Caregiver’s booklet to be dispersed to GP surgeries
ACAREGIVER has made an informative booklet containing valuable information about community groups, dementia cafes, and services available in Hyndburn, which will be dispersed to more than 20 GP surgeries and memory clinics in the borough.
Neil Floyd, from Oswaldtwistle, is a compassionate and knowledgeable caregiver who has been caring for his 84-year-old mother, Jacqueline, with advanced dementia since 2017.
He founded My Colourful Memories CIC in 2016, and in 2014, he came up with the concept of the Colouring and Conversation colouring book, which was featured on a BBC North West Tonight segment in 2016.
Having cared for his father and mother with dementia for many years, Neil understands the challenges caregivers face.
To help them and promote conversation among people with dementia, his non-profit organisation provides art health services and develops innovative activities and resources.
Last year, NHS England recognised the value of Neil’s work and provided funding to his community group. A grant was awarded to develop a 40-page booklet containing information and home-based support activities for Hyndburn GP surgeries and memory clinics.
It took Neil over eight months to complete the project, during which he created more than 35 illustrations, wrote the content, and edited the booklet himself.
For months, he worked tirelessly on the book, dedicating himself to it every day of the week.
The booklet is a valuable resource for caregivers, based on Neil’s personal experience of caring for someone with dementia at home for over seven years.
It also includes Neil’s extensive academic research gained from his five years of study on a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree in Arts Health, specialising in dementia care.
The booklet contains valuable information about community groups, dementia cafes, and services available in Hyndburn.
In Hyndburn, many innovative community groups do fantastic work, but many GP practices and health professionals are unaware of them.
This resource aims to bridge that gap and raise awareness of these grassroots groups.
The CVS community connectors will distribute the booklet to GP surgeries and memory clinics in Hyndburn, making it available to people through these services.
The group has already shared the booklet with carer groups in the community, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Caregivers have praised the booklet for being an informative and engaging read, full of relevant information and ideas.
The project requires the publication of more than 500 booklets, which will be dispersed to more than 20 GP surgeries and memory clinics in Hyndburn.
Neil’s wife, Pamela Floyd, who is also a director of My Colourful Memories CIC, said: “Neil is an incredibly giving person who consistently prioritises the needs of others above his own.
“He has taken on the role of live-in caregiver to his mother, dedicating over 16 hours per day, seven days a week, as he is the only person responsible for her care.
“Since other caregivers were not able to meet his mother’s care needs as her condition advanced, Neil stepped up and took over her care.
“He uses the booklet as a means of sharing his experiences with others, making the years he spent caring for a relative as worthwhile as possible.
“Despite his own caregiving responsibilities, he arranges monthly respite sessions for other caregivers, ensuring their loved ones are engaged in activities while they take a break.”
The booklet will be distributed in the coming weeks.
To learn more about My Colourful Memories CIC, please visit www.mycolourfulmemories. co. uk. Free conversation resources can be accessed and downloaded from www.mycolourfulmemories.com
HRVCVS can be contacted at 01282 433740 or by visiting their website at www.hrvcvs.co.uk for more information.
Neil can be contacted on 07807 249464.