
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.
The home, although situated in a busy part of Dorchester (which makes it easy for visitors to find), is tranquil and the lovely garden is a bonus and is well used when weather and current covid restrictions allow.
Thank you for taking the time to review Signature House and for your wonderful comments we will ensure the team hear your feedback they will really appreciate your kind words.
My sister-in-law has been in Signature House for 2 years now with dementia. Myself and her 2 nephews are very pleased with her care. She is looked after very well. The staff are lovely, dedicated and caring and they spend a lot of time with her. We are very pleased with her care it's a lovely home.
Thank you so much for your review, we very much appreciate the time people take to give us feedback and it really boosts staff morale to have positive comments.
My 98-year-old mother has resided at Signature House since February 2019. Her care since that time has been amazing. The staff are lovely and have looked after her brilliantly particularly during the last few difficult months.
I look forward to a time when things return to normal and I can resume regular visits to see not only her but the lovely staff.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback, the team will be so happy to receive this. I am so pleased to hear staff go above and beyond even through these difficult times.
Very professional, clean, lovely staff and cares, modern facilties. Lovely garden for residents. very convenient for town/transport.
We are very pleased with the care that Mum is receiving at Signature House. She is very happy and settled.
My dear mum was in Signature House for many years before her death in September 2019 and was looked after so well by everyone there. It's a fantastic place and the care levels are wonderful, it gave me great comfort not living on the doorstep to know that she was being so well looked after and cared for by everyone. I would not hesitate to recommend it, it's a special place staffed by very special people can't thank them enough for all they did for my mum over the years.
Lots of thought and hard work went into recent fete to make it a truly happy event for the residents, accommodating all their complex needs. Money raised goes to enhancing services not covered by fees.
My husband was at Signature House for over 3 years. The nurses and carers always treated him in a friendly, cheerful and encouraging way. He was shown patience and understanding when he was slow in making choices or was reluctant to co-operate. All the other members of staff always engaged with him when passing by which I am sure helped him through the long days. He enjoyed several day trips organised by the home, especially the boat trips. The 'end of life' care was excellent and we were both treated with great sensitivity and compassion.
A wonderful, compassionate, caring home which is extremely well run, managed and facilitated.
My dad was treated with compassion and dignity from the moment he moved into Signature House. There is a unique, warm, caring feeling there but most of all we knew Dad was looked after extremely well. Can’t praise the staff enough. Thank you all.
For two years, my husband lived in the independent living apartments attached to this excellent care home. During this time, he was supported by a full range of staff, from the maintenance men, home manager and care staff. He opted to receive daily visits from a carer from the nursing home so that when it was necessary for him to receive respite care within the nursing home, he knew the staff and they fully understood his needs. When he was suddenly taken seriously ill, he was immediately moved into the nursing home which prevented a move to an acute hospital. He would have hated to be in the hospital and the staff at Signature House were able to provide superb personalised end of life care. The facilities in the nursing home are excellent with en-suite wet rooms and hoist facilities. The menu is varied and residents and visitors are well looked after.
My husband came to Signature House in August 2017, extremely poorly after four months in hospital. He was received and nursed with gentle, thoughtful care and great kindness. His condition stabilised and he was peaceful, enjoying meals, his friendliness and love of people made the sadness and frustration of immobility and early dementia more bearable. He was affirmed and the skill of carers was an inspiration.
If I had any concerns, I felt able to express them to a variety of staff and felt I was listened to and action taken.
The rooms are modern, light and airy with lovely big windows for the residents to look out for. The secure garden is a joy to go into when the weather is nice. For regular visitors, you are given the necessary codes to get into and out of the building whenever you want.
Thank you to all staff at Signature House for your unending patience and dedication doing one of the most difficult jobs on earth.
The care and attention my Mother-in-law received was first class. The staff all went beyond their call of duty. I can only commend and thank them for everything they did in very difficult circumstances.
She seems content with her residence at the home and I am satisfied that she is well cared for.
My husband went into this home the end of August, having been in hospital. He has dementia and the home has been fantastic. They have made him comfortable and safe. The staff are lovely and caring people. I feel able now to go away for weekends to see my daughter, knowing he is being well cared for, unlike the place he was in before. The manager is very approachable too, you feel you can talk to her and you are listened to. I feel very lucky he's in Signature House.
My mum spent the last nine months of her life in Signature House. ALL the staff from the cleaners, the maintenace team, the laundry team, the carers, the nurses, the reception staff and the management made my mums stay very pleasant in a homely environment.
Nothing was to much trouble for the staff. Everyone was very friendly, helpful and kept us informed as to mums well being. In mums final days, she was treated with dignity and sympathy by all the staff. I cannot praise this home enough.
The staff were so kind and caring, with a lovely natural friendliness, they never 'spoke down' to him. There seemed to be a really good staff/resident ratio.
He enjoyed the food and was given tasty snacks to keep his intake up.
The place was always immaculately clean and the cleaners were friendly and part of the team.
As his health deteriorated they kept us informed and sat with him in the last few hours of his life.
We have had experience of two other local care homes and neither could match up to signature house.
He was daily dressed in clean clothes, regularly given personal care so that he was always nice to be near!! He always enjoyed his meals but I don't think he appreciated them quite so much when he eventually had to be spoon fed!! Towards the end they even managed to shave him - most days!!
In his last weeks, the nurses were very supportive to myself and family; my husband was carefully monitored and every need attended to promptly.
I could not have looked after my husband by myself without the facilities provided by Signature Nursing home. I am very grateful to all the staff, thank you all so very much.
The maintenance and décor of the building is great and the garden is a very positive feature. Activities for residents are also a positive and welcomed facility. Parking is very limited at the home and needs addressing. Ideal location for residents to facilitate local amenities.
Signature House has experienced issues with the housekeeping aspect of the service as this was previously managed by an external contractor. We have since ended the contract with this provider and have taken the services in house. We are in the process of recruiting a full team of housekeeping...
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.
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