Zoe Williams represented CTMUHB in the first International Dementia Conference

Well done to Zoe Williams who represented CTMUHB in the first International Dementia Conference to be held in Wales

Zoe Williams, Team Lead, Occupational Therapist Memory Assessment Services, did Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB proud as she represented the Older Persons Mental Health Occupational Therapy (OPMH) Service at the first International Dementia Conference to be held in Wales, and the first of its kind to be held virtually.

Zoe was presenting alongside multi-professionals from across the world. At the conference, Zoe facilitated two presentations and Poster. The first presentation was on the Evaluation of the Occupational Therapy provision in a memory assessment service one year on, the presentation demonstrates the value of Occupational Therapy to people living with dementia, their families, carers and the wider multidisciplinary team. This Occupational Therapy Service is the first of its kind in Wales.

The second presentation ‘Back to Community life’ is a joint project with Improvement Cymru and in collaboration with key stakeholders, carers, and people living with dementia. The project is a community response to the pandemic and the recovery agenda. This project, which is based in Mountain Ash, is the blueprint of a future model to be shared across Wales, including other Health Boards and community initiatives.

The poster is a reflection on the development of, and the innovative use of digital technology as part of the toolkit of assessments used by Occupational Therapy in the Memory Assessment Service to support people living dementia.

Jan Bevan, Principal Occupational Therapist for the OPMH OT service said: “Our service prides itself on the work we do supporting people living with dementia, their carers and their families. The service is a vital component, alongside our AHP colleagues to both the recovery and the rehabilitation agenda in Wales.

“This is a fantastic achievement for Zoe and the overall OPMH service in promoting what we can achieve if we have a culture of believing and achieving in what we can do.

“Congratulations Zoe, what an achievement, for CTM UHB and the Older Persons Mental Health Occupational Therapy Service”.