Gabby McGregor. The most memorable message I took away from the Alzheimer Scotland Annual Conference 2024 was the powerful emphasis on person-centred care and adaptability in supporting people living with dementia. The conference underscored how critical it is to place individuals at the heart of every decision, giving them a voice in research, service design, and self-advocacy. The Rethink Dementia campaign, in particular challenges outdated perceptions and promotes the idea that people with dementia should be active participants in shaping their own care.
The ability to adapt services to each person’s unique needs—rather than fitting them into rigid systems—was a recurring theme, highlighting the importance of flexibility in care. By providing platforms for those living with dementia to share their experiences, the conference reinforced that their insights are invaluable to improving support systems.
Overall, the key takeaway was that people living with dementia have the right to be involved in the decisions that affect their lives, and that true innovation in dementia care must be rooted in their lived experiences, ensuring they remain central to both service delivery and advocacy efforts.
Emma Wall. The Alzheimer’s Scotland conference featured a variety of speakers who covered an array of topics, deepening my understanding of several critical aspects of dementia care. Each speaker shared unique insights, discussing cutting-edge research and personal stories of resilience. I learned the vital importance of person-centred post-diagnostic support for those living with dementia during the conference. The use of virtual reality in dementia care resonated with me the most. Hearing how VR can transport people to familiar or calming places struck me as an innovative way to help individuals reconnect with their past and find comfort. The discussion on the benefits of being outdoors also left a lasting impression. The idea that nature improves physical health while bringing peace and mental clarity, especially for people with dementia, truly impacted me.
I valued the lived experiences shared by individuals with dementia and the perspectives from carers the most- hearing their personal stories about daily challenges and meaningful victories achieved in Scotland provided valuable insights. Their voices reminded me of the deep need for empathy and understanding in dementia care and emphasized how crucial it is to support both the person and their family.
Overall, the conference inspired me. It demonstrated how combining person-centred care with innovations like virtual reality can genuinely make a difference in the lives of people with dementia.
Rachel Murphy. I had a delightful time at the Alzheimer’s Scotland annual conference. The variety of speakers, from people with lived experience of dementia to researchers and healthcare workers, left me with a very holistic overview of dementia, how it impacts daily life, and the amazing work that is being completed to allow people to live well with dementia.
A key message that I have taken from the conference is the importance of keeping the person at the centre and ensuring that people living with dementia are involved in the conversation regarding care and plans for the future. I was very inspired by Scott Mitchell, the husband of the late Dame Barabara Windsor who spoke about their story and his experience as a carer following her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He emphasised the importance of the advice he received from her medical team on keeping her working as long as she could manage and do what she has always been doing. He emphasised how this helped Barbara to live well as she progressed to the later stages of Alzheimer’s, and how they could adjust her work appropriately as the disease progressed.
Overall, the key message from Scott’s story is the importance of keeping the person’s needs and wants at the centre and maintaining a positive outlook.
For anyone unable to attend, the recorded conference sessions are now available to view here