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Programme Overview

The BRIDGE programme is an evidence-based dementia care training programme designed to close the knowledge gap among healthcare staff in the United Arab Emirates. Rooted in Tom Kitwood's person-centred care principles, it applies a biopsychosocial approach to understanding dementia and addressing associated behavioural changes. The programme integrates cultural and traditional values, ensuring contextually relevant dementia care. It also addresses ethical dilemmas in dementia care and provides guidance on honouring dignity and personhood in end-of-life care.

Key Outcomes

• Personalised Care: BRIDGE places each individual's personal, family, and cultural identity at the heart of care to ensure dignity and meaning.
• Knowledge that improves care: It simplifies complex behavioural and neuropsychological concepts into practical, actionable techniques that caregivers can effectively use in their routine care practices.
• Designed for the UAE: Grounded in extensive ethnographic research and real-world data analyses, BRIDGE directly addresses the needs of care teams working in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.

Who is the Programme Suitable For?

The programme is designed for nurses, physicians, therapists, care assistants, and home-care staff who support individuals living with dementia across hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community health centres in the region. The programme is particularly aimed at:

• Home-care agency staff including nurses, nursing supervisors, and home care administrators
• Healthcare support staff in memory clinics and geriatric units
• Allied health professionals in rehabilitation and residential care centres
• Supervisors and unit managers in long-term care facilities

Programme Sessions

Day 1 - Session 1 – Personhood and Person-centred Dementia Care

Explore how personhood shapes dementia care. Learn person-centred principles that recognise identity, unique needs, and preferences. Discover practical ways to preserve dignity, build trust, and foster connection.

Day 2- Session 2 – Dementia and the Human Brain

Learn how dementia changes the brain and affects thinking, emotions, and daily life functioning. This unit outlines major dementia types and their neurobiological causes, showing how scientific understanding supports person-centred care.

Day 2 - Session 3 – Behavioural Changes in Dementia

This session explores common behavioural changes in dementia, why they occur, and what they may communicate. Learn how unmet needs and environment influence behaviour, and how patterns change as dementia progresses.

Day 2 - Session 4 – Addressing Behavioural Changes in Dementia

Responding to behaviour change requires clarity and understanding of unmet underlying needs. Learn structured strategies using the STEPS to Care guide to assess behavioural changes and tailor responses.

Day 3 - Session 5 – Family, Culture, and Traditions in Dementia Care

Explore how family, culture, and traditions shape dementia care. Using the BARAKAH+S Profile, recognise their influences and integrate them into daily support, strengthening connection and shared decision-making.

Day 3 - Session 6 – Ethics & End-of-Life Dementia Care

End-of-life dementia care raises ethical issues around consent, autonomy, risk, and shared decisions. This session teaches person-centred care principles that uphold dignity, prioritise comfort, and support family involvement.

Accreditation and Professional Recognition

This programme is accredited by the UK CPD Certification Service, confirming that it meets international standards for continuing professional development. For each delivery, authorisation from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is solicited separately, in line with DHA requirements. Subject to approval, healthcare professionals may earn up to 15 Continuing Medical Education (CME) points upon completion. CME points are awarded only after DHA authorisation is secured for the specific training cohort.

Programme Delivery

The programme is delivered through in-person sessions over 2.5 days at Middlesex University Dubai, Dubai Knowledge Park (DKP):

• Friday 13 February – 3PM to 6PM (with coffee break)
• Saturday 14 February – 9AM to 5.30PM (with coffee and lunch breaks)
• Sunday 15 February – 9AM – 5.30PM (with coffee and lunch breaks)

The delivery of the programme is grounded in the neuroscientific and andragogical principles of learning, emphasising the creation of safe and trusting learning environments, positive social interactions, reflexive and reflective exercises, and the use of case studies, simulation-based activities, and storytelling to support the brain's capacity for attention, information retention, synthesis, and meaning-making in adult learners.

Programme Fees

The programme fee is 3,000; an early bird discount fee of 2,700 is applicable for participants who confirm their place on the programme by Friday 23 January 2026. Discounts are available for group bookings.

Programme Leader

Seada Kassie works as a senior lecturer in psychology at Middlesex University Dubai and is a trained clinical researcher with postgraduate credentials from Harvard Medical School. Her multi-phased doctoral research identified critical gaps in dementia care practice and workforce capacity. BRIDGE was developed from this work as a culturally grounded and evidence-informed training programme designed to elevate care quality, strengthen professional skills, and enhance the lived experiences of individuals living with dementia.