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| Image description: In the upper left a photo of a young woman sitting on a blue couch. The upper right is text that reads "Fact 1: Not everyone who develops dementia is over 65, around 8% of individuals diagnosied with dementia are younger!" Bottom right a welcome Matt and feet, bottom left reads "Fact 2: People living with dementia can live in a variety of settings. In Canada, approximately 60% live outside of care homes. |
Myth 1. Only older adults can develop dementia.
Although dementia is more likely to develop later in life, it is possible for people as young as 20 to develop dementia. However, early onset dementia is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 30 and 50. Approximately 8% of people diagnosed with dementia are under the age of 65 and in Canada at least 16,000 people under 65 live with dementia. In one of our earlier posts, we discussed different types of dementia. Although Alzheimer's is still the most common type in younger people, other types are more common than in older populations. Among those 65 and older, 2/3 of dementia cases are Alzheimer's, but for those under 65, the ratio drops to 1/3.
When someone develops dementia before the age of 65 it is referred to as young-onset dementia. This isn't the same as early-stage dementia, which refers to the beginning stages of the illness's progression. Age is not an indicator of the stage of dementia an individual is in or the level of support that the individual requires. The symptoms that appear tend to be similar, but just as there are individual variations there are symptoms that are more likely to appear first with early-onset dementia. Memory decline is less likely to be the first symptom that is noticed. Instead, individuals are likely to first experience changes in vision, language, concentration, and personality. Due to the overlap that these symptoms have with other conditions and the lower likelihood of developing dementia earlier in life.
Younger people are more likely to still be working, caring for children, paying for a mortage, driving, and certain other activities at the time of diagnosis than those who are diagnosed later in life. So, many of the supports that are readily available may not be appropriate for what individuals with early onset dementia require. As supports are typically aimed towards older adults, younger individuals may not feel as comfortable accessing these resources.
DementiaTalk is an online discussion forum with a board focused on young onset dementia.
Myth 2. Everyone with dementia lives in a care home.
People living with dementia can live in a variety of settings with various levels of support. In fact, around 60% of seniors with dementia in Canada do not live in long-term care homes. In early stages, many individuals continue to live independently with minimal supports. The supports required will increase as dementia progresses, but how these supports are accessed can vary by individual, community, and culture.
Those who chose to live at home will require supports in different areas such as personal hygeine, financial management, getting to medical appointments, preparing meals, or household chores. Some supports can be handled with minimal assistance, such as using bank-at-home services or using visual cues and timers as reminders. Others will require reliance on others through community organizations, healthcare services, family caregivers, or other service providers. This could include using a service like Meals on Wheels or homecare. It may also includde support groups, transportation options, or having a family caregiver who checks in on you daily.
As dementia can limit ones ability to judge what they can safely do, it is important to maintain meaningful connections with a care team and work to find appropriate solutions to care needs. Solutions may involve increased supports within the home or community, or include a move into the home of a family caregiver or care home. As community members, we can consider the language we use when talking about those living with dementia and the locations that we are reaching out to when providing services or activities.
If you are looking for supports within Camrose, you can contact Service Options for Seniors, stop in the library, or contact the primary care network.
Next Thursday the library will be hosting the first of our dementia speaker series events. If you've been enjoying these blog posts check out our Eventbrite for more details onb the first session, Supporting Family Caregivers
For more information
For more information on young-onset dementia visit https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/other-types-dementia/young-onset-dementia
For more information on dementia and independent living visit https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/im-living-dementia/living-well-dementia/living-safely-independently#What_to_consider_when_deciding_whether_you_should_continue_living_alone
Other Sources Consulted
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/types-dementia/what-causes-young-onset-dementia