"Give me the knowledge, and I can do what I want with it, it's my right and my choice": Triangulated perspectives on the disclosure of young onset dementia.
Siobhan FoxTony FoleySuzanne CahillCaroline KiltyPublished in: Dementia (London, England) (2023)
Many people with young onset dementia had unsatisfactory disclosure experiences. Health and social care professionals should provide a 'pre-disclosure' appointment, elicit the amount of information the person may want at the point of disclosure of the diagnosis, balance truth and hope, provide contact details for follow-up, and overall be mindful of the individual in front of them. While young onset dementia may be a life-altering diagnosis, a disclosure meeting which is sensitively undertaken can increase the person's agency, coping ability, and ultimately empower them to live well with their diagnosis.