Young Onset Dementia Awareness Day Care England Shines a Spotlight on Awareness, Action, and Change

Today marks Young Onset Dementia Awareness Day, a vital opportunity to raise awareness, challenge assumptions, and celebrate the work being done to improve understanding and care for people diagnosed with young onset dementia (YOD), which affects individuals under the age of 65.

For many, the journey to diagnosis can be long, confusing, and isolating. Symptoms may be mistaken for stress, depression, or other conditions, leading to delays in getting the right help. Younger people often face barriers accessing support that is designed around older adults, leaving them and their families struggling to find age-appropriate services.

This summer, Care England launched its groundbreaking report, The Current State of Dementia Diagnosis and Care in England, after the successful launch last autumn on Young Onset Dementia: Current Challenges and Future Needs publication. Together, these reports present a clear picture of the national landscape, identifying major gaps in diagnosis, access to care, and workforce training, and outlining practical recommendations for change.

Among the key findings:

• Delays in diagnosis remain a major challenge, particularly for people under 65, often due to limited clinical awareness of YOD symptoms.
• Services are not tailored to meet the distinct needs of younger people, who may still be working, raising families, or managing financial commitments.
• Better coordination between health and social care is essential to ensure continuity of support and to reduce the emotional and practical burden on families.

Working alongside partners across the sector, Care England continues to champion greater recognition, earlier diagnosis, and more tailored, age-appropriate support for those living with young onset dementia.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:
“Young Onset Dementia Awareness Day reminds us that dementia does not discriminate by age. Thousands of younger people are living with this condition, yet too often their voices go unheard.

Our recent reports highlight the urgent need for improved diagnosis pathways, better data, and services that reflect the realities of younger lives. At Care England, we’re proud to celebrate this day by raising awareness and working with partners to drive lasting, positive change.”

This Young Onset Dementia Awareness Day, Care England is encouraging everyone across the sector, care providers, clinicians, commissioners, and policymakers, to join in raising awareness, challenging outdated perceptions, and supporting those living with YOD.