Home Instead Attends Cornwall Dementia Conference 2026 in Wadebridge
It was great to attend the 6th Cornwall Dementia Conference at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge on Friday 15th May. Home Instead Mid Cornwall was delighted to be one of the sponsors of this year’s conference and support an event dedicated to improving dementia care and support across Cornwall.
Dementia is a growing issue for Cornwall, with an estimated 10,000 people currently living with the condition. That figure is expected to rise to around 12,000–13,000 people by 2030 as Cornwall’s population continues to age. The conference provided an excellent opportunity for the NHS, charities, care providers, adult social care teams and community organisations to come together, network and share best practice around supporting people living with dementia and their families.
You can find out more about our Dementia Care Services and our approach to helping people live well at home with dementia
Insightful and Thought-Provoking Talks
The conference featured a wide range of speakers covering different aspects of dementia care and support.
One of the standout sessions was delivered by Jayne Howard of Arts Well and focused on art and creativity in dementia care. It was inspiring to hear how music, art and creative expression can help people living with dementia maintain confidence, identity and connection.
Jayne highlighted research showing that cultural and creative activities can help preserve memory and cognitive function, while also supporting emotional wellbeing and social connection. A particularly powerful message was that creativity is something we all possess, and that engaging in creative activities can help develop new neural pathways.
The talk also challenged the idea that creativity should simply be viewed as an “optional extra” within dementia care. Too often, arts-based activities rely on enthusiastic volunteers or short-term funding streams. Instead, Jayne argued that creativity should be recognised as an essential part of compassionate, person-centred dementia care.
We also enjoyed an engaging session on the benefits of massage and sensory therapies by Nicolle Mitchell, which highlighted the importance of comfort, relaxation and human connection in dementia care.
Kevin Brazil - Palliative Care with Dementia and Delirium by Dr Jay Reynolds
Another particularly powerful presentation came from Kevin Brazil, who spoke about palliative care in dementia. It was an incredibly sensitive and thought-provoking talk. At Home Instead we rightly focus on living well with dementia, but it is also important to recognise that dementia is a life-limiting condition and that compassionate end-of-life support matters greatly for both individuals and families.
Kevin highlighted how, historically, dementia has not always been recognised as a terminal condition in the same way that illnesses such as cancer are. As a result, conversations around future care planning and palliative support have often happened too late or sometimes not at all.
The talk emphasised that dementia palliative care is about preserving comfort, dignity and quality of life over a long period of time. Future care planning is not simply about medical decisions, but also about providing psychological, social and spiritual support for both the person living with dementia and their loved ones.
There was also discussion around the importance of planning ahead for emergency care choices, managing co-morbidities, anticipatory medication and discussing preferred places of care. The session was a valuable reminder that person-centred dementia care should support the whole individual and family throughout every stage of the journey.
Dr Jay Reynolds delivered a highly informative talk on dementia and delirium, highlighting the importance of recognising delirium as a clinical emergency rather than simply “confusion” associated with older age or dementia.
Jay explained that delirium is associated with increased mortality, falls, longer hospital stays, increased cognitive decline and a higher risk of developing dementia later on. Around 30% of people in hospital beds are estimated to be experiencing delirium at any one time, underlining how common and serious the condition is.
The session also explored the widespread use of the 4AT assessment tool, which helps identify possible delirium quickly and effectively. It is certainly something we feel could be valuable for our own Care Professionals to understand and use in appropriate situations. You can read more about the assessment here: 4AT – RAPID CLINICAL TEST FOR DELIRIUM.
Jay also explained that when treating delirium, the main focus should always be identifying and addressing the underlying cause. Medication may sometimes be needed, but it is not considered the first-line approach. Instead, good care, reassurance, hydration, familiar surroundings and treating the root medical issue are all essential parts of supporting recovery.
A Positive and Inspiring Day for Dementia Care in Cornwall
It was lovely to catch up with so many familiar faces throughout the day.
We enjoyed seeing Clarinda, Anita and Kate from Memory Matters and meeting other members of the Dementia Adviser team. It was also great to speak with Laura Walker from the Sensory Trust, Gayle from The Filo Project, the Admiral Nurses who provide such valuable advice and support to families, and Caroline from the CHAOS Group.
A special mention also goes to the Forget Me Not Chorus. Elly was there representing the choir, which brought back memories of one of our long-standing clients living with dementia who, even as their condition progressed to a more advanced stage, benefitted hugely from taking part in the singing group. The positive impact music and community can have should never be underestimated. The first talk of the day about creativity highlighted how vital music and singing can be to help memory and cognitive function. Contact Elly on 02922 362064 or elly@forgetmenotchorus.com
Care in Cornwall faces many challenges, as it does across the rest of the country, but the enthusiasm, passion and energy of the organisers and attendees truly shone through. Special thanks must go to Paul Cadger from Kernow Health CIC and Dr Alison Hibbert and Stuart Cohen for organising and presenting such an excellent conference.
The day was a reminder of the importance of collaboration, compassion and continuing to improve support for people living with dementia across Cornwall.
To find out more about Home Instead Mid Cornwall and our personalised dementia care services, visit our Home Instead Mid Cornwall Homepage or Contact us on 01726 829312.
