Current Practices and Challenges in Work Role Support for People With Early‐Onset Dementia at Medical Centers for Dementia

This study aims to examine the status and challenges of work role support for people with early-onset dementia (EOD) in post-diagnostic support at medical centers for dementia (MCDs). A questionnaire survey was distributed to all 499 MCD facilities to assess the practices and challenges related to work role support in post-diagnostic support for EOD. The relationship between implementation experience and challenges was analysed using the χ2 test and logistic regression. Among the 129 facilities that responded (response rate: 25.9%), 64 (49.6%) provided work role support. Logistic regression analysis identified several factors associated with the challenges in work role support, including: 'As symptoms of dementia progress, it may become difficult to secure transportation to and from work', 'as symptoms of dementia progress, the patient may become unable to assume a work role, 'unstable medical condition', 'unstable motivation to work' and 'lack of awareness of the disease or acceptance of the disability'. Approximately half of the MCDs provided work role support, and facilities offering this support recognised 'progression of symptoms' and 'mental instability' as challenges. Future research should explore the underlying factors contributing to these challenges and develop strategies to address them.