To be diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia is often unexpected and brings about a unique set of challenges. Some include:
- Difficulty receiving diagnosis
- People are not financially prepared to stop working
- Family members must assume new roles
- Friendships change
When someone is 65 years old or younger, it can be hard to know others who are going through the same experience. As a result, many with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias talk about feeling alone. We hope that you will hear your story in the stories of others through this website and the resources provided.
In our conversations with those living with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and their caregivers, here are issues shared:
- How do you handle the different feelings that occur for each family member?
- How do you notice changes and respond to them?
- How do you find specialists and resources which work for someone who is younger with dementia?
- What are the steps which need to be addressed, such as financial and legal issues?
- How do you find the positives in each day?
If you are living with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in Illinois, we would like to hear from you. What are issues, concerns or experiences you would want to share with others in our state? The same is true if you are a caregiver to someone living with younger onset dementia. What would you want to share with others?