Itinerary and speakers announced for 5th Plymouth Dementia Conference
By News England, , , , ,

The 5th Plymouth Dementia Conference takes place in Plymouth Guildhall on 4 March 2016, and has again attracted a variety of national experts who will address issues around the growing phenomenon of dementia.

Chaired by Angela Rippon OBE, Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society and Co-Chair of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Friendly Communities Champions Group, and with an opening address from Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Jeremy Hughes, the all-day event will cover a range of topics including:

  • An international perspective on dementia provided by Hilary Doxford, a World Dementia Council Member and Vice-Chair of the European Working Group of People with Dementia
  • Aviation, dementia and dementia-friendly airports covered by a panel of experts from the Civil Aviation Authority, the Virtual Jet Centre, Plymouth University and Gatwick Airport
  • BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Listening Project’ together with an overview of a project designed to embed lifestyle prompts in radio broadcasts to aid dementia care
  • Poetry and dementia, with input from Tracey Guiry, Chief Executive Officer of Literature Works and Mark Grinnell, Managing Editor of BBC Radio Devon.

A series of workshops include: encouraging people to become active participants in dementia research from Mike Visick from the NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula; the Rural Dementia Charter 2016-2020 chaired by Ian Sherriff and Anne Pascoe; inspirational solutions to the quality of dementia care in a residential setting from Professor Rod Sheaff from Plymouth University, and; dementia in farming and the use of GPS in rural communities from Dr Richard Yarwood and his team, and Hilary Cragg from Nash and Co Solicitors.

Entertainment will be provided by Anna Marie Waite, a singer/songwriter and poet who will perform her latest composition ‘In the Moment’, which is dedicated to those with dementia and their carers.

Attendance costs £30 for students and carers, and £40 for early bird bookers and exhibitors. Online registration is via the link below. Lunch and refreshments and a conference pack are included in the fee.

Ian Sherriff (pictured), Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia, Trustee and Board member of the Alzheimer’s Society, Member of the Prime Ministers Dementia Champion Group, Chair of the Prime Ministers Rural Dementia Friendly Task and Finish Group, and Chair of the Prime Minister’s dementia air-transport group, is lead organiser of the conference.

He said: “We are delighted to have attracted such an experience and influential group of experts to this year’s conference. We will be tackling issues which affect not just those with dementia, but also those who care for them. We hope that the line-up for the day will be of interest to a wide body of individuals.”

Click here for online registration