Can day care service help dementia patients?

"I'm not very good at remembering things and my husband says I'm getting forgetful," says 78-year-old Betty Ruffel, who has early stage dementia.

She says her memory is not as good it used to be.

"I can do the shopping and remember it if I've got a list but if I have to remember what I've put on that list, I don't remember," she says.

"I have to keep going back to the list to see what I've written down, it doesn't come naturally.'

Betty attends a day care service once a week in Poole in Dorset.

Along with three other clients, they play games, do arts and crafts and share a meal.

It is called the Filo Project, and it offers a form of day care that differs from the provision typically found in care homes and large day centres.

Trained and paid hosts welcome clients with early to moderate dementia into their homes.

The ambition is that personalised regular care like this can help people grow in confidence, renew old hobbies and interests, and make friends.

Greg Scott, 82, is another client who attends every week.

"I don't remember everything I ought to remember, but I've got some good memories of things that I've enjoyed doing," he says.

Asked if he felt the day was keeping his mind active, he says: "Yes, I'm sure! These people - we get on well - it's nice what we do and I remember them, it's on a weekly basis which is important, it's good."

So far the not-for-profit company has three hosts in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and is looking for at least 10 more to meet demand.

Clients are funded by their local authority or pay £75 to attend.

The Filo Project is well-established in the south west of England and since its formation in 2014 has supported about 5,000 people with dementia.

The business has ambitions to cover all of Dorset before moving to neighbouring counties.

According to the Alzheimers Society, 8,584 people have received a recorded diagnosis of dementia in the NHS Dorset region.

It's believed there are an estimated 14,762 people over the age of 65 living with dementia in the county.

NHS Dorset Integrated Care System has a diagnosis rate of 58.1%

There are about one million people with dementia in the UK, set to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

One in 3 born today will go on to develop dementia.

Betty says she is seeing the benefits.

"My husband said only a couple of days ago, you're getting better because he said you remembered something, so I thought something must be right!"

The service also gives carers much needed respite during the day. Organisers say demand has exceeded all expectations.

Hosts need a largely step-free home with a downstairs toilet and five-door car to transport clients.

They are paid £107 per day plus allowances, expenses and holiday pay.

They welcome up to four clients one or two days a week, between 09:00 and 17:00.

All hosts are given training in first aid, moving and handling, dementia, food hygiene, safeguarding, infection control and data protection.

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