HEALTH and social care professionals will join carers at a conference today to explore ways to improve the quality of life for people who have dementia.

Guest speaker will be Barbara Pointon, a national campaigner for better support for people with dementia and their carers.

Mrs Pointon's husband, Malcolm, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when he was 51.

The conference, at the Middlesbrough Teaching and Learning Centre, from 10am, will also focus on the work of the young onset dementia team, in Middlesbrough, that has won awards.