Connection

What makes people happy? A core premise when we founded The Filo Project was the belief that we understood this, specifically in relation to the people we support, and that we could put that understanding into practice. Over the years, as we’ve tried to describe the “magic” of a Filo day, we’ve used many different words: collaboration, care, joy, meaning and feeling valued. As our understanding has deepened, the way we present and describe this experience has evolved, and our language has shifted to better reflect what a Filo day provides.

Ultimately each of the aforementioned descriptors could easily and usefully be collated under one word - connection. This, we believe, is what lies at the heart of happiness, and, without connection to others, a person is marginalised. Social connectedness as a beneficial concept is hardly a new idea, the value of social support and social networks has long been accepted as a vital component to robust mental health. For the people we support, the opportunity to join a group and gradually get to know new people is central to the success of our model of care. Over time, these relationships grow into ones where individuals feel trusted, supported, valued, and seen, where their presence is not only acknowledged but genuinely enjoyed. At the outset, these are new connections, paired with the choice and agency to step into something unfamiliar. Joining a group can be daunting for some clients, but in time the rewards do come, and it is a joy to witness the flourishing of an, at first, nervous attendee. 

At The Filo Project, we are often asked to define the needs of older people living with dementia, and to us it can feel like a surprising question. In many fundamental ways, their needs are no different from those of younger generations. The distinction lies in access. It is often far more difficult for older people to access the things they want or need. There are more barriers to navigate and fewer opportunities available than in earlier life.

The Filo Project works to address this by creating the right conditions, offering both the opportunity and the support for people to build meaningful relationships, and to experience a genuine sense of belonging and connection. At any age, we all need nourishment. While nutritional sustenance is obviously essential, we would argue that the nourishment we gain from being with others, and the benefits this brings, is just as important. At the heart of this is a kind of democracy we value deeply. No Filo group can thrive without the input, however small, from all members of the group. Yes, our experienced hosts play an important role in facilitating, but it is the connections formed between everyone on any given day that truly make it work.

By Dr Liz Dennis