About the Trust
The Younger Onset Dementia Aotearoa Trust (YODAT) is seeking to address the gaps in the care and treatment of people living with younger onset dementia by providing age appropriate facilities and services addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs, advocacy for people with this condition, and support for their families, carers and communities.
Research has shown that the lived experience of those with younger onset dementia, potentially facing life in an aged care facility, may be one of distress with fear of a loss of belonging, a loss of autonomy and a loss of meaningful activity. Difficulty in timely diagnosis, combined with lack of access to age appropriate care and unfamiliar, institutional environments all compromise their quality of life. There is a growing body of evidence that individuals with dementia are capable of reflecting on their lived experience and that people with younger onset dementia require specialised age appropriate services.
Evidence shows that emotional and supportive therapy is also required for the person living with dementia and their family to assist with the grief and anxiety that may arise for them, and the stress and exhaustion that can be experienced when caring for people with younger onset dementia. Connecting with others experiencing these same challenges is helpful and can reduce the levels of distress and depression in the person with dementia and their family support persons
The strategic outcomes that YODAT is seeking to deliver on are:
That people living with younger onset dementia retain a sense of belonging within their families and communities.
That people living with younger onset dementia retain appropriate levels of autonomy by having opportunities for choice and control allowing them to express and develop their own individuality.
That people living with younger onset dementia receive age appropriate therapies that encourage physical fitness, emotional expression and assist to retain self-esteem by enabling them to continue with tasks which are meaningful to them.
That people living with younger onset dementia, their families and support people have access to advice and advocacy that will help them to deal with challenges that may arise.
The overarching goal of YODAT is to enable people with younger onset dementia to live in their homes and communities for as long as possible before some form of residential care may become necessary; and if that time does come, that age appropriate and home-like facilities are available to encourage strategies based on individual strengths and interests to enhance quality of life.
