PP-6 Co-producing a vision for excellent and inclusive dementia care: combining public and policy engagement to reduce inequalities in end-of-life care

Introduction Underserved communities face persistent inequalities in dementia care and research, limiting opportunities to live meaningful lives towards the end of life. Understanding what excellent and inclusive dementia care looks like for these groups is vital to improving palliative and end-of-life support. Aims The EMPOWER Dementia Network+ is a national Network that connects people with dementia, carers, community leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers. In our first year, we aimed to co-create a vision for excellent dementia care, including for those nearing the end of life. Methods We adopted a four-stage co-production model involving the above groups to build our vision through: 1. Co-producing inclusive approaches to public engagement 2. Community partners leading co-creation workshops with local groups 3. Holding a Policy Lab to co-produce actionable recommendations to address inequalities in care 4. Synthesising insights into our shared vision Results Eleven co-creation workshops were held across the UK, engaging over 170 participants, half directly affected by dementia. Our co-produced vision of excellent dementia care took the form of a metaphorical ecosystem, including: The Who – Who we are and why dementia matters Pollinators – Core values like compassion The Tree – Priorities for care and research such as stigma reduction The Toolshed – Resources needed to support our vision The Compost Heap – Barriers we need to remove The Policy Lab brought together 26 participants to co-produce five actionable recommendations: (i) better care for people living alone, (ii) promoting relationship-centred care, (iii) resourcing integrated care, (iv) establishing a National Dementia Strategy, and (v) building a dementia-aware society. Conclusion Our model of inclusive co-production offers a powerful approach to understanding and addressing inequalities in dementia care and research, particularly at the end of life. Impact We contribute to national policy, research, and service development, ensuring that lived experience drives equitable palliative care for people with dementia.