A DELEGATE of Chinese visitors have been in Bradford to discuss with local experts the best ways to care for ageing populations.

The University of Bradford hosted the three day conference exploring the health and wellbeing of older people, and how technology and even traditional medicines can help.

For the second year running the University and Sichuan University in Chengdu have come together for the conference, titled Employing Information Communications Technology for the Health and Wellbeing of Older People.

Fifteen experts from the Chinese University attended the conference, and while in Bradford they were treated to a tour of City Hall.

Also attending the conference, which started on Monday, were members of the Chinese Embassy and the British Council.

One particular issue the conference addressed was the rising number of people in the world living with dementia - in the UK there are estimated to be around 850,000 people with dementia and in China this figure is nine million. The UNiversity of Bradford has an award winning Dementia Studies department.

The conference had been funded by the British Council Researcher Links scheme offered in the Newton Fund and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Professor Ray Sheriff, Professor of Electronic Engineering at the University, said: “There is a close relationship between us and the Chinese university.

“As well as talks by our dementia studies department, there were discussions of traditional Chinese medicines and treatments that are used to care for older people. We have been looking at how technology can be adapted to aid in the care of older people. It can be used to help people self manage their lives. It is also looking at how carers can better use technology.”

Professor Xiaohai He, from Sichuan University, said; “Last year’s workshop and this year’s event has built a great foundation for the next step of co-operation. The whole event has been very successful.

“There have been ideas and experiences shared, and we have established new collaborations."