Widening access to Allied Health Professionals for people with dementia – outcomes from a Community Engagement Day
Lunchtime Sessions 1
17 November, 2026 1:20 – 2:05 pmElectronic Posters
I have worked in older people’s mental health services as an occupational therapist for over 30 years. I am currently a team lead for mental health assessment wards in Edinburgh, but I have also worked in a variety of other settings, including community mental health teams, day services and care homes. I am passionate about improving the lives of people with dementia and the contribution the AHPs can make to their lives.
Morna Russell
Lothian AHP Lead for Connecting People, Connecting Support Dementia Project
NHS Lothian

Summary
This poster will outline the context and evidence base for a Community Engagement Day which aimed to improve knowledge of and access to Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) for people with dementia and their care partners. Timely access to AHPs has been shown to improve health outcomes and quality of life as well as reducing health and social care costs. However, people with dementia often do not know what AHPs can offer them or how to access their services. This event aimed to address this by piloting this type of engagement day, previously used for other health conditions.


