Support for younger onset dementia
A vital online national resource, which allows Australians living with younger onset dementia to share their stories and connect with others in similar situations, was launched by Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria last week.
A vital online national resource, which allows Australians living with younger onset dementia to share their stories and connect with others in similar situations, was launched by Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria last week.
The Younger Onset Dementia Forum provides a place where younger people with dementia, their families, carers and friends can venture online to share information and ask questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The term ‘younger onset dementia’ is used to describe any form of dementia that develops in people aged under 65 years.
Tony Walsh, whose partner Paul Wenn lives with younger onset dementia, was one of the people involved in the pilot scheme.
“The Younger Onset Dementia Online Forum is a fantastic resource. To know you have constant access to information and support from others who are going through a similar experience is incredibly reassuring,” Mr Walsh says.
Although dementia in younger people is much less common than dementia occurring after the age of 65 years, it has been diagnosed in people in their 50s, 40s and even in their 30s. Latest figures show younger onset dementia affects about 24,000 Australians.
According to Jenny Philipp, Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria program manager, younger people diagnosed with dementia face a completely different set of professional and family related issues.
A pilot of the forum was rolled out in Victoria about a year and a half ago.
“Our hope is that a supportive online community develops and, through this forum, people know they are never alone,” Ms Philipp says.
The forum can be accessed at the Talk Dementia website.
