International Dementia Conference 2026: Improving Lives for People Living with Dementia

Our Principal Ingrid Marshall recently attended the 2026 International Dementia Conference in Sydney, where she also presented an e-poster on her Churchill Fellowship research into small household models of aged care. Ingrid is a passionate advocate for the ways that design can support people living with dementia and the conference provided an excellent platform to learn more and to network with like-minded people.

Ingrid shares her reflections on the conference below.

I was fortunate to attend the 2026 International Dementia Conference in Sydney. It was heartening to be surrounded by people committed to improving life for those living with dementia.

American geriatrician Allen Power’s definition, “Dementia is a shift in the way people experience the world around them,” was enlightening. He also spoke about the double standards often applied to people living with dementia. For example, resisting being undressed by someone unfamiliar is not abnormal, nor is wanting to do things in your own way, at your own pace and on your own terms.

Allen also noted that antipsychotics and some non-pharmacological interventions are ineffective when they do not respond to, or prioritise, the person’s wellbeing.

Prioritising wellbeing — identity, connectedness, security, autonomy, meaning, growth and joy — is central to the experiential model. Allowing a person to be themselves, and taking the time to understand who they are, is at the heart of relationship-centred care.

Dutch care advocate Teun Toebes shared a similar sentiment: “Looking differently is doing differently.”

At the age of 21, Teun decided to live in the closed ward of a nursing home for three and a half years. This gave him first-hand experience of the need for a different perspective on dementia and a better way of living together. Teun described how dementia doesn’t take away a person’s humanity, but good intentions and systems can. We need cultural change, where safety provided in care is balanced with quality of life. Teun reflected how well-funded aged care in the Netherlands often missed the quality of life and joy acheived through a sense of community and genuine relationships in more economically disadvantaged countries.

University of Edinburgh Professor of the Psychiatry of Ageing Craig Richie encouraged us all to achieve change through disruption; to take an entrepreneurial approach to making change happen. Changing government approaches is too slow – we need to “build our own sports car”.

Palliative care consultant Dr Kathryn Mannix’ presentation was the conference highlight for me. Titled “Whole-of -life conversations”, a comparison was made between the birthing process – where classes prepare new parents for the process ahead of them – and dying, where discussion is often taboo. In past generations death (and birth) often occurred at home, so most people had a greater understanding of the nature of an “ordinary death”. Current generations have not had that same exposure, so knowledge of dying tends to come from news items and movies, which are typically not “ordinary” deaths. While having “the conversation” is not easy, not having it can lead to anxiety, unnecessary interventions and a “bad death”.

Mary Freer of the Compassion Revolution left us feeling positive with her SUMA compassion framework, or Show Up, Understand, Move Closer and Act.  I intend to adopt her concept of a “glimmer”, an act or expression which is the opposite of a trigger in that it brings joy and warmth rather than trauma. She suggested collecting these glimmers into a notebook to look at when you need it.

The concurrent sessions allowed a brief glimpse into other areas of research and support. Having visited many of the same European aged care homes as architect Lara Calder, I enjoyed her presentation reflecting of the variety of approaches visited. I was also impressed by Honey Bee Homes’ alternative approach to aged care offered through a privately funded model in the Byron Bay area.

All the varied speakers confirmed my thinking that the best support can only be delivered through really knowing and understanding the person being cared for. Relationships are truly central!