‘You realise you’re not on your own’: young-onset dementia support group launches in Paignton

The Young Ones, a peer support group for younger people with a dementia diagnosis and their carers which has been meeting in Dawlish for four years, is starting up a new group in Paignton.

“What comes to mind when you hear the word dementia?” asks Lia Tucker, the group’s facilitator.

An older person perhaps sitting in a residential home? Are you aware that younger people can be diagnosed with dementia too An estimated 70,800 people are living with ‘early onset’ dementia in the UK, when symptoms develop before the age of 65.

Whilst more people are being diagnosed at a younger age, it is often a long and hard process to be diagnosed as symptoms can often be mistaken for something else.

Being diagnosed with dementia at a younger age can bring with it its own problems. Not only can it have a financial impact if a person has to reduce their working hours or even give up work, but as support services are often targeted at the older age group younger people can feel more isolated as the support available is just not suitable for them.

The Young Ones changes that by offering a safe space for younger people with dementia to come together and learn from one another. It is the only peer support group in the area for younger people with dementia.

John, one of the members of the Dawlish group, once said, “I come to the group because I find it very helpful. When I was first diagnosed, I felt on my own but coming to the group makes me realise I’m not on my own and we all suffer with the same symptoms.”

Another member of the group commented that “The group gives people with the diagnosis and their carers a sense of fellowship. We are not alone even if others do step away from us in life. We see the disease progress individually in its own way and we learn there is no set path, there is no timetable, just making the most of who we are with what we’ve got for as long as
we can.”

A grant from the National Lottery has made it possible to start this new group for younger people with dementia in Torbay.

“We are very grateful to the National Lottery for awarding us this amazing grant so that we can reach out to more younger people with dementia,” Lia explains.

“Our new group meets at People’s Parkfield in Paignton. We will meet monthly and all of the groups are free to attend. The Young Ones is open to anyone under the age of 70 with a diagnosis of dementia and their families and carers. In order to ensure that
everyone’s voice is heard, we do limit the number of people that can attend any one group.

We would therefore ask that you contact us first to see whether space is available at any particular meeting.”

For more information, visit the website https://www.theyoungones.org.uk/ or email Lia at info@theyoungones.org.uk

Our project was made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players