Employment Experiences of People Living with Young-Onset Dementia: Perspectives from Workers, Care Partners, and Employment Specialists in Taiwan

Zih-Ling Wang; Oleg Zaslavsky; Song-Lih Huang

doi:10.1007/s10926-026-10379-7

Employment Experiences of People Living with Young-Onset Dementia: Perspectives from Workers, Care Partners, and Employment Specialists in Taiwan

J Occup Rehabil. 2026 Mar 30. doi: 10.1007/s10926-026-10379-7. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zih-Ling Wang¹, Oleg Zaslavsky², Song-Lih Huang³

Affiliations

¹ School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. zihlingw@uw.edu.
² Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
³ Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming Chiao-Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.

PMID: 41910897
DOI: 10.1007/s10926-026-10379-7

Abstract

Purpose: Young-onset dementia (YOD), diagnosed before age 65, presents unique challenges for individuals in their working years. While most research on YOD and employment has been conducted in Europe, little is known about experiences in Taiwan, where disability legislation provides general protections but lacks dementia-specific workplace policies. This study explored how people living with YOD adapt in the workplace, how care partners perceive and support their relatives' employment, and how Employment Specialists view current practices and opportunities to strengthen workplace support.

Methods: The study conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 14 participants: five individuals living with YOD, six family care partners, and three Employment Specialists. Recruitment occurred in northern Taiwan through clinics, support groups, and professional networks. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, integrating perspectives across stakeholder groups.

Results: We identified three themes: (1) People living with YOD adapt to workplace challenges through workload changes, organizational tools, and daily routines; (2) Gaps in awareness and policy limit support for both employees living with YOD and their care partners; and (3) Tailored, strength-based career support empowers people living with YOD to stay engaged in meaningful work.

Conclusion: Findings highlight both individual resilience and systemic gaps in Taiwan. Strength-based, tailored career supports, alongside policy reforms and expanded resources for care partners, are essential for sustaining employment. Insights from Taiwan contribute to the international literature by illustrating how cultural and policy contexts shape workplace inclusion for people living with YOD.

Keywords: Employment; Qualitative research; Reasonable accommodation; Workplace adaptation; Young-onset dementia.