The Disappearing Mind Podcast

Join us for a heartfelt and insightful Father's Day episode this week as Dawn sits down with her friend Melissa, a devoted daughter navigating her father's dementia journey. Melissa shares personal stories and experiences, offering a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of caring for a loved one with dementia. Dawn provides valuable advice and best practices, while they explore the delicate ba...

Host Dawn Platt delves into the latest statistics on dementia and Alzheimer's disease, shedding light on the evolving landscape of these conditions. We explore the profound impact that awareness and education can have in the fight against dementia, and Dawn discusses the emotional journey of "the long goodbye," while capturing the myriad of feelings that accompany it. Tune in for heartfelt stories...

In this quick episode, host Dawn Platt shares the story of the evacuation of Discovery Village At Sarasota Bay ahead of Hurricane Ian in 2022. With the help of a sister community in Lake Worth, FL, and numerous Discovery Senior Living employees, residents were able to relocate safely for the duration of the storm with minimal disruption.

As hurricane season approaches, it's crucial to prepare not only for the storm but also for the unique challenges it presents to those caring for loved ones with dementia. In this episode, Dawn sits down with Tim Guerrette, a retired Florida law enforcement chief and devoted son, to share invaluable insights from both his professional and personal experiences. They discuss how to navigate the comp...

In this week's episode, Host Dawn Platt shares her experiences as a national dementia coach and trainer. She discusses coping with ambiguous loss and the challenges of the 'long goodbye.' Dawn also explores the shifts in family dynamics when taking on the role of a caregiver, offering practical advice on fostering family harmony. Tune in for more insightful reflections on resilience, compassion, a...

Join Host Dawn Platt in this week's new episode as she guides you through the journey of caring for a loved one with dementia at home, from the beginning stages of receiving a diagnosis to establishing vital in-home support. Dawn explores recognizing the right time for bringing care into the home, managing caregiver wellbeing and burnout, accessing support networks, and practical steps for evaluat...

Step into our latest episode, where host Dawn Platt compassionately delves into the questions submitted by family members and caregivers navigating life alongside loved ones with dementia. Dawn provides thoughtful insights and practical advice based on these questions, offering valuable support to listeners facing similar challenges. If you're left with lingering questions, we invite you to visit...

Join Host Dawn Platt in this enlightening 16-minute quick-cast episode as she discusses effective communication with those facing dementia. Discover the benefits of compassionate communication, the importance of attitude, and the power of nonverbal cues. Gain insights into navigating the different stages of dementia while learning practical strategies for fostering meaningful connections. Tune in...

Join Host Dawn Platt in this week's enlightening episode as she engages in a touching dialogue with Nurse and Memory Care Director Brenda Johnson. Discover the remarkable impact of music on Brenda's nonverbal grandmother, whose silence was broken by the familiar tunes of her past, offering glimpses of connection amidst dementia's fog. Additionally, they shed light on the higher prevalence of demen...

In this week's new episode, Host Dawn Platt engages in a heartfelt conversation with her colleague and friend EJ about navigating the complexities of ambiguous loss, drawing from personal experiences with EJ's mother-in-law. Ambiguous loss is a one's profound sense of loss and sadness not from the actual death of their loved one, but from the loss or change of the person they knew as a result of d...

In this week's podcast, Dawn discusses common issues faced by dementia patients and their families. One prevalent issue is financial strain, and Dawn emphasizes the importance of taking proactive measures to alleviate this burden. She also stresses the significance of obtaining Power of Attorney early on to ensure that important decisions can be made on behalf of the individual. Other topics inclu...

When dementia enters the picture, financial planning becomes a minefield of missed deadlines, family conflicts, and costly mistakes that can devastate a lifetime of savings. In this eye-opening episode, Dawn Platt sits down with Certified Financial Planner Matt Marcoux to reveal the critical financial warning signs families often miss, share shocking stories of six-figure IRS penalties that could...

