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Evidence Informed Practitioner and Organisation Social Work Module
753
Systematic Narrative Review
Young Onset Dementia and Family
Support
Abstract
Context
Young Onset Dementia (also known as Early Onset or Working Age
Dementia) is when an individual is displaying symptoms of the disease before
the age of 65. Traditionally the allocation of resources and responsibility for
those diagnosed with young onset dementia has been haphazard and this has
led to a situation whereby many people with this disease have fallen through
the net of health care provision.
Stated in the World Health Organisation Action plan on Public Health for the
period 2017 to 2025 is that in 2015 dementia affected 47 million people
worldwide and that these figures are predicted to increase to 75 million by
2030 and 132 million by 2050. It is estimated that of these figures' nine
percent have young onset dementia.
The Regional Strategy for Northern Ireland (2011) the strategy affirms that
dementia is a difficult diagnosis for younger people (and their families) to
receive. These individuals will often be in employment, (below state pension
age) have a family to support, have other financial commitments and maybe
supporting elderly parents. Although there are a number of services available
for Dementia these are usually designed for older people and are
inappropriate for those with a dementia diagnosis below the age of 65.
Methods employed in the review
Three databases were used in the review as follows:
Medline;
PsycINFO;
Social Care Online.
The three databases were accessed between 11 January 2021 and 26
January 2021.
The concept groups used in the search were
Dementia;
Family;
Support;
Services.