Sarah was 52. Life was full, busy, and bright – she was leading meetings, mentoring junior staff, and planning her next overseas holiday. Then, subtly at first, things began to shift: missed appointments, forgotten names, a creeping confusion in familiar places. The diagnosis, when it finally came, hit like a thunderclap: Younger Onset Dementia (YOD).
For Sarah and thousands of Australians, dementia isn’t just an illness of old age. It can strike in your 30s, 40s, or 50s. In Australia alone, over 29,000 people are currently living with Younger Onset Dementia, a figure expected to rise significantly in the coming decades.
The emotional impact of a YOD diagnosis is immediate and profound: shock, grief, fear, and denial become constant companions. Careers are abruptly cut short, finances strained, relationships irrevocably altered. Dreams and even a sense of self are challenged. For individuals and their families, the road ahead often feels incredibly lonely and overwhelming. The loss of independence, in particular, can be deeply felt.
People diagnosed with YOD often say how invaluable it is to connect with someone else living with younger onset dementia, especially right after their own diagnosis.
That’s where BASScare’s Maranoa Club steps in.
The Maranoa Club was founded on a simple, powerful belief: that life after a YOD diagnosis can still be rich and fulfilling. Opened in 2020, it’s a vital space where people with YOD can find connection, community and a shared sense of purpose.
Through walks, visits to local cafés, art, music, puzzles, gardening, cooking and various excursions, the Club aims to encourage everyone to embrace new challenges, stay active and feel significantly less alone.
Younger Onset Dementia Is Real—and Misunderstood
It refers to dementia diagnosed in people under 65. Even many medical professionals are surprisingly unaware that it can occur at such a young age.
The lack of knowledge surrounding Younger Onset Dementia means many people delay seeking help. All too often, individuals are misdiagnosed or simply dismissed with the well-meaning but damaging phrase, ‘You’re too young for dementia.’ This invisibility only deepens the isolation of an already challenging journey.
Change starts when we stop assuming dementia only happens “later in life.”
YOD impacts individuals in the prime of their lives—at the peak of their careers, while raising families, and when chasing their biggest dreams. We all have a vital role in reshaping this narrative: transforming it from a story of quiet loss into one of widespread understanding and dignity.
Sarah’s story, sadly, isn’t rare. It’s playing out for families across Australia every single day. By shining a brighter light on Younger Onset Dementia, we can help ensure that no one ever has to face this diagnosis feeling isolated and alone.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Maranoa Club, visit our Dementia Services page or contact us at (03) 8809 4979 or email dementiaprogram@basscare.org.au.
