The UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2026 - Rowcroft Hospice

In this closing panel discussion, “The Future of Dementia and Palliative Care" Dr. Jill Horne chairs a conversation with leading experts Dr. Sarah Russell, Prof. Liz Sampson, Dr. Wilco Achterberg, and Prof. Kevin Brazil.

Listen as the panel tackle thought-provoking audience questions, from their personal heroes in dementia and palliative care and the necessary funding shifts, to redefining the hospice’s role and developing new quality indicators for end-of-life dementia care. Explore the importance of holistic and person-centred approaches, the challenges of integrating health and social care, and the critical need for accessible resources and knowledge-sharing across the sector.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, carer, researcher, or passionate advocate, this episode offers expert insights, real-life stories, and practical strategies for improving dementia and palliative care in the UK and beyond.

Key topics covered:

- Recognising heroes and pioneers in dementia and palliative care

- The case for integrated funding and breaking down silos

- The importance of holistic, person-centred care models

- The evolving role of hospices in supporting dementia patients

- Future quality indicators for end-of-life care

- Bridging the gap between research, practice, and policy through storytelling

Featured speakers:

- Dr. Sarah Russell

- Prof. Liz Sampson

- Dr. Wilco Achterberg

- Prof. Kevin Brazil

Listen now for valuable insights and practical guidance to drive change in dementia and palliative care.

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

Hannah Gardner a Consultant Admiral Nurse for Children and Young People at Dementia UK discusses a crucial but often overlooked aspect of dementia care, its impact on children and young people.

Hannah sheds light on the unique challenges faced by these young individuals and how we can better support them through grief and loss.

And emphasises that a diagnosis of dementia is not just given to one person - it is given to a spouse, a partner, a child and the extended family. 

She will discuss what support children and young people living in families facing dementia need.

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

Tracey Carter, Head of Dementia Care & Wellbeing at Hallmark Care Homes, guides us through the sensitive and often misunderstood experience of bereavement and loss in people living with dementia. 

Dementia can profoundly alter how grief is felt and expressed, making traditional approaches to support insufficient. 

Tracey shares current research insights, practical strategies, and a compassionate blended approach to help caregivers respond with patience, empathy, and consistency. 

Listen now to learn how understanding grief in dementia can reduce distress, strengthen care relationships, and promote dignity and wellbeing during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Connect with Tracey Carter 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

In this episode, Rachel Johnstone from Dementia UK sheds light on how we can better support family carers of people living with dementia. 

Caring for a loved one with dementia brings unique emotional and practical challenges - from coping with anticipatory grief to navigating complex care systems and looking after one’s own wellbeing. 

Rachel explores these realities, introduces helpful concepts like ‘Safe Uncertainty,’ and shares resources and reflective practices that empower carers to provide the best possible care while caring for themselves. 

Tune in for insights, guidance, and practical support for family carers everywhere.

Connect with Rachel Johnstone 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

Dr. Rory Baxter and Leonie Cooper discuss digital health technologies for dementia, highlighting the benefits of robot pets and introducing the GOALD project, which co-creates digital tools for physical activity and reminiscence.

The episode emphasises the crucial role of co-design in technology development for older adults and showcases the GOALD toolkit for developers. It also touches on the ICONIC project's efforts to combat digital exclusion through intergenerational co-design, exploring how these technologies can enhance the quality of life and foster social connections for individuals with dementia.

Connect with Dr Rory Baxter on LinkedIn

Connect with Leonie Cooper 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

Professor Karen Watchman highlights the unique challenges of dementia in individuals with learning disabilities, focusing on differences in cognitive ability progression, seizure onset (especially in Down's syndrome), and communication of pain. 

She emphasises personalised support, relationship nurturing, and the role of caregivers. 

The episode showcases resources like Jenny's Diary and Andrew's Cards, and introduces specialised online training for professionals, aiming to enhance the quality of life for this population. 

Connect with Professor Karen Watchman 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

Nicola Jacobson-Wright and Faith Frost present on Namaste Care, a sensory-based programme for advanced dementia. 

Their research shows it significantly reduces agitation and improves quality of life in care home residents. 

The episode highlights the programme's key elements, positive impacts on residents and staff, and also introduces an online course developed to educate and support staff in delivering Namaste Care, aiming to improve the quality of life for people living with advanced dementia.

Connect with Nicola Jacobson Wright on LinkedIn

Connect with Faith Frost 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

Prof Kevin Brazil discusses how families can be better supported in making crucial end-of-life care decisions for loved ones with advanced dementia. 

In this episode, Kevin will introduce the Family Carer Decision Support Intervention - a structured approach that combines practical tools, compassionate communication, and evidence-based guidance. 

Join us as we unpack how this intervention empowers family carers, improves care planning in nursing homes, and shapes the future of dementia care.

Connect with Prof. Kevin Brazil 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

This episode is an emotion and moving account of Sarah's experience of caring for her mother.

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses terminal illness, caregiving, and the death of a loved one. 

Dr. Sarah Russell, Consultant Nurse and Trust Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, explores the complex duality of caring.  

Drawing on 16 years of direct caregiving experience for a loved one, Sarah provides a unique perspective on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals who also become family caregivers. 

She discusses the different hats family carers wear, such as supervisor, advocate, carer, and informed bystander, and how these roles require distinct supportive input. 

This episode offers valuable insights into navigating the personal and professional worlds of caregiving, highlighting the need for better support and recognition for these invisible second patients.

Connect with Dr Sarah Russell 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

In this powerful episode, Dr. Zena Aldridge explores one of the most overlooked yet impactful aspects of dementia care: promoting continence and managing incontinence with dignity. 

Drawing on the latest evidence and her experience as a leading dementia nurse consultant, she shares practical strategies, challenges stigma, and calls for a shift in how health and care professionals support those living with dementia. 

Connect with Dr Zena Aldridge 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