Young Onset Dementia is generally classified as any dementia type diagnosed in people under the age of 65. A diagnosis of young onset dementia significantly impacts the lives of relatives, including children and young adults, yet their experiences and needs often go unnoticed, and little is known about the availability of effective support systems assisting young people in this situation.
With funding from the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance (YPINHNA), a team from the Bouverie Centre have conducted a set of two qualitative studies to understand and help address the needs of young people living with and potentially supporting a parent with young onset dementia. Our team gathered in-depth insights through interviews with young people experiencing parental young onset dementia, and focus groups with practitioners working in the space, to shed light on their lived experiences to further inform evidence-based improvements to the sector in Australia.
The final report, delivered to YPINHNA, identifies barriers to, and gaps in, support, as well as a series of recommendations to strengthen support for those with young onset dementia and their relatives.
Read the final report here - Experiences and Service Needs of Young People Living with a Parent with Young Onset Dementia [PDF 483.0 KB]
