The Filo Project, a local social enterprise offering dementia day care, are finalists in national Alzheimer's Society awards recognising high quality care and support for families affected by dementia.

The Alzheimer's Society Dementia Hero Awards, taking place on April 28 honour organisations and individuals across the country who do life-changing work with, and for, people living with dementia.

The Filo Project is a finalist in the Professional Excellence (organisations) award category, which recognises those who have provided personalised care to support people living with dementia and improved their outcomes and experience of living with the condition. Fellow finalists in this category are The Welsh Ambulance Service and a care home provider in Yorkshire.

The Filo Project offers unique, high quality day care within hosts' homes for small groups of socially isolated older people with early to moderate dementia. 

The organisation currently supports around 350 clients in Devon, Somerset and East Lancashire. In many of the locations they operate, dementia day care options and transport Dementia day care options and transport are very limited in many of the locations in which they operate, so The Filo Project's presence and inclusion of transport offers a lifeline.

The Filo day is personalised to each group's interests and abilities and is informed by years of collective experience in dementia care and research. It offers a fresh, cost-effective alternative to dementia day centres and residential care. 

Libby Price, The Filo Project Co-Director, explains: "Dementia and memory loss can be difficult for families to manage and quality care can be hard to find, but people can still live well with dementia. Good quality care, support and treatments easing symptoms can help people lead active lives, boost their memory and self-esteem, and maintain a meaningful, good quality of life.

"A Filo day is unique and like a day out with friends, where clients grow in confidence, feel empowered and experience stabilised or even improved dementia symptoms.

"We're delighted The Filo Project is in the finals of the national Alzheimer's Society Dementia Hero Awards. Whatever the outcome on the day, this speaks to the commitment, skill and enthusiasm of our hard-working hosts and colleagues, and the tangible impact of a Filo day."

The Filo Project was set up in 2014 and has supported over 3000 older people within the community, as well as providing vital and extended respite for thousands of families and unpaid carers.

Aileen Channer, 75 and from South Petherton, whose husband Barry, 78, has frontotemporal dementia and has been attending The Filo Project for the last two years, says:

"Prior to the lockdowns we went dancing twice a week, did t'ai chi and went to Singing For The Brain and the Memory Cafe nearby. After the first lockdown Barry had lost the ability to dance (after 40 years) and had no interest in anything other than sitting in his chair. I could see him deteriorating. So I approached The Filo Project and I wish I had a few years ago.

"Barry was always a very social chap and I could see after the first visit Filo was going to be great for him. He was happy and smiling and loved that he was given a lovely home cooked meal. They had singing sessions, walks in the locality and visits for coffee and cake.  

"I felt happy for him. He was in someone's home, not a care facility where he was just another dementia patient. He was in a small group where he could get to know people and he was made to feel wanted on his special day out. 

"To start with I didn't know what to do with myself because normally my days were totally focused on his care. However, I gradually began to think about myself and 'my special day'. I found a Silver Swans ballet class which keeps me fit and gives me some social interaction. 

"Having time to myself helps me to be a better carer and this is so important. I think The Filo Project is amazing and I really admire the people who do this work, they are wonderful, caring people. I tell everyone about it and thank our lucky stars that we are able to use this wonderful service."

To find out more visit www.thefiloproject.co.uk or call 0333 939 8225. 

There are currently around 900,000 people with dementia in the UK. This is projected to rise to 1.6m people by 2040 (Alzheimer's Society)

Dementia diagnosis rates are at a five year low, meaning thousands of people with dementia are unable to access treatment and financial support (Alzheimer's Society)