
Mum is happy in Signature House, and it is home to her. The staff are very kind and caring.Anne L(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

We are very impressed with the friendly, knowledgeable staffSue S(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

The activity program greatly enhances my mother's enjoyment of life at Signature.Tracey P(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Mum is happy in Signature House, and it is home to her. The staff are very kind and caring.Anne L(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

We are very impressed with the friendly, knowledgeable staffSue S(Daughter-in-law of Resident/Service User)

The activity program greatly enhances my mother's enjoyment of life at Signature.Tracey P(Daughter of Resident/Service User)

Signature House is located in the heart of Dorchester and provides nursing care for residents who have physical mobility problems and those living with dementia.
Signature House forms part of Amica Care Trust, a not-for-profit organisation which strives to provide exceptional care and support to people and their families.
The home offers a safe and secure, homely living environment, with fully furnished facilities, Wi-Fi, telephone points, flat-screen TVs and a nurse call...
Care Provided by Signature House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Learning Disability / Autism
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 48 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
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Bar/Café
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Care packages are individually assessed and costed according to each person's needs.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Signature House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Signature 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)
Support you may be entitled to
- If you chose a care home based in England, you may be eligible for NHS Funded Nursing Care (FNC), which helps cover the cost of nursing. This is worth £267.68 per week and is usually paid directly to the care home.
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- Amica Care
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Mandy Bugler(Home Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed (no single-gender units)
- Ages 50+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Year Purpose Built: 2012
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (48)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (48)
Visiting
- Visitors are welcome at any time. We have a guest room available if visitors wish to stay with us, this is at a small charge.
Parking
- There is limited parking available within the care home grounds but there is a large public car park opposite the home.
Signature House Reviews (60)
Signature House has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.841) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Signature House has 60 reviews.
As I live in florida, this has been my second visit to Signature House to see my Mother, who has been a resident for over 2 years now. Both visits have been wonderful. I have the peace of mind to know that my Mother is being looked after very well. All the staff from the Nurses, healthcare assistants and Entertainment assistants are always happy and have a welcoming attitude. Everything is clean and tidy, including the garden. Keep it up Signature House! You are doing a great job!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful review. We understand it's especially important when you live so far away to have the peace of mind that your mother is receiving excellent care. It was a pleasure to meet you during your visit, and I am delighted to hear that your...
My mother moved into Signature House in 2023 and recently passed away there. I cannot thank the staff and management team enough for the love, care and support they gave my mother from the moment she became a resident until the very moment of her passing. The dedication and committment of all staff is/was outstanding and through their caring nature, Mum was settled and happy. I cannot think of a better care home in Dorset, we were so lucky that Mum had found her 'safe' caring forever home.
Thankyou so much for taking the time to write this review for us. It was a privilege to care for such a lovely lady who was always smiling. I will be sharing your kind words with all our staff.
My husband has been a resident at Signature House for four months now. He has settled in very well, and that is all due to the excellent care he receives from all the staff, bar none. Nothing is too much trouble, and they treat each and every resident with kindness and dignity. Sometimes under difficult and challenging circumstances. But from my observation, they never waiver to give over and above what is required of them. My husband seems very well adjusted, and that makes me well assured.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review for Signature House. We're delighted to hear your appreciation for our staff and the excellent care they provide, I will be sharing this with them all.
Mum has a lovely room. The facilities are excellent and mum receives an excellent level of support and care. There are plenty of activities to keep her occupied. The staff are highly trained and treat mum with care and compassion. I can't think of a better place for mum to stay and it is such a relief to know that she is safe and so well cared for.
Thank you for such a wonderful review of Signature House. It is such a pleasure to care for your Mum and great to hear your positive comments regarding the home and its facilities. We will certainly pass on your lovely comments to our team.
My mother was a resident of Signature House Care Home from late 2024 until her passing in early 2026. My brother and I performed a detailed evaluation of the care homes in the Dorchester area prior to selecting Signature House. It was our first choice location. Key factors were the central location in Dorchester, with accessibility to shops, opticians, hearing aid centre, pubs and restaurants without need for a car, the purpose designed modern building with lifts to each floor, no changes in elevation on each floor, wide corridors and spacious en-suite rooms, and finally, the attentive, caring management and staff. There are a maximum of 16 residents on each floor and a good ratio of carers to residents. I was able to contact staff on a daily basis to enquire about my mothers activities and health and always felt that her needs were being met. During my mother's final days, she was treated with dignity and respect. The care staff and management were friendly and helpful at all times.
