International Dementia Conference to cover everything from scams to technology

The annual Plymouth International Dementia Conference takes place at Plymouth Guildhall on 4 May this year with a full programme which covers everything from scams to technology, and how dementia is being addressed in China, Japan, Ireland, Greece and the UK.

A delegation from a number of cities in Japan will share with the conference their actions and experience in relation to the Dementia Friendly Community Movement in Japan, spearheaded by Japanese organisation Smart Ageing, the cities of Oumata and Machida, and the University of Tsukuba.

A team from Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will present the Technology Integrated Health Management (TIHM) study. TIHM for dementia is an NHS England Test Bed that is trialling the use of Internet-enabled devices and machine learning to keep people with dementia safe and well in their homes and reduce their need for hospital and care home admission.

There will be a showing of a film entitled “The Boat”, put together by the University of Plymouth and challenging the age and symptom clichés around dementia.

Representatives from the National Trading Standards Scams Team will present the latest thinking on scams and dementia, British Gas will also talking about how they can support people with dementia, while experts from the Civil Aviation Authority, Gatwick Airport and the University of Plymouth will inform the conference on the latest developments in hidden disability activities at UK airports and around the world. BBC Radio Devon will be broadcasting live from the conference.

The University of Plymouth will also sign a ground breaking agreement with the government of Macau in China, to work together on dementia-related initiatives. Representatives from Macau, who include high ranking politicians, will address the conference on the innovations underway and how the partnership with the University of Plymouth is working.

The conference is led by Ian Sherriff (pictured), Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia at the University of Plymouth, and Prime Ministerial Champion for dementia in rural areas and transport.

He said: “We are hugely excited by the line-up for this year’s conference. Not only will we be covering issues that affect those with dementia and the people who care for them in this country, but we will also hear how similar issues are being tackled in China, Japan, Ireland and Greece and the UK. Our conference, which is supported by British Gas, Gatwick airport and the Alzheimer’s Society, has become one the ‘must attend’ events in the dementia issue-related calendar.”

Attendance at the Plymouth International Dementia Conference tickets can be booked at www.plymouth.ac.uk/whats-on/plymouth-international-dementia-conference-2018