The Dementia Essentials Conference
This brand-new focused CPD program will aim to address one of the most pressing and rapidly evolving challenges in healthcare: dementia care across the continuum. Designed for family physicians, hospitalists, nurse practitioners, nurses, long-term care teams, social workers, allied health professionals, internists, neurologists, and emergency medicine clinicians, this practical and interdisciplinary conference will explore the early recognition, diagnosis, management, and ongoing support of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Through case-based discussions and evidence-informed updates, participants will gain clarity on distinguishing normal aging from concerning cognitive decline, navigating diagnostic workups, recognizing atypical presentations, and understanding when specialist referral is warranted. The program will also examine the evolving landscape of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, community and long-term care considerations, caregiver burden, driving and safety concerns, and ethically complex topics such as MAiD requests in the early stages of dementia.
Grounded in real-world clinical practice, this conference aims to equip healthcare providers with practical tools, collaborative strategies, and compassionate approaches that improve quality of care for patients and families living with dementia across all care settings.
Who should sign up?
Family physicians, Hospitalists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Social Workers, Allied Health, Internists, Neurologists, Emergency Medicine Physicians
Can't attend live?
All lectures (with speakers' consent) will be recorded and on-demand access is available for up to three months after the event. Note that CME credits are only available for participants who attend live — watching the recordings is not an accreditable group learning activity. If you missed the live event, you may be able to claim self-learning credits after watching the recordings: How-to-Claim-Self-Learning-Credits.
| Time | Presentation | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:20 a.m. | Opening Remarks, Welcome & Housekeeping | Dr. Chris Morrow | |
| 8:35 a.m. | Review of What is Normal vs. Abnormal Aging When Family and Patients Come to the Office with Concerns About Their Memory. What's Next? | Dr. Rishi Bhalla | |
| 8:55 a.m. | Cognitive Testing | Dr. Rishi Bhalla | |
| 9:15 a.m. | Diagnostic Tests/Lab Work | Dr. Phil Lee & Dr. Natanya Russek | |
| 9:55 a.m. | AM Break | |||
| 10:10 a.m. | When Should I Worry This ISN'T Alzheimer's Disease? | Dr. Janet Kow | |
| 10:55 a.m. | Non-Pharmacologic Management (At Home) | Dr. Jay Slater | |
| 11:30 a.m. | Pharmacologic Management | Dr. Eugene Okorie | |
| 12:05 p.m. | Lunch Break | |||
| 12:30 p.m. | Care for the Dementia Caregiver | Dr. Nadeesha Fernanado | |
| 1:15 p.m. | Sexuality in Long-Term Care | Dr. Natasha Lane | |
| 1:40 p.m. | Managing MAiD Requests During Early Stages of Diagnosis | Dr. Konia Trouton | |
| 2:15 p.m. | PM Break | |||
| 2:30 p.m. | Pharmacological Management of Dementia Complicated by Mood Disorder, Psychosis, or Aggression | Dr. Peter Chan | |
| 3:00 p.m. | Conference Ends | ||
| Early Bird By August 31 | Standard After August 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Conference Fee | $179 + GST | $209 + GST |
| Residents & Students | $49 + GST | $59 + GST |
Resources
Guidelines on Fall Prevention: Risk Assessment and Management for Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Please visit this link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/bc-guidelines/fall-prevention
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate normal cognitive aging from early and atypical presentations, and apply appropriate diagnostic assessment, investigation, and referral strategies across clinical settings.
- Develop individualized, evidence-informed management plans for patients living with dementia that integrate pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, behavioral, safety, and supportive care approaches in both community and long-term care environments.
- Recognize and address the complex psychosocial, ethical, and caregiver-related challenges associated with dementia care, including caregiver burden, driving safety, behavioral symptoms, sexuality, and end-of-life considerations.
- Collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary healthcare teams to support earlier identification, coordinated care planning, and improved quality of life for individuals living with dementia and their families.
The Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (CACME) to provide CPD credits for physicians. This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by UBC CPD. You may claim a maximum of 5.75 hours (credits are automatically calculated). This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by UBC CPD for up to 5.75 Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits. Each physician should claim only those credits accrued through participation in the activity.