The UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2026 - Rowcroft Hospice

From a chance conversation to an award-winning model of palliative dementia care

In this episode, the development of an innovative Dementia Palliative Care Service in Derbyshire is explored, addressing gaps in end-of-life support for people living with dementia.

Through collaboration across health, social care, and voluntary sectors, the service demonstrated strong impact and gained national recognition.

Now informing a gold-standard NHS England model, this session highlights how local innovation can shape the future of dementia palliative care on a national scale.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-del-toro-66433114a/

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

Professor Catherine Walshe explores the complexities of delivering high-quality palliative care for people with advanced dementia.

Combining an overview of current research with interactive discussion, the session highlights the challenges faced by both dementia care specialists and palliative care professionals.

It offers valuable insight into how different perspectives can be better aligned to improve care for those living with advanced dementia.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-walshe-60567b71/

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

In this interactive session, Isobel Jones introduced a 13-piece empathy suit designed to simulate the physical and sensory challenges of living with dementia.

By experiencing everyday tasks with restricted movement, vision, and hearing, participants gained first-hand insight into the realities of dementia.

The session highlighted the importance of empathy in care, encouraging a more compassionate and person-centred approach to supporting those living with the condition.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/isobel-jones-145b662a/

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

In this session, the complexities of advance care planning in dementia are explored, with a focus on meaningful communication and person-centred care.

Drawing on guidance from the European Association for Palliative Care, the discussion highlights the importance of involving families, adapting conversations to individual capacity, and viewing advance care planning as an ongoing process rather than a one-off decision.

The session also outlines practical approaches and tools to support earlier, more inclusive conversations, helping ensure care reflects what matters most to the person living with dementia.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-van-der-steen-van-kampen-0b645958/

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

In this episode, the challenges surrounding eating, drinking, and swallowing in dementia are explored, alongside the impact on health and quality of life.

The discussion highlights the balance between clinical recommendations and individual preferences, emphasising the importance of autonomy and the right to make personal choices.

Focusing on positive risk-taking, the session encourages a person-centred approach that respects dignity while supporting wellbeing.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-anna-volkmer-655916a3/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-smith-080318120/

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

In this episode, Ian Sherriff explores the growing global and local impact of dementia, highlighting key statistics, future projections, and the increasing pressures on health and care systems.

With cases rising rapidly and costs expected to escalate significantly, the session examines challenges including inequalities in care, delayed hospital discharges, and the burden placed on families and carers.

It also looks ahead to emerging innovations in diagnosis and treatment, including AI, blood testing, and new drug trials, offering hope for earlier detection and improved quality of life for those living with dementia.

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

In this session Dr Jeremy Isaacs, National Clinical Director for Dementia and Older People’s Mental Health at NHS England, explores the current state of dementia care.

With over 500,000 people diagnosed in England, a number set to rise, the NHS has made strong progress in diagnosis, awareness, and dementia-friendly services. 

However, challenges remain, including increasing waiting times, variation in diagnostic quality, and limited post-diagnostic support.

This session highlights the need for better integration, workforce development, and targeted investment, alongside the opportunity to improve care through the Frailty & Dementia Modern Service Framework.

Connect with Dr Jeremy Isaacs on LinkedIn

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

Living with Dementia: Paula’s and Guy’s Story

In this moving opening to the UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2026, Paula Bradley-Smith shares her deeply personal story of caring for her husband, Guy Bradley-Smith. Guy, a doctor, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2021 and previously opened this conference two years ago, offering his own unique perspective on living with the condition.

Paula reflects on their 41 years of marriage and the journey they have faced together since Guy’s diagnosis - from his hospital admission this time last year to his move into a nursing home in September. Speaking with honesty and compassion, she offers a powerful insight into the realities of loving and caring for someone with dementia.

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

Welcome to the Dementia and Palliative Care Conference podcast 2026, brought to you by Rowcroft Hospice. 

Across this series, you’ll hear powerful conversations from experts at the forefront of dementia research, policy, and frontline practice. From national perspectives with NHS England’s Dr Jeremy Isaacs, to international insights from Dr Jenny van der Steen, and regional innovation led by Ian Sherriff in Devon, this conference brings together a truly diverse range of expertise.

We also hear directly from people living with dementia, alongside practitioners and researchers exploring vital topics like advance care planning, empathy in care, supporting care teams, nutrition and choice at the end of life, and groundbreaking models of palliative dementia care.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, caregiver, or simply passionate about improving experiences for people living with dementia, this series offers practical insights, fresh thinking, and real human stories.

Thank you for joining us and we hope you enjoy the series.

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator

The first episodes will follow on Monday 30th March 2026

If you weren’t able to join us at The 2026 UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference, you can now experience the whole event through our podcast series.

Across this series, you’ll hear powerful conversations from experts at the forefront of dementia research, policy, and frontline practice. From national perspectives with NHS England’s Dr Jeremy Isaacs, to international insights from Dr Jenny van der Steen, and regional innovation led by Ian Sherriff in Devon, this conference brings together a truly diverse range of expertise.

We also hear directly from people living with dementia, alongside practitioners and researchers exploring vital topics like advance care planning, empathy in care, supporting care teams, nutrition and choice at the end of life, and groundbreaking models of palliative dementia care.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, caregiver, or simply passionate about improving experiences for people living with dementia, this series offers practical insights, fresh thinking, and real human stories.

We hope you enjoy the series.

The first episodes will follow on Monday 30th March 2026

This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.

Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.

We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.

This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator