The Plymouth University International, National and Regional Dementia Conference 2023 organised by Ian Sherriff B.E.M, Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia at the University of Plymouth’s Faculty of Health was held on the main university campus on the 23rd of June 2023.

Experts in dementia care from the UK and Europe were brought together for a conference at the University of Plymouth on Friday 23 June.

Chaired by David Fitzgerald from the BBC and Angela Rippon CBE, the aim was to share international, national, and regional thoughts on dementia care and research which have the potential to open new ways of developing fresh perspectives and ground-breaking solutions that help overcome the challenges faced by people with dementia and carers every day.

The agenda included speakers from the World Health Organization, Alzheimer’s Europe, Dementia in the Fishing Communities, Blind Veterans UK and USA, and the United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute.

Among the highlights of the day was a presentation on ‘Dementia Support in the Russia–Ukraine War’, with Irina Shevchenko, founder, and director of the Nezabutni Charitable Foundation in Kyiv.

Ian Sherriff, said:

“In a world that’s sometimes seen as lacking cooperation and enthusiasm, we have seen those in evidence here at the University, today. People from around the UK and beyond – notably our distinguished guests from Geneva and Kyiv – have represented all the various aspects of health and social care expertise and provision, from the public sector to the private and voluntary sectors. We have shared ideas and knowledge on how we can all work together to further the cause of people living with dementia and their carers. The initial feedback from individuals who attended the conference was: - “it gave us hope for the future for dementia care support and medications””.

There’s a famous quote that says:

When you get a group of committed, dedicated people together you can change the world and that’s what we’ve done today.”

Ian Kenneth Grant Sherriff B.E.M. MA. DMS. CQSW. Dip Cll Academic Partnership Lead for Dementia
Faculty of Health University of Plymouth