Younger onset dementia: developing a longitudinal model as the basis for a research agenda and as a guide to interventions with sufferers and carers.

Full Abstract

With the current emphasis on community care, the importance of dementia as an area for the interventions of community practitioners, especially nurses, cannot be overemphasized. However, despite being the subject of increasing research over recent times, a comprehensive model of the dementia experience from either the sufferer's or carer's perspective has yet to be developed. This is particularly noticeable in the case of people suffering from dementia below the age of 65. This situation is exacerbated by the lack of representative epidemiological studies which relate to the incidence or prevalence of younger onset dementia. In this paper, the current epidemiological literature on younger onset dementia is considered and the findings from previous work are used to suggest prevalence figures for Wales. A longitudinal model of the dementia experience from a sufferer's perspective is then presented as the basis for a research agenda. It is also suggested that this model, subject to empirical testing and refinement, could be used as a guide to interventions for practitioners working with the sufferers and their carers.

Author information

Author/s: Keady, J (J); Nolan, M (M);

Affiliation: University of Wales, Bangor.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of advanced nursing (J Adv Nurs), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1994-Apr; vol 19 (issue 4) : pp 659-69

Dates: Created 1994/08/02; Completed 1994/08/02; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 8021386, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.