The UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2026 - Rowcroft Hospice

From a chance conversation to an award-winning model of palliative dementia care In this episode, the development of an innovative Dementia Palliative Care Service in Derbyshire is explored, addressing gaps in end-of-life support for people living with dementia. Through collaboration across health, social care, and voluntary sectors, the service demonstrated strong impact and gained national recog...

In this interactive session, Isobel Jones introduced a 13-piece empathy suit designed to simulate the physical and sensory challenges of living with dementia. By experiencing everyday tasks with restricted movement, vision, and hearing, participants gained first-hand insight into the realities of dementia. The session highlighted the importance of empathy in care, encouraging a more compassionate...

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 i...

In this episode, the challenges surrounding eating, drinking, and swallowing in dementia are explored, alongside the impact on health and quality of life. The discussion highlights the balance between clinical recommendations and individual preferences, emphasising the importance of autonomy and the right to make personal choices. Focusing on positive risk-taking, the session encourages a person-c...

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...

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 car...

In this session Dr Jeremy Isaacs , National Clinical Director for Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health at NHS England , explores the current state of dementia care. With over 500,000 people diagnosed in England, a number set to rise, the NHS has made strong progress in diagnosis, awareness, and dementia-friendly services.  However, challenges remain, including increasing waiting times, variat...

Welcome to the Dementia and Palliative Care Conference podcast 2026, brought to you by Rowcroft Hospice.  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 by Ian S...

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 condi...

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 J...

In this closing panel discussion, “The Future of Dementia and Palliative Care" Dr. Jill Horne chairs a conversation with leading experts Dr. Sarah Russell, Prof. Liz Sampson, Dr. Wilco Achterberg, and Prof. Kevin Brazil. Listen as the panel tackle thought-provoking audience questions, from their personal heroes in dementia and palliative care and the necessary funding shifts, to redefining th...

Tracey Carter, Head of Dementia Care & Wellbeing at Hallmark Care Homes, guides us through the sensitive and often misunderstood experience of bereavement and loss in people living with dementia.  Dementia can profoundly alter how grief is felt and expressed, making traditional approaches to support insufficient.  Tracey shares current research insights, practical strategies, and a compassiona...

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 p...

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...

Dr. Rory Baxter and Leonie Cooper discuss digital health technologies for dementia, highlighting the benefits of robot pets and introducing the GOALD project, which co-creates digital tools for physical activity and reminiscence. The episode emphasises the crucial role of co-design in technology development for older adults and showcases the GOALD toolkit for developers. It also touches on the ICO...

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 l...

This episode is an emotion and moving account of Sarah's experience of caring for her mother. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses terminal illness, caregiving, and the death of a loved one.  Dr. Sarah Russell, Consultant Nurse and Trust Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, explores the complex duality of caring.   Drawing on 16 years of di...

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...

Nicola Jacobson-Wright and Faith Frost present on Namaste Care, a sensory-based programme for advanced dementia.  Their research shows it significantly reduces agitation and improves quality of life in care home residents.  The episode highlights the programme's key elements, positive impacts on residents and staff, and also introduces an online course developed to educate and support staff i...

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 liv...

Join Professor Wilco Achterberg from Leiden University Medical Center as he explores the complex challenges of identifying and treating pain in people with dementia. In this illuminating episode, Prof. Achterberg breaks down how the aging brain processes pain differently, especially in those with cognitive impairment, and why traditional pain assessment methods often fail these vulnerable patients...

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,...

In this moving opening to the UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2025, Fred Caygill, ambassador for Dementia UK, shares his powerful personal story of caring for his late wife, who lived with vascular dementia.  Fred speaks candidly about the emotional challenges of caregiving and the life-changing support he received from Admiral Nurses.  His words are a heartfelt reminder that those cari...

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 fo...