Rowcroft is delighted to announce the return of its UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference, taking place on Wednesday 24 March 2027 at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre in Devon. Following the success of the previous conferences, the 2027 event will once again bring together leading voices from dementia and palliative care for a full day of insight, learning, collaboration and discussion. A major highlight of next year’s programme will be Teun Toebes, internationally renowned dementia advocate, healthcare innovator and bestselling author, who will join us as our headline speaker.
Changing the Narrative: Zero Risks, Zero Life
Teun will deliver his keynote address, ‘Changing the Narrative: Zero Risks, Zero Life’, exploring his vision for a more human approach to dementia and care. Teun is a humanitarian innovator with a mission to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia worldwide. At the age of 21, he made the remarkable decision to move into a closed ward of a nursing home, where he lived alongside people with dementia for three and a half years.
That experience shaped his belief that dementia should not simply be viewed as a healthcare or care issue, but as a societal one and that a different way of looking at dementia can lead to a different way of doing things. His work has since taken him around the world. He is the creator of the international movement Human Forever, which grew from a documentary exploring how societies can rethink dementia and improve quality of life. The film won the prestigious Golden Calf award, premiered during a G20 summit and has been released in more than 30 countries.
Teun is also the author of two international bestselling books, The Housemates and Human Forever, with The Housemates reaching number one on the bestseller lists. He has delivered more than 1,000 talks at national and international conferences and regularly advises politicians, organisations and governments on dementia and healthcare.
His message centres on putting people and quality of life at the heart of dementia care, challenging the idea that eliminating every risk necessarily leads to better outcomes. As Teun puts it, “striving for zero risk, results in zero life.”
Building on the success of previous years
The announcement follows three previous successful events which have brought together delegates and speakers from across the UK and internationally. The sold-out events have featured expert presentations, interactive workshops and powerful panel discussions with people living with dementia, exploring what enables people to continue to live well following diagnosis.
Other sessions have explored advance care planning, nutrition and wellbeing, postural decline and the importance of supporting people with dementia to maintain identity, purpose and quality of life. Last year the conference welcomed Dr Jeremy Isaacs, National Clinical Director for Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health at NHS England, who delivered a keynote address examining dementia in the NHS in England, including national priorities, achievements and ongoing challenges.
A day of learning, collaboration and inspiration
The 2027 conference will continue to bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, carers, support workers and people with lived experience, providing opportunities to share knowledge, explore new approaches and strengthen connections across dementia and palliative care. Delegates can expect a programme featuring expert-led presentations, practical learning, interactive sessions, discussion and opportunities to network with colleagues and professionals from across the sector.
The conference will also explore the latest thinking and developments in dementia care, while continuing to highlight the vital role of palliative care in improving quality of life for people living with dementia and their families.
Teun Toebes: changing the conversation around dementia
Teun’s approach aligns closely with the conference’s focus on person-centred care and the importance of listening to people living with dementia. Through his work, he advocates for a society in which people with dementia remain fully included and where relationships, belonging and quality of life are placed at the heart of care. His Human Forever movement aims to challenge established ideas about dementia and encourage people and organisations to look differently at how we live and care together. His appearance at the 2027 conference promises to bring a fresh international perspective to the conversation around dementia and palliative care.
Find out more about Teun Toebes and his work at www.teuntoebes.com or watch Human Forever, the award-winning documentary that became the most-watched human-interest documentary ever in Dutch cinemas and has been distributed in more than 30 countries.
Find out more about at human-forever.com
Book your place
Tickets are currently on sale with the full agenda to be announced shortly. Ticket options include:
- Super early bird ticket: £135.20 (book before 31 December 2026)
- Reduced rate: £126.75 for charities, individuals living with dementia and carers
This is a must-attend event for anyone involved in dementia and palliative care. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: