An expanding care home group has officially opened its third home in Dorset.

Mayor of Poole, Cllr Marion Le Poidevin, unveiled the traditional plaque at Encore Care Homes’ Oakdale watched by, among others, members of the community and local healthcare professionals.

Guests were given the opportunity to tour the new purpose-built 84-bed, residential, nursing and dementia care home in Kingsmill Road, Poole.

Cllr Marion Le Poidevin unveils Oakdale’s plaque.

Key features were unveiled, including a spa room and a bistro.

Other homes managed by Encore are Great Oaks in Bournemouth and Fairmile Grange in the grounds of Christchurch Hospital.

The Bournemouth-based company is also due to open a new home in Redhill, Surrey – Lime Tree Grange – next year while a further proposed home, Owlsnest at Pembury in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is still at the planning stage.

Rachel Dryden, Encore’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “This is the third home we have opened in Dorset, and with each build we have learned from the previous home and made slight tweaks over the years that will benefit our residents. For example, all floors in the home are carpeted in order to minimise noise which helps reduce anxiety for our residents with dementia.

“We are so proud of what we have achieved at Oakdale. We believe that we have made our vision a reality, of creating an environment that not only supports residents’ care, but also the wellbeing of our team.

Oakdale is a purpose-built 84-bed, residential, nursing and dementia care home.

“It is our team that turns the building from bricks and mortar into a home and their kindness and compassion really shines through in everything that they do.”

Attendees also had chance to meet with members of the care team who introduced the new training room that is also available for members of the community to use.

David Taylor, Oakdale’s Home Manager, said: “We are committed to serving our local community and look forward to getting to know our neighbours over the coming months.

“We hope the public will use this learning resource and in return give us the opportunity to get to know them. We will provide all visitors with a warm welcome and some homemade cakes.”