Dementia in the workplace: the implications for career development practice

The World Health Organization’s Active Ageing policy framework highlights the need for economic and social engagement in communities to maintain and promote healthy ageing and quality of life. This framework does not address the needs of those living with long-term health conditions such as dementia. Although continued employment is not appropriate for all, it is possible for many living with dementia. Despite the numerous contributions that career counselling could make to support people living with dementia we found no consideration of the specific career development needs of people living with dementia in the literature. In this paper we outline the key role that career development professionals could play in the multi-disciplinary teams of professionals supporting persons living with dementia.