Housing: Still Rising to the Dementia Challenge – Dementia Friendly Fun

The views shared in this webinar do not necessarily reflect the views of the Housing LIN.

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• Really interesting and enjoyable: engaging and constructive speakers with very positive outlooks.
• Lots of refreshing ideas about dementia and enjoying life.
• Very enlightening on how dementia care is and has moved on in the past couple of years.

Coinciding with Dementia Action Week 2026, the Dementia and Housing Working Group (DHWG) and Housing LIN were pleased to hold the latest webinar in our series focused on housing and dementia:

When we talk about dementia, we often focus on risk, decline and care. Rarely do we talk about joy.

But fun is not the opposite of professionalism — it is the foundation of wellbeing.

In housing settings especially, dementia-friendly fun can mean the difference between isolation and belonging, between surviving and living.

This webinar explores what our housing environments could consider if we designed them not just to be safe but to be life-giving. It’s about recognising that people affected by dementia still need fun, connection and moments of light.

Our aim is to continue to grow sector understanding on fun ways to enable people with dementia and their loved ones to live well.

We want to ensure all staff in housing related roles are supported to understand the needs of people living with dementia and how simple things can help.

Target audience

This DHWG webinar, hosted by the Housing LIN, is aimed at anyone involved in housing and dementia, particularly housing providers, designers, architects, local authorities and people living with dementia.

• 16.00: Housekeeping and introduction
  Sally Razey, Senior Public Affairs and Communications Officer, and Jeremy Porteus, CEO, Housing LIN
   
• 16.05: Chair’s opening remarks
  Ali Rogan, DHWG External Affairs Advisor and founder of Hornsey Consulting
   
• 16.10: Enthusiasm has no expiration date: The Importance of planning for activity in age-inclusive design
  Dr Cate Pemble, Research Fellow, Dementia and Ageing, University of Stirling
   
• 16.20: How a children's detective novel explores themes of dementia within the trappings of a classic detective novel
  Mario Ambrosi, director of Communications and Marketing at Anchor 
   
• 16.30: Developing a dementia strategy with fun at the heart
  Asa Johnson, National Resident Experience Manager, Anchor
   
• 16.40 How being mistaken for a landlady inspired a pub themed space
  Joy Sumner, Care Home Manager, The Watermill, Housing21
   
• 16.50: Questions and panel debate
   
• 17.15: Close

At our popular events, you can:

• Watch and discover new extra care housing developments to find out about the design, development and operational management arrangements so that you can explore solutions that can transform your ‘offer’;
   
• Listen to the latest practice, research, new funding initiatives, innovative products or projects so that you have the insight and intelligence required to improve your service delivery;
   
• Learn about the current sector issues so that you are up-to-date and better positioned to respond to the latest policy and innovative operational developments; and
   
• Connect with industry experts and fellow Housing LIN members, exchange ideas, and share experiences in a relaxed setting.

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