ABSTRACT
People with Young Onset Dementia (YOD) (onset before the age of 65) experience unique challenges, including impacts on employment and roles and responsibilities within relatively young families. People with YOD often also face stigma and social isolation. Peer support, defined as mutual support between people with a similar health condition or life experience, can make people feel less alone and help them cope with the challenges and changes they face. People with YOD describe peer support as ‘a place where you feel normal’ that ‘gives hope that you can live well with dementia’. However, access to in-person peer support for YOD varies widely. Online platforms could offer a solution. Our research into online support groups shows that people with YOD can experience the benefits of peer support through online platforms as well, and that online platforms offer additional advantages, as they overcome geographical barriers and allow people to engage from the comfort of their own home. However, digital exclusion and a lack of awareness of and signposting to online peer support remain important challenges. This chapter provides a reflection on best practices in online peer support for people with YOD, as well as the challenges and directions for future research and practice.
