The Disappearing Mind Podcast

In this third episode of our Alzheimer's Awareness Month series, Host Dawn Platt takes you on an immersive journey through the mind of someone living with dementia to explore what a day is really like for them – from the disorienting confusion of waking up in the morning to the anxiety of sundowning at dusk. Experience the fear of not recognizing your own reflection, the struggle to put on a shirt, and the overwhelming panic of not...

Most people are surprised to learn that Alzheimer’s disease represents just one of more than 100 types of dementia. This staggering fact is often overlooked—and yet it has profound implications for diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life.

In the second episode of our Alzheimer’s Awareness Month series, Host Dawn Platt highlights why understanding the specific type of dementia is essential, not optional. Families often assume all d...

Join Dawn Platt as she kicks off a powerful series for National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, exploring the truth behind a disease that affects nearly 7 million Americans—and counting. This isn't just about forgetting where you put your keys. Discover why a grandmother who can recall her wedding day can't remember how to make her morning tea, learn the critical difference between normal aging and Alzheimer's, and find out wh...

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....

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 you...

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 th...

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 t...

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 w...

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 ret...

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....

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 hous...

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 confabulation...

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, ma...

You've never balanced a checkbook, and now you're suddenly responsible for someone's entire financial life. Join Host Dawn Platt as she tackles one of caregiving's most overwhelming challenges: stepping into the CFO role for a loved one facing cognitive decline. Whether you're a spouse who's never handled the bills or an adult child suddenly drowning in retirement accounts and medical paperwork, this episode delivers a practical ro...

What happens when dementia suddenly forces you into roles you never imagined you'd be in?Host Dawn Platt shares a heart-wrenching encounter with a couple facing this exact crisis—when decades of divided responsibilities suddenly become one person's overwhelming reality. If you've ever felt lost trying to handle tasks your partner always managed, or fear what would happen if you had to take over everything tomorrow, this episode is ...

In this deeply moving episode of The Disappearing Mind, host Dawn Platt shares a revelation that will transform how you think about grief and memory after losing someone to dementia. Over a year after her mother's passing, Dawn discovers something unexpected: the painful memories of confusion and lost words have faded, while her mother's true self has returned in vivid, full-color clarity. Through her raw, personal reflection on lo...

The moment has arrived—whether triggered by a fall, wandering episode, or simple caregiver burnout—and you're facing the heart-wrenching decision to move your loved one into memory care. In this deeply personal episode, National Dementia Trainer Dawn Platt guides you through the emotional journey "from home to here," revealing why choosing memory care isn't giving up—it's stepping up. Discover what really happens during those criti...

What if memory care isn't just about safety and medication management, but about preserving dignity, creating daily moments of joy, and building meaningful connections? In this eye-opening episode, National Dementia Trainer and Coach Dawn Platt shifts the lens on memory care communities, revealing how the right environment can transform lives through therapeutic engagement, purposeful programming, and compassionate care. From a pow...

When the Thompson family gathered for their first holiday since Mom's dementia diagnosis, what should have been a joyful reunion turned into heartbreak. Emily insisted on the elaborate dinner they'd always had, Jake argued it was pointless because Mom wouldn't remember, and Laura just wanted it all to go away. Sound familiar? In this powerful final episode of our family conflicts series, host Dawn Platt reveals why traditional fami...