The Disappearing Mind Podcast

The Disappearing Mind Podcast

by Senior Living Near Me

Mental Health Nutrition

Season 1

The VA Benefit That Could Save Your Family Thousands

With Veterans Day approaching, we're sharing information about a benefit that could change everything for families paying for dementia care. Millions of veterans and widows qualify for financial help with memory care costs—but most have no idea it exists. Host Dawn Platt sits down with Suzette Graham, CEO of Patriot Angels, to discuss a little-known VA benefit that could add thousands of dollars monthly to help cover care expenses. From a heartbreaking story about sacrifice to surprising eligibility requirements families often miss, this conversation reveals why so few are accessing the support they've earned. If you're caring for a veteran or military spouse with dementia and struggling with the cost of care, this episode is a must-listen.

Planning Holidays with Dementia: A Caregiver's Guide to Guilt-Free Celebrations

If you're torn about whether to bring your loved one home from memory care this holiday season, feeling guilty about changing traditions, or wondering how to make the holidays special without overwhelming them—this episode is for you. Host Dawn Platt offers compassionate guidance on creating smaller, calmer gatherings that honor what matters most: connection over perfection. Learn practical modifications like timing visits when your loved one is most alert, simplifying menus, managing overstimulation, and preparing family members for realistic expectations. Dawn shares her own story of adapting her mom's cherished gift-giving tradition as dementia progressed, and reminds us that the smallest moments—a familiar song, a favorite dessert, holding hands by the tree—are often the most meaningful. This holiday season doesn't have to look like it used to for it to be filled with love.

Dementia Care Evolution: Why Your Loved One Needs More Than Activities and Meals

Not all memory care programs are created equal—and if you're touring communities right now, you need to know what questions to ask. In this eye-opening episode, host Dawn Platt sits down with Maggie Mariello, a memory care director with over 25 years of experience to reveal why outdated programs fail those living with dementia today. From the shocking success story of a man who struggled at three communities before thriving with the right approach, to the critical difference between recreational activities and true science-based programming, this conversation arms you with the insider knowledge you need. Learn what neuroplasticity really means for your loved one, why behavioral management training matters more than the building's amenities, and the specific questions that separate communities truly equipped to handle modern dementia care from those stuck decades in the past.

Losing Her Twice: Grieving a Mother Through Dementia and Death

What happens when the person you love most begins to disappear before they're truly gone? In this raw and powerful episode, host Dawn Platt sits down with Mary, whose mother's five-year journey with vascular dementia transformed their once-idyllic relationship into something unrecognizable. Mary opens up about the brutal reality of losing her best friend twice—first to the disease's cruel personality changes and accusations, then to death itself. From a Christmas miracle that brought glimpses of her "old mom" back, to the guilt that haunts caregivers even after doing everything right, Mary's story reveals the two chapters of grief that no one warns you about. If you've ever wondered whether you're alone in feeling relief mixed with devastating loss, or if those final moments together were somehow meant to be, this conversation will speak directly to your heart.

When Trust Becomes a Target: How Scammers Exploit People with Dementia

What happens when a sophisticated scammer targets someone living with dementia? In this eye-opening episode of The Disappearing Mind, host Dawn Platt sits down with Mary, whose mother fell victim to a romance scam that evolved over four years—morphing from a fake military general to an impersonated celebrity. Mary shares the heartbreaking reality of watching her mother get manipulated, buy gift cards, and plan a new life in Italy with someone who never existed. But this isn't just a story about financial loss—it's about the impossible balance between protecting someone you love and preserving their dignity, the warning signs families miss, and why traditional advice often fails when dementia is involved. If you think this could never happen to your family, this episode will change your mind.

Breaking Dementia Stigma: The Power of 'I'm Still Me

When a dementia diagnosis arrives, does the person disappear behind the label? In this powerful episode of The Disappearing Mind, host Dawn Platt challenges us to see beyond the diagnosis and recognize the vibrant human being who remains. Drawing from years of walking alongside remarkable individuals and families on the dementia journey, Dawn reveals how intellect, identity, and essence endure—often in surprising ways. From the retired nurse who still comforts others to the artist who continues to create, discover why saying "I'm still me" isn't just hope—it's truth. This episode will forever change how you see and connect with someone living with dementia.

Overcoming Dementia Stigma: A Guide for Families

Continuing our World Alzheimer's Month theme on stigma, what happens when well-meaning friends suddenly stop calling? When family members talk about you instead of with you? In this powerful episode, National Dementia Trainer Dawn Platt tackles the hidden crisis that strikes right after a dementia diagnosis—stigma. It's not born from cruelty, but from fear and misunderstanding that can make someone feel erased from their own story. Dawn reveals the devastating myths that fuel this stigma, shares heart-wrenching stories from families who've lived it, and offers a roadmap for pushing back. Because here's the truth: a diagnosis doesn't erase a person's worth—but stigma can make them feel like it does. If you've ever wondered how to support someone with dementia, or if you're carrying the weight of these labels yourself, this episode will change how you see everything.

Memory Care Programming: Does It Really Slow Dementia Progression?

When a family member questioned whether memory care activities could truly preserve cognition, calling it a "degenerative disease" that "rarely slows down," host Dawn Platt knew she had to set the record straight. In this eye-opening episode, Dawn teams up with Maggie Mariello, National Assistant Director of Memory Care Programs with over 20 years of experience, to reveal the shocking difference between communities that simply house residents and those that ignite their minds daily. From the veteran who tends gardens using his landscape architecture expertise to the Juilliard graduate who regains speech through piano, you'll discover how the right programming doesn't just fill time—it preserves the person inside the disease. If you're choosing between assisted living and memory care for your loved one, this episode could completely transform your decision and give you hope you didn't know was possible.

Betraying the Caregiver: When Family and Friends' Misperceptions Make Them Turn Away

In honor of World Alzheimer's Month, host Dawn Platt launches a powerful new series on dementia stigma with a heartbreaking yet eye-opening conversation. Meet Mary, a devoted daughter who cared for her mother with vascular dementia, only to face accusations, judgment, and social rejection from the very people who should have offered support. When her mother's friends began questioning Mary's motives and even believing confabulations and false accusations of abuse, Mary found herself defending not just her caregiving choices, but her character and love for her mother. This raw, emotional episode reveals the hidden pain families endure when dementia's cruel effects turn loved ones against their caregivers—and exposes how misunderstanding and denial can devastate those who need compassion most. A must-listen for anyone touched by dementia or those who want to truly understand what families face behind closed doors.

Finding the Right Dementia Support Groups: Why One-Size-Fits-All Doesn't Work

Ever sat in a dementia support group feeling more alone than when you walked in? You're not crazy—and you're definitely not alone. In this eye-opening episode, national dementia trainer Dawn Platt reveals why traditional support groups often miss the mark and shares the unspoken truth: it's not about having people around you, it's about having the right people. Whether you're a 42-year-old spouse navigating early-onset dementia, managing care from two states away, or seeking culturally aligned support that honors your family's values, Dawn breaks down exactly how to find your tribe. Plus, she shares her game-changing caregiver checklist that will help you identify what you actually need right now—not what everyone thinks you should need.

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