More people sought to open up homes for dementia

Host Tracey Brandon does a little dance with client Bill to get him to his chair

A dementia day care project is looking for people to open up their homes in Cornwall.

The Filo Project, a non-profit social enterprise, said it was looking for hosts from Bodmin, Falmouth and Saltash areas to spend the day with people with mild to moderate dementia.

Figures from the Alzheimer's Society show there are more than 11,200 people in Cornwall living with dementia.

Libby Price the co-founder and director of the project said being able to see people with the diagnosis "thriving and making friends and enjoying being together is huge".

Host Tracey Brandon often opens her home up for the day

Tracey Brandon, one of the project's hosts, regularly spends the day with up to four people with dementia in her own home.

She will welcome them in, provide them with a cooked lunch and allow them to socialise and interact for six hours.

She said: "I looked after my mum with dementia and I know how much mum would have benefited from being in a social group, that's what got me into it.

"It's just so rewarding. They've gone from not really talking to each other a lot to becoming good friends."

Ms Price added: "Many people we support live alone and when you're socially isolated the world seems much narrower, you're not going out so much, you're not picking up the phone or seeing friends."

The co-founder said hosts would need a car which could fit up to four passengers and they would be trained and supported by the project.

She added: "We also need to understand what families need, supporting loved ones with a dementia, and to have a meaningful window [of time].

"It's really important [respite for full-time carers] because it keeps people supported in their homes for longer which is what we want."