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A London homelessness charity is planning a project for clients whose chronic alcohol consumption has caused premature ageing.

Staff at Thames Reach Bondway are seeing increasing numbers of people in their forties or fifties who have the physical health needs of people 20 years older.

Dubbed the "young olds", they typically suffer from dementia, incontinence and mobility problems and have challenging behaviour arising from poor mental health.

Although they have high physical care needs, the group are too young and challenging to qualify for older people's care services.

Bondway is seeking local authority and government support for a 15- to 20-bed project with support staff.

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