Researchers, healthcare workers, charity representatives and other organisations gathered at The Florrie in Liverpool last week to discuss the future of dementia care.

The fourth annual Liverpool Ageing and Dementia Care Conference included a keynote speech by Professor Siobhan Reilly from the University of Bradford and multiple sessions focusing on different areas of dementia and ageing as we move away from pandemic. A debate hosted by the Alzheimer’s Society and the University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute discussed how research can move into policy and practice.

The conference is hosted by the Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Forum which was set up by the University of Liverpool in 2019 and is supported by NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC). The Forum has grown rapidly, with national and international engagement.

Organiser Dr Clarissa Giebel, Senior Research Fellow & Older Adult Subtheme Lead ARC NWC said: “The Conference is our annual highlight of the Liverpool Dementia & Ageing Research Forum to bring together dementia and ageing experts from various backgrounds, just like in our co-produced research. It is so important to involve people with lived experiences, health and social care professionals, and Charity providers in research to ensure we address those issues that matter to the population. That also meant having non-academics sharing their experiences on stage and with poster presentations, including Joan Carton who gave a powerful talk about her caring experiences for her father with dementia. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year, and to the various other Forum activities.”

Mark Gabbay, Director of ARC NWC and Professor of General Practice at the University of Liverpool and said: “ARC NWC was delighted to support this conference as sharing the findings of research in key areas such as dementia and reducing health inequalities provides the evidence needed to those commissioning or shaping local health services. It was very rewarding to see our public advisers speaking at the event and the vital role they have played in many of the research projects presented.”