AN INDEPENDENT living scheme and nursing home at Dorchester’s Brewery Square is looking to forge links with the local community.

Signature House, which boasts an apartment complex for over the 55s and nursing home in the same building, is looking to embark on a new phase of closer ties with people in the county town.

As well as inviting people and groups in to come and use its facilities, Signature House is launching its own domiciliary care service that it hopes to eventually extend out into the community.

The new direction is being overseen by recently appointed general manager Kerry Hunt, who wants to see a two-way relationship with residents at Signature House using the local community and the community taking advantage of what is on offer.

She said: “What we want to do is have more community living rather than just our nursing home or apartments.

“People can use us as a community if they want to or live independently.”

The venue is also keen for people to come in and make more use of the facilities it boasts, with the Eldridge Room and Maumbury Cafe offering ideal venues for groups and meetings.

The Dorchester U3A (University of the Third Age) regularly meets at Signature House and sales manager John Clarke said the relationship has worked really well.

There is also a baby grand piano on site that Mr Clarke said they are only too happy for groups to use, possibly in return for a performance for residents.

The sensory garden at Signature is now complete and the care home now has a specialised dementia area on the third floor.

Kerry said: “We are finding in the local area there are not many places that can cater for specialist dementia and we have had quite a lot of referrals and have worked closely with the mental health team, which has been really positive.”

The nursing home is also embarking on a domiciliary care service, Safe Hands, to initially cater for the neighbouring flats but Kerry wants to see it eventually expand its reach further out into the town.

Another service she is looking to provide is care for people who come down to the area on their holidays.

For more information contact Signature House on 01305 253840.