About BRIDGE

The name BRIDGE captures the core principles that guide the programme’s design and delivery: Biopsychosocial Care, recognising the interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors in dementia; Respect for Personhood, ensuring each individual’s identity and lived experience remain central to care; Inclusive Collaboration, promoting partnership between professionals, families, and care teams; Dignity in Care, upholding respect at every stage of the dementia care trajectory; Grounded in Evidence, drawing on robust scientific and practice-based research; and Empathy and Behavioural Understanding, supporting thoughtful, informed responses to changes associated with dementia.

The Programme

BRIDGE is aligned with the UAE’s National Framework for Healthy Ageing (2025–2031), supporting workforce development and quality care for older adults. The programme also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The programme is designed for a wide range of professionals involved in dementia care, including clinical staff such as nurses (registered nurses, assistant nurses, and homecare agency staff), physicians - particularly geriatricians and general or family medicine doctors - and allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. It is also relevant for care-support staff, such as care aides, care assistants, long-term care staff, and healthcare support workers in rehabilitation and residential care settings. In addition, the programme is suitable for facility and service personnel, including supervisors and unit managers in long-term care facilities, quality and patient experience officers, staff working in memory clinics and geriatric units, and community health workers supporting older adults.

Programme Objectives

BRIDGE is designed for healthcare professionals to strengthen their knowledge, skills, and care practices by:

  • recognising the importance of upholding the principles of personhood and person-centred care to foster communication and elevate the care experience;

  • developing a clear understanding of dementia as a neurocognitive condition and how it affects behaviour, communication, and daily functioning;

  • recognising behavioural changes in dementia and understanding and addressing factors that contribute to them;

  • developing appreciation of the role that family, culture, and traditions play in influencing the care experience and integrating that understanding into routine care practices;

  • recognizing the importance of devising evidence-informed person-centred strategies to address ethical challenges in end of life dementia care.

Programme Delivery

BRIDGE is delivered through in-person sessions over 2.5 days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) at Middlesex University Dubai, Knowledge Park (DKP).

  • Fridays: 3:00 to 6:00PM (with Coffee Break)

  • Saturdays: 9:00 to 5:30PM (with Coffee and Lunch Breaks)

  • Sundays: 9:00 to 5:30PM (with Coffee and Lunch Breaks)

The programme’s delivery is grounded in neuroscientific and andragogical principles of learning outlined in Kassie & Astell (2024). These principles emphasise the creation and promotion of safe and trusting learning environments and positive social interactions, the use of reflexive and reflective practices, real-world case studies, simulation-based activities, and storytelling to support the brain’s capacity for attention, information retention, meaning-making, and synthesis in adult learners. Programme-specific tools such as STEPS to Care© and the BARAKAH+S Profile© are embedded throughout to support applied learning.

By the end of the programme, participants will be better equipped to:

  • apply person-centred principles that uphold personhood, dignity, and meaningful engagement to daily care practices;

  • apply understanding of the major types of dementia and their neurobiological underpinnings to inform more attuned, responsive, and consistent care practices;

  • recognise behavioural changes associated with dementia and the factors that contribute to them;

  • respond to behavioural changes using structured, person-centred strategies guided by the STEPS to Care© tool;

  • use the BARAKAH+S© profile to work collaboratively with families and care teams while integrating cultural, religious, and traditional considerations into care; and

  • navigate ethical challenges associated with end-of-life care and provide dignified, person-centred dementia care.

Programme Outcomes

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