FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Young onset dementia (YOD) includes people diagnosed with dementia before age 65 or those who show symptoms before that age and are in the process of receiving a diagnosis.

Many individuals, care partners, and family members affected by YOD experience unique life challenges because they tend to be younger, work full-time, and may still be raising children.

YOD represents a growing number of dementia cases worldwide. YouQuest helps to fill a significant gap in community-based programs and services designed to support the nonmedical needs of those affected by YOD.

YouQuest is a registered charity addressing a void for this underserved community in Canada.

YouQuest improves quality of life for people with young-onset dementia and their care partners. 

YouQuest is practical daytime support in a public recreation setting.

Participants have an inviting place to engage in meaningful activities co-planned with recreation therapists and volunteers.
Care partners have peace of mind and a full day to maintain work, family life and their own health.

Most dementia care programs and services are not community based. YouQuest provides evidence informed recreation therapy in community settings focused on improving quality of life and wellbeing for participants.

By remaining socially, cognitively, and physically engaged, most participants and care partners report a decrease or delay in the progression of dementia symptoms and/or an increase in overall health and wellbeing.

For both ON-site with participants, or for OFF-site (using your other talents), use this link to tell us about you and your interest in YouQuest.

On receipt of your on-line application, our Volunteer Coordinator will arrange a telephone interview to learn more about you and answer any questions. If we’re a match for each other, documentation and orientation will follow so you can get started helping our families.

The inclusion criteria for this active community are:

• Dementia diagnosis before 65 years, OR later diagnosis with prior symptoms
• Secure environment not required (e.g. not at risk of leaving facility unsupervised)
• Self-ambulatory; medically stable; cleared for physical activity
• Willing and able to participate safely in individual or group activities
• Able to manage own activities of daily living and medications with reminders
• People living in the community and supported by care partners are given priority
• Non-smoker

Start by clicking the Contact US link on our home page and send us an email message including:

• Care partner name and phone number
• Best time(s) and day(s) for follow up phone call
• Participant name, age, and brief diagnosis details

A member of our team will schedule a follow up phone call with you as soon as possible.

*Please note, that while we continue to envision a world where our services are available to everyone in need, we are currently operating at maximum capacity and maintain waitlists for service day participation.

We host service days Tuesdays & Thursdays @ Calgary Jewish Community Centre (9:00am – 4:00pm)
We also now host half-day service days on Wednesdays at Killarney Aquatics & Recreation Centre (10:00am – 3:00pm).

We use a mix of private and public transportation throughout the day. Care partners/friends do have the option to pick up/drop off their particpant at the beginning and end of the day.

We’re happy to announce our new interim site is the Jewish Community Centre (Site address is 1607-90 Avenue SW)

Connecting to Bus/Train routes:

• MAX Yellow station at Glenmore Landing (Note: old routes 79/80 have been eliminated)
• #56 from Heritage Station LRT

Parking is FREE!!!!!

• Please park on the south (92 Avenue)  and north (16th Street) sides of the soccer field behind the JCC to leave the parking lot for their membership