International conference to focus on community dementia solutions

Unveiling up-to-the-minute dementia in the community successes is at the heart of a new, partnership event for health and care professionals.

Dementia Pathways on Your Doorstep: Community-Based Interventions to Support Independent Living will be held on Wednesday 23 August from 9am-4pm.

This is the first international conference from partners NDRIC (University of Northampton’s Dementia Research and Innovation Centre) and The Academy for Dementia Research and Education (ADRE).

Although primarily for professionals and researchers in dementia care and related fields, interested members of the public are welcome to book and listen to the morning talks.

Keynote speeches on the day will be from NDRIC lead Professor Jacqueline Parkes and conference Chair Professor Charles Scerri from the University of Malta.

Professor Parkes will focus on local community dementia successes through UON and ADRE, such as the ‘brain gym’, the UnityDEM centre and Forget-me-Nots groups for people with younger onset dementia.

Professor Scerri will give an overview of international approaches to community interventions and the day will also include workshops for attendees to explore the following core areas:

• The benefits Admiral Nurses (specialist ‘dementia nurses’) can bring to families affected by dementia.
• How storytelling can positively impact people with dementia and their carers.
• The development of Love to Move, a gymnastics programme that aims to get older people moving and functioning better.
• An overview of the Social Prescriber model (connecting people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet their health and wellbeing needs).
• Meet the managers of Northamptonshire Memory Hubs (the Hubs provide cognitive stimulation therapies and interventions, such as art gallery visits, adult learning, or floristry sessions).
• The use of classroom-based music activities to encourage active listening, develop speech and singing, and stimulate muscular memory.
• Intergenerational with Lutterworth College students with additional needs and people with dementia.
• An outdoor session with a team from Norway which will include physical exercise and cognitive training.

Professor Parkes says: “The primary focus of dementia research and innovation is to improve and enhance the daily lives of people affected by the condition. Our conference – the first joint venture by NDRIC and ADRE – takes this to the next level by squarely focusing on community interventions to support people with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers and loved ones.

“Members of the public will therefore be central to the programme, with community groups and volunteers joining us to share their stories and insights. The team and I look forward to what promised to be an illuminating day.”

Jane Beaumont, Director of ADRE, adds: “We are looking forward to the opportunity to share experience and expertise in community dementia care with our whole community of professionals, carers and volunteers.”

For more information or to book a space, see the conference event information page or email: alison.ward@northampton.ac.uk