Youquest Young Onset Dementia Association

Youquest continue to provide full-day services for participants with young-onset dementia to enjoy active and social recreation in the community. This allowed respite for care partners to manage work family life and their personal health participants co-planned and set goals based on their interests strenghts and abilities. This was support by peers the recreation therapy team and volunteers. Staffing issues caused as service pause early in the year. Paid contract staff and volunteers are critical to the success of youquest. 1) on-site volunteers provided 1 000+ house in direct family support that includes 1:1 support for participants plus a team of musicians. 2) the board of directors contributed nearly 2 000 volunteer hours to govern and guide the association for substainable future. 3) students in post-secondary education were provided practical experience with assessing documenting and supporting famly and individual needs related to young-onset dementia. 4) co-founders continute to network with researchers other dementia-focused foundations and organization and community groups to enhance knowledge and understanding of young-onset dementia. Youquest offered a pilot program for modified service day for young-onset dementia participants at a more advance stage of the disease. This pilot offered shorter service days with smaller cohort sizes. This pilot expired in 2024 and may be continute in the future subject to funding availability.