Dementia support for young evaluated
New research by Alzheimer’s Australia New South Wales has outlined the enormous differences in the needs of people with younger onset dementia, compared with those with dementia over the age of 65 years.
New research by Alzheimer’s Australia New South Wales has outlined the enormous differences in the needs of people with younger onset dementia, compared with those with dementia over the age of 65 years.
The report, commissioned by the NSW government and titled Service and Support Requirements of People with Younger Onset Dementia and their Families, looks at the specialist needs and support needed for people with dementia aged 65 years and younger and for Aboriginal people aged 50 years and younger who have dementia.
Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, John Watkins, says the report will help service providers with developing more targeted and relevant services for people with younger onset dementia.
“People with younger onset dementia often face very different challenges and have very different needs to those that develop dementia over the age of 65,” Mr Watkins says.
“Those diagnosed are often still working, caring for dependent children and many are planning for a retirement they will never get to experience.
“It is important that the different needs of people with younger onset dementia are recognised and that service providers work to meet those needs.”
It is estimated that in NSW there are about 8,000 people under the age of 65 years with dementia.
Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) engaged Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, which partnered with the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at the UNSW and UnitingCare Ageing, to conduct the research into the kinds of support needed by people with younger onset dementia and their families in NSW.
View the Service and Support Requirements of People with Younger Onset Dementia and their Families report.
