"Building Confidence in Dementia Care": Healthcare Professionals Gather for Transformative UCC Workshop
Our Discipline of Physiotherapy celebrated a highly successful professional development event that took place yesterday 12th of March at Nano Nagle Place, with the hosting of “Building Confidence in Dementia Care,” an interactive workshop designed to strengthen dementia‑informed practice across healthcare settings.
With funding grant by the https://www.hrb.ie/Health Research Board (HRB), the half‑day programme equipped attendees with practical, evidence‑based strategies to enhance the quality of dementia care.
Led by Trish O’ Sullivan , Lecturer in Neurological Physiotherapy, the interactive half‑day programme brought together clinicians, researchers, and educators to address key challenges and opportunities in dementia‑focused practice.
The workshop, which was attended by 75 healthcare professionals was opened by patient advocate Kevin Quaid, who shared his personal journey with Lewy Body Dementia. Speaking with honesty and courage, he offered profound insight into the lived experience of the condition and inspired attendees to deliver compassionate, person‑centred dementia care.
Participants also heard expert insights from our colleagues at University College Cork Professor Tony Foley, Dr. Emma Gleeson and Jane Carbery, Senior Occupational Therapist from Health Service Executive, each of whom brought specialist experience in dementia‑informed care and interdisciplinary practice.
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The event marked a significant achievement for the Discipline of Physiotherapy, reinforcing University College Cork’s commitment to advancing education, empowering healthcare practitioners, and improving the lives of people living with dementia.