HIT directors share their work at UK Dementia Congress

Two of our Dementia HIT directors, Dr Rachel Holland and Isobel Jones, spoke at the UK Dementia Congress in Birmingham 8-9 November.

The Congress brings together different disciplines from community support to care homes, NHS workers and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. It aims to share best practice, inspire and enthuse, and help to shape the future of dementia services nationwide.

Isobel Jones spoke about Alive, the Bristol-based charity she leads, including how they had responded with their service provision during the pandemic, and the #OneGoodTurn project

She shared how Alive had helped to maintain the links between people in care homes and different generations, despite the challenges brought by COVID-19, and brought many delegates to tears with some of the videos and messages from children to care home residents at the height of the pandemic.

Isobel was also part of a panel looking at the role of technology and care homes, particularly how COVID-19 has shaped the delivery and use of technology. She highlighted Alive’s development of Alive On Demand – an online platform with dementia friendly videos and activities for care homes and individuals to access and use.

Isobel said:

“It was so good to be back at Congress again, meeting others face to face, seeing what providers and people had been doing, and the challenges they had been facing; it was an incredible two days. Hearing stories and experiences from the pandemic from people living with dementia and their carers was, at times, heart-breaking, but it was so important to hear their voices. Taking forward the need for equitable care for people living with dementia and ensuring all voices, from all communities, are heard is essential. It was an inspiring time and a privilege to be there.”

Rachel Holland was presenting with her colleague Dr Jenny Humphries on the Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service. This innovative service is a partnership between the Alzheimer’s Society and Devon Partnership NHS Trust. The service brings together a wide range of professionals who work alongside GPs, other health professionals and partners to support people living with dementia and their carers.

Rachel said:

“It was great to be back at Congress again and to be able to catch up with so many people face to face”