Advocates centre stage at Australian Dementia Research Forum

Several Dementia Advocates spoke at the 2024 Australian Dementia Research Forum, an annual event that brings together dementia researchers, health professionals and policy makers, as well as people living with dementia and their families and carers, to discuss the latest research, innovations, and best practices in dementia.

Dementia Advocate Bill Yeates was an opening keynote speaker, sharing  his experiences as a way of raising awareness about dementia, focusing mainly on post diagnostic care and support via his holistic approach to life.

Dementia Advocates Scott Cooper and Kerrie Tuite participated in a Dementia Australia panel discussion on post diagnostic care and were joined on the panel by Dana Haywood, Team Leader Client Services, and Kaele Stokes, Executive Director Services, Advocacy and Research, who chaired the discussion.

The panel outlined what good post diagnostic support looks like, why it is important – not just for quality of life but in supporting research and research translation, and what services can make a lasting difference.

Dementia Advocate Natalie Ive also was part of a special interest group on Younger Onset Dementia showcasing the current advancements in research, innovation, and service developments in the younger onset dementia field,

Feedback from attendees highlighted the power of sharing living experiences to help create empathy and understanding amongst those in the dementia research space.