Dementia care non-profit appeals for more hosts

A project that supports people with dementia is looking for more people to open up their homes to help.

The Filo Project, based across east Lancashire, offers a day care respite service which sees hosts pick up a small group of people with dementia and other challenges of older age and take them to their home.

They then give them a home-cooked meal and do activities with them.

Area co-ordinator Rachel Carlton said the group is looking to recruit more people across Burnley and Rawtenstall and "being flexible is key".

Hosts have to be "caring, warm people," she said, and "as well as being able to rustle up a meal and provide activities, they've got to be flexible".

She added: "It doesn't matter what we've got organised for the day, if a conversation is triggered we'll go down that rabbit hole."

Established in 2014, the not-for-profit organisation said groups are deliberately small so a session feels like "a warm catch-up with friends where everyone is welcome and can contribute".

Jan Greenwood said hosts Liz and Natalie pick up her husband Fred twice a week.

"He just doesn't sit still," the 83-year-old said.

"But they let him go in the cupboards and they leave him to roam, because they know he's safe.

"Filo are brilliant. They're just really good with him."

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