Thankyou for taking the time to write this review for our team, it was a pleasure to care for your Mother. It means so much to hear such positive comments and I will be sharing this review with our staff.
Is AMAZING !!!!
My uncle suffered a fractured hip and spent 2 months in hospital which made his dementia worse.
Since coming to Signature House he's a completely different person washed and dressed clean shaven and has a smile back on his face and his sense of humour is back too.
It's nice to see him happy after a difficult few months.
It's the dedication of the all the staff that have made my uncles transition easy.from hospital to his new home.
Many thanks for your care and support
I'm looking forward to the future seeing my uncle happy and at home.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review. After such a difficult period in hospital, we are really pleased that we have been able to make a positive difference to your uncle's quality of life at Signature House. Reading feedback like this makes us incredibly proud of the care and support our team provides.
Dad with advanced dementia has been a resident for 18 months. He is flourishing at Signature House - mobility improved, he is content/very happy. He tells me he likes it there and likes the food. He is benefitting from communal living and having lots of people around - he loves people-watching and interacts with all the staff and visitors. All staff are cheerful, friendly, caring and really worked to get to know my Dad very well. It feels like one big happy family. The home is extremely well managed. The welcome when my Dad was admitted was wonderful - many members of staff came to help us and spent time with us. Dad is taken by staff to hospital appointments. Queries/suggestions are immediately addressed. There is a lovely garden for everyone to use and Dad is taken out there regularly. The activities arranged for residents are stimulating and endlessly creative - boat/pub trips/parties/music/visits with animals and celebration. I'd be happy to stay there myself if I needed care.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such lovely feedback about your Dad's stay at Signature House. We are delighted to hear that he has settled in so well and that he is enjoying living with us. Creating a warm, cheerful, and supportive environment for our residents is at the very heart...
He has settled in really well with the help of all the wonderful staff. They are so caring and patient and nothing is too much trouble.
The Senior Activities Officer is marvellous and she keeps everyone entertained in lots of indoor and outdoor activities.
Signature House is an outstanding home with a calm,warm atmosphere and I am always welcomed with a cup of tea..
Thankyou so much for taking the time to write this review. Activities are an essential part of the care we provide and it is so lovely when our activity staff are recognised for this important role. I will pass your kind words on to the whole team at Signature House and we look forward to welcoming you again soon with your friendly dog who all our staff and residents enjoy seeing.
They go the extra mile to ensure my Aunt's needs are met and do the little things that make such a difference.
I am always greeted with a warm welcome and I always find my Aunt well looked after.
The Senior Activities Coordinator is someone very special and fantastic at brightening up the day for my immobile Aunt.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a kind and thoughtful review. We're delighted to hear that you always feel welcomed when visiting our home. Your words mean a great deal to our team and I will be sharing this with them all. We are fortunate at Signature House to have an...
She has a lovely big room and bathroom, that the staff keep spotlessly clean, along with the rest of the Home.
Residents are encouraged to spend time in the lounge and take part in activities, which is great for Mum.
All the staff are lovely and so friendly and caring both to residents and their visitors.
We are so pleased there was a room available when needed for Mum.
Thankyou so much for taking the time to write this lovely review. It means so much to the whole team when they receive positive comments like this. We are pleased that your Mum has settled with us and enjoying her new life at Signature House.
Over the 11 months my mother was at Signature House I came to admire and respect the whole care team from the managers to care assistants. Everyone was always attentive to mum's needs and ensured she was comfortable at all times. The carers went about their duties calmly, efficiently and always with a smile. I was a pleasure to sit in the lounge and to watch all the positive interactions between the staff and residents. The standard of food was good and rooms, lounges were always clean.
Thankyou so much for taking the time to write this lovely review for our home. It was a pleasure to care for your Mother at Signature House. It means so much to the staff when they read such positive comments, I will definitely share this with the whole team.
The nicest thing about the home is the garden being able to take my husband down to garden gives us great pleasure. The staff are very attentive and supportive and management very good and helpful, the atmosphere in the home is pleasant and inviting, although the lounge is cramped for visitors and it is not always possible to move away from the noise and confusion.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.We're so pleased that you enjoy spending time in the garden with your husband it's a special space that our residents and families find peaceful and uplifting. We're also glad to know that you find the staff attentive and supportive, and that...
After visiting our brother in hospital for weeks we could see he was not happy and we were always concerned for him, but visiting him here (only two days has he been here) he looks so much better, its a wait off our shoulders.
Thankyou for taking the time to write this review. I'm so pleased that your brother has settled in well at Signature House. He's certainly enjoying the activities and events we have had since he arrived.
My husband has been in Signature House for two years with challenging alzheimers. The care he receives is outstanding, with well trained staff who all have endless patience and understand dementia. Activities are regular and fun, there is a small garden which residents can access, and visitors are welcome. The food is generally nourishing and well cooked. Information is easily available online and from the staff, who are friendly and helpful.
Thankyou for writing this lovely review in recognition of the outstanding care our staff provide on our Specialist Dementia Floor. I will share this with all the departments in our home it always means so much to the team when they read positive comments from our relatives.
