Barry welcomes Alzheimer’s centre

The centre will remedy lack of care for younger sufferers

The centre has received huge support from local volunteers. Photo: Barry & District News.

A drop-in centre catering to early onset sufferers of Alzheimer’s is due to open in Barry next month.

Ty Hapus was set up by Justine Pickering, whose mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s when she was 55, following a big fundraising drive where over £60,000 was raised.

The centre will be the first of its kind in Wales where younger sufferers of the illness can maintain their wellbeing and lifestyle while giving their carers short breaks.

Dawn John, manager for the Alzheimer’s Society in Cardiff and the Vale, says she hopes the centre will encourage a rise in the number of specialist services available to early onset sufferers.

“Ty Hapus is a wonderful, innovative way to meet the needs of younger people who have a broader spectrum of needs,” she says.

Early onset Alzheimer’s

Early onset Alzheimer’s refers to anyone diagnosed with dementia under the age of 65. Dementia is widely regarded as a condition that only affects older people, however it can affect anyone, at any age. Over 16,000 younger people have dementia in the UK, and in Cardiff and Vale, figures for early onset Alzheimer’s are estimated at 150 – 200 people, though Dawn John says this is thought to be grossly underestimated.

Lack of support

Due to the lack of awareness surrounding early onset Alzheimer’s, younger people tend to find it very difficult to access the kind of support they need. Age-related barriers prevent younger people trying to get access to dementia services, as many dementia care services have a minimum age requirement of 65.

In the cases where services are open to younger users, they often are not appropriate to their needs. Younger people often feel that they have to adapt to a service, rather than the service suiting their needs.

For more information about early onset Alzheimer’s, visit the Alzheimer’s Society website.

Photo courtesy of Barry & District News.

Alzheimer's, Barry