Healthcare professionals from across the country have descended on the North East to attend the inaugural Dementia Care conference.
Over 80 delegates attended the full-day event at The Sage, Gateshead, where they were treated to workshops and keynote sessions from experts operating across the healthcare sector, including Professor Louise Robinson, director of the Newcastle University Institute for Ageing, Rob Webster, chief executive of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Professor Ian A. James from the Centre of the Health of the Elderly, among others.
Hosted by not-for-profit care provider, Dementia Care, in celebration of its 25th anniversary as a registered charity, the conference highlighted the importance of specialist care and advice services for those living with dementia and the role which these vital services play in also supporting the families, friends and carers of those affected, from early diagnosis through to palliative care.
Other themes discussed throughout the day’s sessions included how to gain an outstanding score from the CQC, end of life support training, new mental health pathways in Newcastle, and new best practice models for dementia services.
Dr Fraser Quin, chief executive at Dementia Care, commented: “From the outset, our ambition for the conference was to bring practitioners together from across the region and beyond to share knowledge and discuss the future of dementia services and care.
“We have been absolutely blown away by the response we have received to the conference and we would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to the discussions held for making the day such an incredible success.”
Professor Moira Livingston, Chair of Dementia Care said: “It’s great to have the opportunity to bring speakers from a range of specialisms together to discuss dementia, dementia services and the future of best practice. The conference has given us the opportunity to both celebrate 25 years as a charity, but also to look to the future through our work with our partners, and with our new brand Dementia Matters. We very excited about the future”.
Dementia Care, which provides 24-hour home care, residential and respite care and day services from its purpose-built centres in Newcastle upon Tyne and Hexham, also utilised the occasion to reveal its new brand identity.
In an exercise which will see all of its assets overhauled, Dementia Care will soon become Dementia Matters.
“After 25 years as Dementia Care, we felt that the time was right for us to revise our brand,” added Dr Quin.
“The way in which we deliver our services is constantly changing and adapting, we are always adding new strings to our bow so it is only right that our brand reflects this. Our remit covers so much more than care and we felt that the Dementia Matters brand encapsulated who we are and what we do much more strongly.
“Our staff, trustees and stakeholders have been integral to the rebrand process and we are very much looking forward to the future under our new identity.”
For more information about Dementia Matters, visit www.dementiamatters.net