Following our highly successful inaugural event last year, University of South Wales are pleased to announce our second Dementia conference: #USWDEM16. This year’s conference theme is Service Innovation / Best Practice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyCx81UnPd0

Dementia is one of the biggest global public health challenges facing our generation. This event aims to bring together a wide range of people with a common interest in the Care and Support of people living with Dementia in Wales.

The population of Wales is ageing. We already have the highest proportion of older people in the UK. A recent Government Survey highlighted that Dementia tops the list of health concerns in Wales with 76% worried about developing it in later life (WG 2016).

One in five people in Wales has a close family member or friend living with dementia and it has a dramatic human and financial impact. Costing the Welsh Economy an estimated £1.4 billion per year with an average cost of £31,300 for each person living with dementia. Families, carers and people living with dementia currently bear approx. two-thirds of the costs themselves. It is estimated that by the year 2021 over 55,000 people will be living with dementia in Wales and this is set to rise to 100,000 by the year 2025. In addition, Wales has the lowest rate of Dementia diagnosis in the UK running at between 37.2% - 43.4%. (AS 2015).

For this year’s event we have worked in collaboration with students and staff on the BA Photojournalism Course in our Faculty of Creative Industries to produce a variety of short visual pieces around the conference theme which will be on display at the conference.

We are pleased to be able to offer some free spaces to people living with Dementia and carers.