Living Well with Dementia course expands internationally
The Living Well with Dementia (LivDem) course has been introduced in Japan, Italy and Ireland following its success in the UK.
LivDem was set up by Richard Cheston, Professor of Dementia Health, with an NHS colleague in 2010. It focuses on providing group meetings supported by trained facilitators that aim to help people to adjust following a recent dementia diagnosis.
Over several years Professor Cheston, from UWE Bristol’s School of Health and Social Wellbeing, has worked with Dr Emily Dodd to further develop LivDem. Dr Natasha Woodstoke has also led a project that applies LivDem principles to couples and family-based work (this was featured at UK Dementia Congess 2025 https://journalofdementiacare.co.uk/pres-proposal/living-well-with-dementia-for-couples-and-families).
The international expansion of LivDem could reach South America next, with clinicians from Argentina and Chile expressing an interest in implementing the approach.
Professor Cheston says of LivDem’s international expansion:
“It is hugely rewarding to see these ideas being taken up in different countries and contexts. It is encouraging to know that work developed at UWE is having a meaningful impact internationally. On a personal level, I have also greatly valued the opportunity to meet and learn from so many inspiring practitioners and colleagues around the world.
“Although dementia services differ widely across countries, the challenges dementia creates—the sense of uncertainty and existential threat—are universal. People living with dementia everywhere need opportunities to talk about what is happening to them. At its core, that is what LivDem offers – talking openly about dementia does not change the realities people face, but it can make those realities feel less frightening and more manageable.”
A film about LivDem can be seen here: https://youtu.be/es_qP_fZM6Q?si=oq-b00B1fkI0PWst
The LivDem website is here: https://www.livdem.co.uk