Modern, clean, friendly, good food and well cared for.
It was a pleasure to care for your husband for his one week respite stay. We look forward to welcoming him back if ever you require our support in the future.
My husband has been here for 1 year now, and I am so grateful for the gentle, professional care given. The staff are trained to a very high standard; each of them has a great deal of knowledge and ability. I never feel I cannot ask for information or help from any of them, from the housekeeper/cleaners to Management. My husband receives an astonishing amount of care and consideration. Given his extremely challenging behaviour, I cannot adequately praise the attitude of all the staff. They are kind, compassionate and trustworthy. He is in safe hands. Any concerns I have had have been dealt with very kindly by management who have gone beyond expectations.
Thankyou so much for this lovely review of our home. It means so much to the whole team when they read such a positive review . I am pleased we were able to resolve your concerns with a positive outcome. We value feedback from our residents and relatives as this can only help us to improve the service we provide.
She was very happy despite having dementia, very little sight and loss of hearing. The staff were absolutely amazing throughout her time there and particularly during the last few days of her life. I was unfortunately abroad but my brother went to the home as soon as we were notified her health had deteriorated and stayed until she passed away. During this time the staff made sure he was comfortable and had meals as well as looking after Mum.
I would not hesitate to recommend Signature House to anyone who was looking for a placement for someone who has dementia and in fact two people I know have put their husbands there.
All the staff are exceptional and cannot do enough for their residents and family members.
We will support the events they hold to help raise money for the residents.
Thankyou for taking the time to write this review. It was a pleasure to care for your Mother over the last four years and an honour to care for her during her final days. At Signature House our relatives are part of our family and at these difficult times it is important that we care for them...
Without exception all the staff have been kind, considerate and efficient. So many small acts of kindness to me and my husband mean soon when he needs full time care I will have no hesitation choosing Signature House.
Thankyou for your kind words. It was a pleasure to care for your husband when he needed respite care. He has now returned to Signature House to be with us full time, we are very aware that this is a difficult time for families when making this decision which is why we recognise that it is...
My mother has been a resident now for over 4 years. She has intense physical needs (tetraplegia) but is fully mentally alert. The care she receives at Signature House has been exemplary and we cannot recommend the Nursing Home enough. The staff perform care to the highest of levels, going above and beyond, and are also incredibly kind and considerate to visiting friends and family. My mother's care needs are met on every level and the nursing staff communicate any updates on medication, physical changes, or personal issues. There is always someone available to help connect family members via Facetime for a chat and we are grateful for all the help and care received - from management, reception, kitchen, and laundry to all the nurses and carers - nothing is ever too much trouble. Our thanks to all the team and (with experience of other care homes) we cannot recommend Signature House highly enough.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this lovely review for all our staff. Providing quality person centered care to each of our residents requires a whole team approach from each department. They will be delighted to read this review when I share it with them. Thank you.
My friend lived at Signature House for just over a year. The staff were always kind, gentle and caring. They made time to chat with her about all sorts of things, including what she was reading and listening to on social media, sometimes helping her with technical issues! Having been an excellent cook in earlier life, she took a great interest in the food and was very pleased that it was so well-prepared and tasty. She wasn't able to take part in very many of the activities on offer but enjoyed them when she could. When I visited, I always found the staff cheerful, welcoming and easy to talk to and I appreciated their many kindnesses to me. Care home staff have so much to do, but here they never gave the impression of being in a hurry or too busy. Thank you.
Thank you very much for taking the time to send us a review, we are pleased that the staff cared for your friend so well, I will be sure to pass your comments on to the team.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 24 June 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 (2) & Events (0)
- 10 Feb 2026
For a limited time, Signature House is offering 4 weeks of respite care for the price of 3. Our respite stays provide high-quality nursing and dementia care in a safe,...
- 13 May 2025
Our remarkable community at Signature House celebrated VE Day in style with a fun-filled afternoon in Dorchester. On Monday 5th May, our incredible team at Signature House, Dorchester hosted an...
There are no upcoming events for Signature House.
Awards / Recognitions (1)
- 04 Oct 2020Recipient: Signature House
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Signature House.
Meet the Team (1)

Mandy is a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years experience. In June 2020 Mandy was given the title of Queen’s Nurse by the Community Nursing Charity, The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) which indicates a commitment to high standards of patient care, learning and leadership. Mandy leads a team of dedicated nurses and carers to ensure residents living in Signature House receive person-centred care that is empowering, respectful, dignified and compassionate.
Frequently Asked Questions about Signature House
What types of Care is Signature House registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Learning Disability / Autism, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Signature House have?
There are 48 Single Rooms.
What are the Facilities & Services at Signature House?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Bar/Café, Residents Kitchenette, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Signature House to the centre of Dorchester?
0.4 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Signature House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Signature House has an Enhanced Service -more info.