Rowcroft Hospice has successfully hosted its second UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference, following the success of its inaugural event last year. Held at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre on Tuesday 25 March, the sold-out event brought together over 100 delegates, including local, national, and international leaders in dementia and palliative care.
Sponsored by Majestic Holidays, and event sponsors Wollens, Amica Care, MC Hearing, Ordli, and Dementia UK, the conference was filled with insightful presentations, innovative thinking, and expert discussions on the future of dementia and palliative care in the UK. Delegates from hospices across the country, including representatives from Hospice UK, highlighted the significance of collaboration and shared learning within the sector.
Register your interest for attending the UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2026
Addressing the growing challenge of dementia
Dementia remains the leading cause of death in the UK, and Rowcroft Hospice is committed to addressing its profound impact on the local community. The conference provided a vital platform for experts to share knowledge, spark important conversations, and contribute to shaping a future where every individual affected by dementia receives the dignity and support they deserve.
The event was opened by Fred Caygill, an ambassador for Dementia UK, who shared his deeply personal journey of caring for his late wife, who suffered from vascular dementia. Fred spoke about the invaluable support he received from Admiral Nurses at Dementia UK, stating: “I’m living with dementia as well as many people who care for loved ones with dementia, whether they be husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, or friends. Dementia UK opened a door for me when nobody else had.”
Expert-led keynote sessions
Among the fifteen distinguished speakers who shared their expertise, Professor Wilco Achterberg, a Professor of Elderly Care from Leiden University Medical Center, addressed the challenges of pain management in dementia. His session provided valuable insights into how dementia affects pain perception and introduced methods for assessing and managing pain in individuals with cognitive impairment. Alongside him, other experts covered a range of topics, contributing to a comprehensive and informative event.
Dr Zena Aldridge, an Independent Dementia Nurse Consultant and Social Care Nurse Fellow at the NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Office, tackled the misconceptions surrounding incontinence in people living with dementia. She emphasised that incontinence is not inevitable and can often be managed through understanding underlying health conditions and implementing practical strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Dr Sarah Russell, Nurse Consultant and Palliative and End of Life Care Lead at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, shared her personal experience of caring for her late mother with dementia. Her deeply moving session explored the duality of caregiving, illustrating how nearly everyone will, at some point, be a carer for someone living and dying with dementia.
Interactive workshops and networking
As well as listening to leading experts, delegates had the opportunity to participate in six workshop sessions, covering topics such as: supporting family carers; supporting people living with dementia experiencing bereavement and loss; and implementing namaste care – a holistic, person-centred approach to care for people with advanced dementia, focusing on comfort, pleasure, and connection through sensory stimulation, meaningful activities, and a calm environment. One workshop session featured Dr Rory Baxter and Leonie Cooper from the University of Plymouth, who led an innovative session on health technologies to support people with dementia. They provided hands-on demonstrations of virtual reality headsets and robotic pets, showcasing how technology can enhance well-being for individuals living with dementia.
A networking lunch and panel discussion were also part of the day, enabling attendees to exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions to the challenges facing dementia care today.
Reflections on the event
Mark Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of Rowcroft Hospice, reflected on the success of the conference, stating: “It’s been a fantastic day listening to all the speakers discuss dementia and palliative care. The interventions we can make -both collectively and individually – have the potential to make a huge difference to those living with dementia.”
Sally Scott-Bryant, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Rowcroft Hospice, expressed immense pride in the event’s impact and the valuable connections forged among professionals dedicated to improving dementia care. She remarked, “The importance of looking beyond the diagnosis and seeing the individual cannot be overstated. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of giving someone a label, but true care comes from recognising the person beyond their condition. There was an undeniable charge of emotion in the room—an energy that brought every single person together as one, united by a shared commitment to compassion and dignity for those living with dementia.”
With another highly successful event completed, Rowcroft Hospice continues to lead the conversation on dementia and palliative care.
For further details about the day and its speakers, please visit our event page, where updates on future events will also be posted.
Register your interest for attending the UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2026