Young Onset Dementia Service
The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Young Onset Dementia Service is a specialist and dedicated service for people who receive a diagnosis of dementia under the age of 65, and for their carers and families.
The Alzheimer’s Society states that there are more than 17,000 younger people with dementia in the UK (806 in Wales). However, it argues this number is likely to be an under-estimate and the true figure may be up to three times higher.
This service, specifically designed to meet the needs of younger people with dementia and their carers and families, is required because younger people with dementia may have different needs to older people. They may:
- Be in work at the time of diagnosis
- Have a partner who still works
- Have dependent children still living at home
- Have ageing parents who they need to care for
- Have financial commitments, such as a mortgage
- Be more physically fit and active
- Be more aware of their illness in the early stages
- Find it hard to accept and cope with losing skills at such a young age.
The course of the illness may also be different in so much as it is likely to more rapidly progress in working age adults and be more complex and challenging in its presentation.
Also, rarer dementias are more commonly diagnosed.
Contact the Service
If you would like to know more about the Cardiff and Vale Young People with Dementia Service, please contact us:
Young Onset Dementia Service
Cariad Unit Barry Hospital CF62 8YH
01446 454200
Yod.Service@wales.nhs.uk
Alternatively, if you need to talk to someone about your situation as a client or carer, you can contact the Wales Dementia Helpline on 0808 808 2235.