The UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2025 - Rowcroft Hospice

Professor Catherine Walshe explores the complexities of delivering high-quality palliative care for people with advanced dementia. Combining an overview of current research with interactive discussion, the session highlights the challenges faced by both dementia care specialists and palliative care professionals. It offers valuable insight into how different perspectives can be better aligned to improve care for those living with advanced dementia. https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-walshe...

In this session, the complexities of advance care planning in dementia are explored, with a focus on meaningful communication and person-centred care. Drawing on guidance from the European Association for Palliative Care, the discussion highlights the importance of involving families, adapting conversations to individual capacity, and viewing advance care planning as an ongoing process rather than a one-off decision. The session also outlines practical approaches and tools to support earlier,...

In this episode, Ian Sherriff explores the growing global and local impact of dementia, highlighting key statistics, future projections, and the increasing pressures on health and care systems. With cases rising rapidly and costs expected to escalate significantly, the session examines challenges including inequalities in care, delayed hospital discharges, and the burden placed on families and carers. It also looks ahead to emerging innovations in diagnosis and treatment, including AI, blood ...

Living with Dementia: Paula’s and Guy’s Story In this moving opening to the UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2026, Paula Bradley-Smith shares her deeply personal story of caring for her husband, Guy Bradley-Smith. Guy, a doctor, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2021 and previously opened this conference two years ago, offering his own unique perspective on living with the condition. Paula reflects on their 41 years of marriage and the journey they have faced together since...

The first episodes will follow on Monday 30th March 2026 If you weren’t able to join us at The 2026 UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference, you can now experience the whole event through our podcast series. Across this series, you’ll hear powerful conversations from experts at the forefront of dementia research, policy, and frontline practice. From national perspectives with NHS England’s Dr Jeremy Isaacs, to international insights from Dr Jenny van der Steen, and regional innovation led ...

Hannah Gardner a Consultant Admiral Nurse for Children and Young People at Dementia UK discusses a crucial but often overlooked aspect of dementia care, its impact on children and young people. Hannah sheds light on the unique challenges faced by these young individuals and how we can better support them through grief and loss. And emphasises that a diagnosis of dementia is not just given to one person - it is given to a spouse, a partner, a child and the extended family. She will discu...

In this episode, Rachel Johnstone from Dementia UK sheds light on how we can better support family carers of people living with dementia. Caring for a loved one with dementia brings unique emotional and practical challenges - from coping with anticipatory grief to navigating complex care systems and looking after one’s own wellbeing. Rachel explores these realities, introduces helpful concepts like ‘Safe Uncertainty,’ and shares resources and reflective practices that empower care...

Professor Karen Watchman highlights the unique challenges of dementia in individuals with learning disabilities, focusing on differences in cognitive ability progression, seizure onset (especially in Down's syndrome), and communication of pain. She emphasises personalised support, relationship nurturing, and the role of caregivers. The episode showcases resources like Jenny's Diary and Andrew's Cards, and introduces specialised online training for professionals, aiming to enhance ...

Prof Kevin Brazil discusses how families can be better supported in making crucial end-of-life care decisions for loved ones with advanced dementia. In this episode, Kevin will introduce the Family Carer Decision Support Intervention - a structured approach that combines practical tools, compassionate communication, and evidence-based guidance. Join us as we unpack how this intervention empowers family carers, improves care planning in nursing homes, and shapes the future of demen...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Zena Aldridge explores one of the most overlooked yet impactful aspects of dementia care: promoting continence and managing incontinence with dignity. Drawing on the latest evidence and her experience as a leading dementia nurse consultant, she shares practical strategies, challenges stigma, and calls for a shift in how health and care professionals support those living with dementia. Connect with Dr Zena Aldridge on LinkedIn This podcast is free to l...

Join Professor Liz Sampson from Queen Mary University London as she reveals groundbreaking insights from the EMBED-Care programme, showcasing how big data is revolutionising palliative care for people with dementia. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Sampson challenges common misconceptions about dementia care while presenting powerful evidence on healthcare utilisation patterns, cost implications, and the concerning rise in emergency hospital admissions among dementia patients in their final y...

Opening Remarks: Mark Hawkins, Rowcroft Hospice’s Chief Executive: Welcome to the UK Dementia & Palliative Care Conference 2025 Mark Hawkins sets the stage for the UK Dementia & Palliative Care Conference 2025. Reflecting on the challenges, progress, and shared mission within the field, Mark welcomes delegates to a day of collaboration, learning, and innovation focused on improving care for people living with dementia. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of connection, compassi...