevant, the local authority to plan a move to a suitable nursing home. We would rather have that conversation early than leave a family to find out in a crisis. If you are unsure which type of care your relative needs, call us and we will give you an honest view.
What is included in the fee
The weekly fee at The Firs includes:
- accommodation and utilities
- three home-cooked meals a day
- activities
- laundry
- weekly hairdressing
- care available 24 hours a day
Private transport and specialist equipment are charged as extras. Our fees start from £1,200 a week and are published in full on our care home fees page, so you can compare before you visit.
Rooms at The Firs
We have 24 single rooms and 2 companion rooms, which suit couples who want to stay together. The house was built in 1908, spreads over three floors with a stairlift, and was refurbished in 2025. Residents are welcome to bring their own furniture and belongings to make their room feel like home.
There is a garden for residents and visitors, communal lounges for time with others or somewhere quieter, and a private car park at the front of the house.
Health support and visiting professionals
A GP holds a weekly ward round at the home, so any concerns are picked up and reviewed regularly rather than waiting for an appointment. District nurses, chiropodists, audiologists and speech and language therapists visit as needed. Our team manages and gives medication, and in a home of 28 changes in appetite, sleep or mood are noticed quickly and passed on to the right professional.
Our Registered Manager, Josie Wilson, has more than ten years' experience in care and holds an NVQ Level 4. Our team includes Dementia Champions, and staff complete experiential dementia training. You can meet more of the team on our team page.
A typical day
There is no fixed timetable for getting up or going to bed; residents are supported to keep the routines they are used to. A day might begin with help to wash and dress, followed by breakfast and a morning drink with others in the lounge or in their own room.
Our Activities Coordinator, Amelia, puts together a weekly activity planner, which we share on Facebook so families can see what is coming up. Recent months have included a Wizard of Oz "Yellow Brick Road" themed afternoon, an Oktoberfest afternoon, birthday celebrations, park walks and pet therapy visits, as well as our Summer Fayre in July. Some residents join in with everything; others prefer the garden, a newspaper or a chat with a member of staff, and both are fine.
All three meals of the day are home-cooked, and families are welcome to visit through the afternoon and evening.
Paying for residential care
The Firs welcomes residents who fund their own care, residents funded by Derbyshire County Council or Derby City Council (with or without a family top-up), and people eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. Because we are in Breaston, we sit within Erewash and the Derbyshire County Council area, but that does not stop Derby city residents choosing us. Our fees page explains funding options and deferred payment agreements in more detail.
Try residential care with a respite stay
Some families are not sure whether a care home is the right step yet. A short respite stay lets your relative experience life at The Firs, meet the team and settle into a room without committing to a permanent move. Rooms are sometimes available at short notice. One family recently described in a Google review how a respite stay for their relative became a permanent move. See our respite care page for how short stays work.
Visiting and staying in touch
Visiting is open from 9am to 10pm every day, so there is time to call in after work as well as at weekends. Families are welcome to be involved in care planning and to join in with activities. Our guide to visiting a care home has more detail.
Arrange a visit
The best way to judge any residential care home is to see it for yourself. Call us on 01332 872535 or email director@thefirsderby.co.uk to arrange a time to look round, meet the team and see the rooms. Our director, Dr Daljinder Bajwa, handles enquiries and visit requests personally. Our guide to questions to ask when visiting a care home may help you prepare, and moving into a care home explains what happens next.
The Firs Residential Home, 9 Stevens Lane, Breaston, Derby DE72 3BU. Call 01332 872535 to arrange a visit.
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Frequently asked questions