International Dementia Conference 2022 Call for Papers

Colm Cunningham: 0:12

Hello to you and welcome once again to another episode of the Dementia Podcast. I'm your host, Colm Cunningham. And in this special mini episode, we're talking about our International Dementia Conference. And to do that, I'm joined by my friend and colleague, Judi Lewis, who's Hammond cares, Marketing General Manager, I wanted to share with our listeners, the exciting news about the International Dementia Conference. It's going to be a live in person event hosted in the beautiful city of Sydney, Australia that Judi will be joining us from, and it's taking place on the 8th and 9th of September 2022. The theme this year is Brave New World. Because as we all move into a health and aged care landscape, that's greatly changed by things like the pandemic, there's never been a more important moment to challenge the way we think about dementia, and to consider those real life dilemmas. And to bravely together shape the future. I didn't want to miss the opportunity to let you know that our call for papers is open. And the podcast is a great opportunity for me to talk to Judi a little bit more about why we want to encourage you to submit a paper or eposter. So if you work are involved in community work, or in residential or hospital, palliative care, anywhere in the world, we really do want to hear from you. Now that can be to hear about your research that you've undertaken, it can be about learning from important innovation that you've been involved in are collaborations that people do together that really change practice. So don't think that it's all going to be research. Because we really strike a balance between all of those things in the way we do the conference. Judi, your conference team have been working really closely with me to ensure that everyone feels able to submit, can you tell me a little bit more about that?

Judi Lewis: 2:10

Yes Colm. As always, the conference really welcomes people with dementia and carers to submit abstracts. We know sometimes it's not an easy thing to follow the process. So that's why we've made it that if you go to the website, which is dementiaconference.com, there's an easy button to seek help on submitting an abstract if you're a carer or somebody living with dementia. So we'll very much support you through the process. Colm, I know you're very keen to get the message out that everyone can take part.

Colm Cunningham: 2:41

Absolutely. You know, we've been doing this conference since 1996. The IDC, the International Dementia Conference is something we're so passionate about it. And that balance between research practice and experience and people's stories has always been the way we've shaped it. And it'll be just the same in 2022.

Judi Lewis: 3:01

Okay, so what's an example of that of someone ringing up to check out if it's okay for them to submit a paper?

Colm Cunningham: 3:08

Well, I remember a reluctant care assistant who'd done a brilliant piece of work with a couple who they shaped their care around date nights for them. And when we started listening to her, there was just so much rich practice that she was going to learn from. So just talking her through that making her feel confident in getting her story across. And you know, on the day, yes, she did share a little bit of research. But people walked away from that buzzing with the passion that she'd put into her work and brilliant ideas and learnings, even when they stuffed up. And they learned from that how to do it better next time. So we want to really hear that sort of story, because it helps us all to do things better and differently.

Judi Lewis: 3:47

Colm I would love to hear more what you're thinking in terms of the Be Brave category?

Colm Cunningham: 3:52

Well, Judi, we've got categories from technology to palliative care, to design to governance and regulation, so many different and diverse themes that people can submit under. But we also recognize that sometimes people look at those and they can't find the thing that is their story. So that's where that Be Brave category comes in. Because we actually wanted a category where if it doesn't qualify, in what you can see, put it under that Be Brave category, because we want to hear from you. And we encourage you to put your story and not be constrained by some of the themes we've put we want those themes as well but Be Brave is that wonderful if it doesn't fit, tell us about it. Judi, this year's International dementia conference is a chance for us also to ask how we all step up to the challenges we faced and together shape a brave new world in dementia. I was wondering what does Brave New World and the theme mean for you?

Judi Lewis: 4:49

Colm as you mentioned, we we've had the pandemic and we've seen through that, through the findings experiences over the last couple of years of growing understanding and importance of relationship based care. That is care that places the person at the center, and really sets a priority their individual needs and preferences. So in terms of looking to the future, my idea of a brave new world is how will this renewed focus on relationship based care take shape? And how can we through the Dementia Conference program really support and inspire and bring this to its fullest. Colm I'm conscious that we're, we're this key moment of time in the conference planning call for papers. What's your favorite part of the point of where we're at?

Colm Cunningham: 5:37

Judi, it's a very privileged point to be because I get to chair the panel look at to see all the papers that are coming through. And it's often so inspiring to see that in despite all those challenges, we refer to that people do the most amazing and innovative work. And a really good example of that was recently for one of our keynote panels, that is looking at the appropriate use of technology. I contacted Tom Stevens, who developed Tombot an AI dog robot, and I was really interested. And you know, I like my technology, but wasn't it amazing. Just picking up on what you said about relationship based care. That actually, the reason that Tom did what he did was because his mum had to got dementia, and she wasn't able to look after a dog anymore. And his passion is actually fueled by the technology replacing and allowing her to still have that contact with a dog. So it's all exactly what you're talking about, which is relationship based care. So that was really exciting and challenging to me as well. Judi, thank you so much for joining me, I think, hopefully, people have seen that we're both really passionate and want to encourage people to take part. So thank you so much for getting the message across at this key time for everybody who's listening to think about submitting their papers.

Judi Lewis: 6:51

Thanks for having me on Colm it's been great.

Colm Cunningham: 6:53

We really do hope that you'll submit a paper to the International Conference. Papers closed on the 30th of April and eposters are open to the 29th of August. So there's opportunities on both kinds, and I'm certainly looking forward to reading your submissions to the international conference, but even more so I really hope that I get to meet you on the 8th and 9th September in Sydney, Australia. Visit dementiaconference.com and you'll be able to get help and information and ask for help from our conference team who'll be really happy to help you. I look forward to reading your submissions. Bye for now.