Younger Persons with Dementia Team

We are a countywide dedicated team who complete assessments, diagnosis and follow up as required for people under the age of 65 with Early Onset Dementia.

Type

Younger Persons with Dementia Team

The Younger Persons with Dementia Team team is a countywide service that consists of nurses, occupational therapist, support worker and admin. We are a nurse led service however input from a consultant psychiatrist can be sought as required. The team aims to provide specialist assessment, timely diagnosis and support for adults under the age of 65 with early onset dementia. Assessments usually take place either within clinics or service user’s homes.

Our aim is to minimize individual’s experience of impairment & disability to empower them to live well with dementia. By utilising local community resources we endeavor to enhance social inclusion & individual support networks. Whilst also supporting family & carers to maintain their health and wellbeing needs.

We Aim to provide evidence based practice in line with clinical governance and Department of health guidelines.

Who for: For adults up to the age of 65 years

How access: Referrals can be made via GP, healthcare professionals and voluntary sector. Click here to find out more information and complete an online referral form.

Address

The Rushden Centre, Newton Road, Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 0PT

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Contact us and opening hours

Our service is available Monday – Friday between the hours of 9am - 5pm

Our office number: 01933 415511 

The Rushden Centre
Newton Centre
Rushden
Northants, NN10 0PT

About us

The aim of our service suppors people who may be worried about their memory and cognitive functioning. As a service we:

  • provide specialist assessment, care planning, treatment and support of younger adults with dementia
  • provide a timely and accurate diagnosis
  • minimise experiences of impairment & disability to empower individuals to live well with dementia.
  • support families and carers within their caring roles and promote their health and wellbeing needs.
  • provide evidence based practice in line with clinical governance and department of health guidelines.

The first step is to complete a comprehensive assessment to rule out any other causes that may be impacting on memory symptoms.

Meet the team

We are a specialist community nurse led team that is countywide. The team consists of the following members of staff:

  • Jenny Kerti – Team manager
  • Emma Green - Community psychiatric nurse
  • Sue Payne - Community psychiatric nurse
  • Will Strangward - Community psychiatric nurse
  • Frances Hooper – Occupational Therapist.
  • Kate Fraiel – Support worker
  • Jane George – Admin/reception

Assessment - what to expect

  • Assessment may take place in clinic , GP surgery or your own home. This usually lasts 1-2 hours.
  • A family member or friend is welcomed to attend in order to provide you with support
  • We will explore your current memory symptoms with you and your significant others
  • We will ask you questions about your general health, background history and mental health
  • We will complete a cognitive test with you which is a series of questions and tasks that helps us look at your cognitive skills
  • It may be that we require some further assessment for example an assessment of your day to day living skills or a driving assessment (paper exercise)
  • We may request for you to have an MRI brain scan but will discuss this with you following initial assessment
  • At the end of the assessment we will discuss with you the outcome and any further assessment required if necessary
  • You will receive a written report of your assessment and the advised outcomes.

What is early onset dementia?

Dementia in adults under the age of 65 is referred to as early onset dementia.. Younger adults tend to have rarer types of dementia and the support they require will again be different to that of the older adult with dementia.

Dementia is a progressive brain condition which can be characterised by some of the following symptoms:

  1. Memory loss
  2. Difficulties with thinking, problem solving or language
  3. Changes within functioning of daily activities
  4. Changes within spatial awareness/ vision
  5. Changes in mood, behaviour or personality
  6. Confusion
  7. Disorientation to time and place
  8. Problems with words/speech/writing
  9. Misplacing things
  10. Problem controlling emotions
  11. Decreased judgement and decision making
  12. Social withdrawal
  13. Emotional deregulation
  14. Loss of empathy and compassion
  15. Hallucinations.

Click here for more information

Research

NHFT have a research department that carry out dementia related research. Where appropriate you will be offered the opportunity to be contacted about any studies that may be suitable for you. This is optional.

Refer to our service

Worried about your memory – what can you do?

  • If you have any concerns about your memory talk to your GP
  • There are some physical conditions and medications that can cause memory disturbances and your GP can rule these out with some simple blood tests
  • Your GP may complete a basic memory test with you
  • If your GP feels It appropriate after following our referral criteria they may refer you to our for further specialist assessment.

I'm a professional making a referral

The younger persons with dementia team provide a memory assessment service for people under the age of 65 and also provide on-going support for those who have a diagnosis of dementia and have a high level of need, display significant risk, or require medication monitoring.  

Who to refer:

  • People under the age of 65 with a Northamptonshire GP
  • People who have unexplained memory problems/suspected dementia which requires further investigation
  • People with a dementia diagnosis whose needs warrant secondary mental health intervention (e.g. high level of need, presenting with high and unpredictable levels of risk)
  • People taking cognitive enhancing medication
  • People living in their own homes, in hospital, in prison, in care homes or who are homeless

You can find a decision-making guide for GPs here.

Who not to refer / who can best be helped elsewhere

  • People over the age of 65  - should be referred to their local Memory Assessment Team
  • People with a known brain injury (e.g. as a result of an accident or single stroke) with cognitive impairment which has  not worsened since the injury – they should instead be referred to the Community Brain Injury service
  • People with a known learning disability with secondary memory problems (unless dementia is also suspected) – they should be referred to their local Learning Disabilities team
  • People with Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s Disease who have a mild level of memory disturbance secondary to their illness, which is not impacting upon their everyday life (this would be classed as cognitive impairment rather than dementia) – they should normally be given written information about how they can help their memory unless there are other concerns about risk (please contact team for copies)
  • People who require a package of care (social care) rather than health interventions – please refer the person to Adult care via the NCC website.

If you are unsure please feel free to contact the team on: 01933 415511

Ready to make a referral? Use the form below

click here to make a referral

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