young onset dementia

Young Onset Dementia in Care

This course is designed to equip care professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to support people living with young onset dementia – dementia that develops before the age of 65.

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Tailored specifically for those working in care settings, the course offers advanced insights into the unique needs and experiences of younger people with dementia, and provides practical tools to enhance care and improve outcomes.

In connection with Dementia Forward, this course draws on over a decade of specialist experience supporting individuals with young onset dementia. It features real-life examples and scenarios, exploring both success stories and the challenges that can arise in care, offering an experience-led learning approach.

Participants will gain an understanding of the prevalence of young onset dementia (approximately 7.5% of all dementia cases), the types of dementia more commonly diagnosed in younger people, how symptoms may present, and the specific challenges faced by younger people and how to support people facing these situations. Participants will also learn strategies to help people live well with young onset dementia and explore how to design and deliver effective care services tailored to this group.

The Young Onset Dementia in Care course highlights why the needs of younger people with dementia differ significantly from those of older adults and explores how approaches to care must be adapted to reflect these differences.

What you'll learn.

  • What young onset dementia is.
  • The national landscape for young onset dementia.
  • The Dementia Forward model of support.
  • Understanding why young onset is different.
  • The most common types of dementia that develop at an early age.
  • Ways that people with young onset can be supported to live well.
  • The specific challenges of supporting people with young onset in a care setting.
  • How environment, language, family relationships and the support of external agencies are vital for effective care.

Who is Young Onset Dementia in Care for?

Our Young Onset Dementia in Care course is for anyone who works within a dementia care setting. The course outlines the importance of age-appropriate care and support and would be helpful to all staff, at all levels.

What are the learning outcomes?

By the end of the course, you will be able to…

  • Describe why young onset dementia is different.
  • Explain the prevalence of young onset dementia and the national landscape of care and support.
  • Identify the most common types of dementia that are diagnosed in younger people.
  • Recognise the specific challenges faced by people with young onset dementia and those who support them.
  • Explain why care for people with young onset dementia must be different.
  • Have a good understanding of the importance of age-appropriate person-centred care.
  • State why factors such as environment, language, cultural differences, and family relationships can have an impact on an individual’s care.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does young onset dementia look like?
Young onset dementia, also known as working age dementia, affects people under 65 and often looks very different to later-life dementia. It can show up as personality changes, difficulty at work, language struggles, memory issues, or movement problems – often mistaken for stress or mental health concerns. Unlike traditional dementia, it impacts careers, parenting, and relationships, and is frequently misdiagnosed or misunderstood. Early recognition and age-appropriate support are crucial to helping individuals live well and maintain identity, purpose, and dignity.
Young onset dementia is diagnosed when symptoms of dementia begin before the age of 65. It’s sometimes called early-onset dementia or working age dementia, because it affects people who are often still in employment, raising families, or managing mortgages and active social lives. While the average age of diagnosis is typically in the 50s or early 60s, symptoms can begin as early as the 30s or 40s in rare cases. Because dementia is commonly associated with older age, young onset cases are often missed or misdiagnosed—delaying access to vital support and services. That’s why awareness, early recognition, and age-appropriate care are so important.
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a form of young onset dementia that primarily affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain—areas responsible for personality, behaviour, language, and decision-making. It’s most common in people aged 45 to 65, and often misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, or even midlife crisis due to its unusual presentation.

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  • Tailored Learning: Our programs are adaptable to meet every learner’s needs.
  • Quality Assurance: Proudly accredited by UKAS ISO 9001, BILD, ICM, Qualsafe Awards, and Ability Training Awards.
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