Who is YES?
The Board Members of YES! are a group of professionals, most of whom have personal experience with YOD, who are deeply committed to providing resources, education, and support to the families of the YOD community. The YES! team is the Executive Director, Deborah Hanna, and the social media strategists along with a nonprofit consultant and support group leaders. Each person serves the YES! mission with a passion for educating and supporting those with a YOD diagnosis. Learn more about the YES! Board and Team on their respective pages.
Find out how YES! got started as an organization on our History of YES! page.
See Our History
What is YES!
YES! is a GuideStar platinum-rated registered 501c3 nonprofit organization that has established a support network to address the unique and growing needs of the young-onset dementia (YOD) community. People with YOD may be in their 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s. Through YES, families and caregivers build friendships with other families dealing with the unrelenting maze of dementia caregiving, helping them feel supported, heard, and validated.
Mission
Our mission is to provide education and support for families affected by young-onset dementia (YOD).
Vision
To address the unmet and growing needs of the young-onset dementia community by promoting educational resources and opportunities, community awareness, support groups, care partner retreats, and social events. YES! believes a stronger community builds strength for individuals caring for and suffering from dementia.
What does YES do?
There are two prongs to the work of YES: education and support. YES! informs those diagnosed and their families about YOD, as well as educates medical and health professionals about diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and medications. YES! provides a support system including groups, as well as connections to resources, referrals, and people who can assist with navigating the care of loved ones.
YES! has two main programming initiatives to support families with a YOD diagnosis:
Support groups
YES! supports five distinctly different support groups meeting in-person and online. Check out our support pages to see more information on groups and services that may be available for specific demographics.
Caregiver Wellness Retreats
Our aim is to give those caring for loved ones affected by young-onset dementia (YOD) time and space to step out of that role, slow down, and breathe. Caregiver burnout is real.
Why YES!
In 2013, Deborah Hanna and Lynda Lockard co-founded PALS (Pretty Awesome Ladies), a social support network created to address the unique social and emotional needs of women caring for partners diagnosed with dementia, with an initial focus on young-onset dementias. Through shared experiences, these women formed bonds of companionship, empathy, and mutual support that addressed both their practical and emotional challenges. Over time, the complexities of supporting a loved one with dementia, especially in young-onset cases, became increasingly evident, highlighting the critical need for resources spanning financial, emotional, social, and physical dimensions. This realization inspired the formation of YES!, a dedicated organization established to address these diverse and growing needs within the young-onset dementia community. Today, YES! facilitates five distinct support groups that meet both in-person and online and has introduced the first-ever care partner Wellness Retreat tailored for care partners in young-onset dementia situations. With a committed and dynamic board, support staff, and volunteers, YES! actively works to foster connections, build supportive relationships, and empower families in navigating the journey of young-onset dementia care.
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