Rowcroft Hospice to host pioneering dementia conference

Rowcroft Hospice is to host a conference of leading experts looking at the growing impact of dementia.

The UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference is set to return on Tuesday March 25 March, bringing together leading experts, innovators, and caregivers for a full day of insights, learning, and collaboration.   

Following a sell-out event last year, this year’s conference will be held once again at the leading Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre at Buckfastleigh.

The day promises to build on its previous success with an expanded lineup of national and international guest speakers, interactive workshops, networking lunch, live Q&A sessions and an engaging panel discussion.  

Hosted by Rowcroft, the conference aims to address the growing impact of dementia, which remains the leading cause of death in the UK, while also emphasising the essential role of palliative care.

The event seeks to facilitate discussions around best practices, innovative care approaches, new health technologies and future strategies.  

“This conference is an opportunity to delve into the latest advancements in dementia care and treatment while highlighting the crucial role of palliative care in improving the quality of life for those living with dementia,” said Mark Hawkins, Chief Executive of Rowcroft Hospice.  

One of the highlights of the day will be a keynote address by Professor Liz Sampson, Professor of Liaison Psychiatry and Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, who will discuss palliative care for people with dementia and the role of big data in supporting better care decisions.

Her primary research focuses on symptom management in dementia and delirium, and the complex interfaces between physical and mental health.

She said: "My research centres on the critical issues faced by individuals living with dementia, particularly in relation to symptom management and the intersection of physical and mental health.

"Through the EMBED-Care programme, we aim to improve the care of people with dementia across all stages, from acute hospital settings to community care.

"By using big data, cohort studies, and co-design, we’re working to better understand and manage symptoms such as pain, delirium, and difficulty swallowing, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those living with dementia."  

The conference will include national and international experts and key speakers including Kevin Brazil, Professor of Palliative Care at Queen’s University Belfast, who will be discussing supporting decision-making on goals of care at the end of life.

He said: "When someone with dementia in a nursing home can no longer make decisions for themselves, families often face significant uncertainty about care and illness progression.

"The Family Carer Decision Support (FCDS) intervention was developed to address this challenge, offering training, resources, and structured conversations to guide families through difficult end-of-life care decisions.

"At the conference, I will delve into the FCDS intervention and its transformative impact on end-of-life care decision-making for individuals with advanced dementia."   

Wilco Achterberg, Professor of Elderly Care Medicine at Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, is also a speaker at the conference.

He will discuss the need to address pain management in dementia care and said:  

"Pain is a significant yet often overlooked issue in individuals with dementia, frequently leading to unnecessary suffering and the inappropriate use of antipsychotics.

"Through new assessment methods and a deeper understanding of pain processing in dementia, we have the opportunity to dramatically improve care and quality of life for these individuals.

"My presentation will provide both experimental insights and practical tools to better assess and manage pain in patients with cognitive impairments."  

In addition to expert talks, workshops, and a panel discussion, the conference will feature a live performance of You Are the Words.

Written and performed by Lorna Amy Sullivan and Steve Laister who represent the conference’s headline sponsor, Majestic Holidays, this heartfelt piece was originally created as a fundraiser for the Deri Dementia Care and Support Group and has since been embraced by support groups nationwide.  

The day promises enriching and thought-provoking insights, networking opportunities and the chance to hear about the latest research into dementia and the vital role of palliative care in enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with dementia.  

Tickets for the conference are now on sale, with a standard delegate ticket priced at £199, which includes VAT, a buffet lunch, and refreshments. A reduced rate of £149 is available for charities, individuals living with dementia, and carers. Early bird discounts of 20 per cent are available until the end of January.   

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/dementiaconference25