PhD defence Bo Smeets

Keywords: Young-onset dementia, Continued employment, Workplace support, Co-creation

"Enabling continued employment in young-onset dementia: Understanding needs and developing workplace support through a multi-stakeholder approach"

Young-onset dementia, with symptom onset before the age of 65, often affects people who are still in paid employment. For them, work is about more than income: it offers daily structure, social connection, and a sense of purpose and identity. Yet many leave work prematurely, often before a diagnosis has been made. This thesis explored what people with young-onset dementia, their relatives, employers, occupational physicians and healthcare professionals need to support continued employment. While all groups recognised the importance of their own role, they often lacked the knowledge, coordination and practical guidance to act on it. Based on these insights, the WorkDEM Compass was co-created with all of these groups: a freely accessible website (www.werkendementie.nl) that guides users through each stage of the work trajectory. A first feasibility study was promising: users were positive, and nearly 90% would recommend it. It appears most valuable when introduced early, while the person is still in work.

Click here for the full dissertation. 

Click here for the live stream.