As a caregiver, it's important to recognize that not all dementias are the same, and neither are their symptoms or behaviors. This understanding can help reduce anxiety and stress by managing expectations and approaching each situation with a tailored mindset. Host Dawn Platt shares helpful strategies, such as practicing responses to frequently asked or repeated questions, setting expectations wit...

In this week's episode, Host Dawn Platt engages in a candid conversation with her colleague, Brenda, regarding the challenges she faces in caring for her mother who has vascular dementia compounded by diabetes. Brenda reveals the distressing reality of her mother's condition, including delusions and violent outbursts, often directed towards Brenda’s father (her husband) and Brenda herself. Despite...

In this week's episode, host Dawn Platt shares a prevalent topic from her recent virtual support group discussion: redirection. Dementia patients may get "stuck" on an idea or concept that may not be logical or actionable. Given the challenge of logical reasoning with dementia, how can you alter or divert your loved one's attention to prevent frustration or agitation? Dawn provides valuable insigh...

Join Host Dawn Platt on this week's episode as she sits down with Jeff, a Memory Care Director, who shares his personal journey as a son caring for parents battling Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Jeff offers insights from his professional experience and from a male caregiver's perspective, highlighting the crucial role of family in navigating the complexities of caregiving. Additionally, he pro...

In this week's episode, Host Dawn Platt chats with EJ, a woman whose mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s disease and lives with her family. They discuss strategies for de-escalating a loved one’s aggressive behavior as EJ seeks advice from her own experience. They also share helpful antidotes on managing common dementia and Alzheimer’s triggers and behaviors in a multi-generational household.

In this week’s new episode, Host Dawn Platt talks about her recent visit to Tallahassee for Florida Advocacy Days with the Florida Senior Living Association, where she had the opportunity to discuss crucial impending laws and regulations around memory care with senators, legislators and representatives. Dawn is joined by Danielle, whose father has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease,...

Host Dawn Platt speaks with Board Certified Neurologist and Clinical Neurophysiologist Dr. Michelle Boudreau on the importance of seeing a neurologist when there are memory issues or concerns. They also discuss the latest dementia medications as well as the challenges of increasing dementia cases.

In this week's podcast episode, host Dawn Platt had the opportunity to speak with Eldergrow CEO Orla Concannon. Eldergrow focuses on bringing nature indoors to senior living communities using therapeutic horticulture designed to fit spaces as small as a desk. They discuss how the program provides many benefits for those with dementia such as sensory stimulation, enhancing motor skills and promotin...

What happens when dementia strikes and families suddenly find themselves locked out of critical decisions and finances? Host Dawn Platt sits down with Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney Ed Wollman, Managing Partner of Wollman, Gehrke & Associates, P.A., to uncover the shocking legal realities that blindside families facing cognitive decline. Ed reveals how the absence of prop...

Marjorie's narrative unfolds further as she goes from social butterfly to introverted and withdrawn. Host Dawn Platt delves into the items used as coping mechanisms and how they helped alleviate Marjorie’s anxiety around her memory loss. She further shares the profound impact of dementia on rational thinking when those items are misplaced, often resulting in unexpected and heightened reactions fro...

This week's podcast continues the story of Marjorie, a dementia resident that impacted host Dawn Platt's career. Marjorie's personality changed vastly throughout her dementia journey and her personal care needs had to change with her. Host Dawn Platt also discusses examples of how dementia patients experience a wide array of misperceptions, including visual and spatial, age confusion, or short ter...

In this 15-minute quick-cast, host Dawn Platt talks about her personal career path and the stories and people that have impacted her along the way. This special episode focuses on one of her first and most memorable dementia residents, Marjorie.

Dr. Cynthia Green, PhD, clinical psychologist and author, joins host Dawn Platt in a spirited conversation about brain health and exercises to keep your brain healthy and active. Nationally renowned, Dr. Green founded the Memory Enhancement program at Mount Sinai Medical Center in 1996, the first of its kind in the United States.