Barbara Lewis and Mary Archer know first-hand and close-up what it means to care for someone who develops dementia at a relatively young age. Barbara's husband started having cognitive challenges
when he was 55 years old, while they were still working and parenting their eight year old daughter. Mary Archer had created a dementia care business which was specifically designed for younger people like Steve. He became one of her first clients, where he received the support and socialization they'd been seeking. Over the years Barbara and Mary have found too few resources focused on younger people with dementia, and realized that their experiences, and those of others they'd met, were stories that needed to be told.
Young-onset dementia generally refers to someone who has received a diagnosis when younger then age 65. A person with young-onset dementia will tend to lose their job and driver's license well before they turn seventy. They'll lose earning potential, while they sometimes still have dependent children to care for, a mortgage to pay, and even elderly parents to look after. The younger person with dementia may be in the prime of their career, beginning to plan for retirement, and be physically active and in excellent health otherwise. It can be very difficult to balance all of this while experiencing gradual and steady cognitive decline.
Recognizing there is no one clear path for dementia caregiving, this isn't a how-to book. Rather, it is a collection of stories that offer encouragement, help trigger creative caregiving ideas, and remind young-onset families they are not alone.
