Dementia Decoded

Jennifer Fink | Caregiving Strategist & Host of Dementia Decoded Dementia is confusing. We make it m
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Stop guessing and start leading. Caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s shouldn't feel like a constant state of crisis. In Dementia Decoded, host Jennifer Fink transforms her two decades of caregiving experience into a masterclass for the working family caregiver. After eight years as Fading Memories, we have evolved to provide you with more than just stories—we provide a strategy. As a caregiving strategist and advocate for AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association, Jennifer decodes the medical jargon, communication hurdles, and emotional toll of the disease to help you advocate for your loved one without losing yourself in the process. Each week, we dive into: Caregiving Strategies: Practical tools for managing daily care and long-term planning. Brain Health: Understanding the science behind the "why" of dementia. Advocacy & Support: Navigating the healthcare system and finding your village. The "Real Talk": Permission to laugh through the absurdity and heal through honest conversation. Experience matters. Strategy wins. Laughter heals. Whether you are in the first stages of a diagnosis or deep in the trenches, it’s time to turn the light on. Welcome to Dementia Decoded.

  1. 3h ago

    Dementia Care Stress? Practical Steps To Stop Guilt And Sundowning Chaos

    If you’ve ever caught yourself snapping after being asked the same question for the tenth time, only to immediately ask yourself, "Am I a terrible caregiver?"—you are far from alone. In this episode of Dementia Dakota, host Jen Fink sits down with board-certified physician, health coach, advocate, and author Dr. Frank Spinelli. Together, they take a deep, compassionate dive into one of the heaviest and most unspoken emotional burdens in caregiving: the difference between caregiver guilt (I did something bad) and caregiver shame (I am bad). Dr. Spinelli shares insights from his book, The Shame Compass, breaking down the neuroscience of shame, identifying the five hidden types of caregiver shame, and walking us through his actionable Compass Framework (Confront, Observe, Map, Process, Accept, Sustain, and Serve). Whether you're navigating sundowning panic, wrestling with the taboo around wishing the journey was over, or struggling to set boundaries without feeling like a moral failure, this episode offers the language, relief, and validation you need. Connect with Dr. Frank Spinelli:Book: The Shame Compass (Releases August 25th)Website: frankspinelli.comInstagram: @drfrankspinelli Resources & Links Mentioned:Subscribe to The Caregiver's Guide Substack: [Insert Substack Link]Watch the full video episode on YouTube: [Insert YouTube Link]Follow Dementia Dakota on Apple Podcasts & SpotifyQuotes from this Episode:"Guilt is behavioral: 'I did something bad.' Shame is identity-level: 'I am bad.' Understanding shame literacy is realizing that voice isn't telling you facts." — Dr. Frank Spinelli"Boundaries aren't walls—they are an honest measure of your current capacity. Hitting your limit isn't a sign you don't love your family member; it's a physical signal that your system needs a reset." — Jen Fink

    Dementia Care Stress? Practical Steps To Stop Guilt And Sundowning Chaos

  2. Oct 27

    Reversing Cognitive Decline Without Drugs: Wearable Brain Tech

    What if the key to slowing—or even reversing—cognitive decline isn’t a new pharmaceutical drug, but a physical setting on a wearable device? For decades, billions of dollars have been poured into biological and chemical treatments for memory loss, often leaving caregivers with high costs, difficult side effects, and limited options. In this episode of Dementia Decoded, host Jen Fink sits down with Chuck Papageorgiou, engineer, tech pioneer, and CEO of neuroM Therapeutics, to explore a completely different frontier: the physics of the brain. Chuck breaks down how non-invasive neuromodulation uses targeted, ultra-high frequency energy pulses to stimulate brain cells, lower neuroinflammation, and boost cellular energy (ATP). They discuss the three-part mechanism behind this technology, why caregivers are often the first to notice positive cognitive shifts, the real-world results from clinical trials, and an upcoming wellness wearable designed to optimize brain span for healthy adults. Key Takeaways in This Episode: The 5 Factors of Brain Health: Why we over-invest in chemistry/biology and under-invest in physics, environmental factors, and behavioral habits.How Brain Physics Works: The 3-step cellular process of ultra-high frequency energy:Plaque Breakdown: Interrupting misformed tau and amyloid proteins so the glymphatic system can flush them during deep sleep.Cellular Fuel: Boosting mitochondrial ATP production for higher cognitive performance.Cooling Inflammation: Rebalancing cytokines to reduce brain-wide and systemic inflammation. Why Caregivers Notice First: How subtle improvements in mood, clarity, and "the sparkle in their eye" appear in caregiving notes weeks before formal cognitive testing catches up.Real-World Results: The story of an 80+ year-old trial participant who stopped cognitive decline in 8 weeks, regained 2 years of lost function, and maintained her baseline 5 years later.The Brain Span Revolution: How non-invasive tech and healthy lifestyle routines work together to protect long-term cognitive function for both patients and proactive adults.Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:Participate in Clinical Trials: Learn more about patient-funded research at Best Mind for MeExplore neuroM Therapeutics: Read the underlying research and technology at neuroM TherapeuticsDementia Decoded Substack: Join our proactive caregiver community at Dementia Decoded SubstackCatch-Up Episode: Listen to our catalog favorite on Apple PodcastsConnect & Support:Rate & Review: If you enjoyed this conversation, please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.Share the Episode: Know a caregiver or someone interested in brain health tech? Send them this episode!

    Reversing Cognitive Decline Without Drugs: Wearable Brain Tech

  3. Oct 20

    How Did A Caregiver Steal $1.5M From A Dementia Mom?

    What happens when a real-life financial heist unfolds inside your own family—at the expense of someone you love? In this jaw-dropping episode, we sit down with technology and finance veteran Charles "Chip" Wallace, author of The Caregiver's Game: Unraveling Financial Deceit in the Shadows of Dementia. Chip shares the terrifying true story of how an in-home caregiver used pandemic isolation and his mother’s cognitive decline to execute a systematic, multi-million dollar theft right under the noses of trusted family professionals. We pull back the curtain on the subtle, stealth red flags traditional bank fraud departments completely miss. You’ll learn why a simple glance at a monthly balance sheet isn't enough, how con artists exploit the psychological vulnerability of independent seniors, and why traditional financial institutions are failing to protect our loved ones. What we cover in this episode: The Nordstrom to Target Shift: How the caregiver diverted thousands of dollars while keeping total monthly bills identical.The Broken System: Why banks file "secret" Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) that rarely lead to criminal investigations or arrests.Taking Back Control: How to safely inventory family heirlooms, structure caregiver contracts, and maintain firm employer-employee boundaries from a distance.The Power of APS: Why you don't need absolute proof to contact Adult Protective Services, and how to trigger an investigation. If you have aging parents, this isn't just a gripping true-crime story—it's a critical financial defense playbook you cannot afford to miss. Connect with our guest: ???? Grab your copy of The Caregiver's Game on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. ???? Join our interactive caregiver community on Substack for more real-world caregiving strategies, asynchronous support, and expert resources.

    How Did A Caregiver Steal $1.5M From A Dementia Mom?

  4. Oct 16 ·  Video

    When Moving Isn’t An Option - How Home Halo Protects Independence

    What happens when living alone isn’t safe anymore, but moving into a facility is off the table? In this episode, Dan Deak, founder and CEO of Home Halo, joins us to share how his mother’s unexpected fall inspired a dignity-first, non-medical in-home care model. Navigating care for an aging parent who prizes their independence is one of the toughest challenges family caregivers face. Most agencies impose rigid shift minimums and high turnover, making parents feel institutionalized in their own living rooms. Dan explains how Home Halo is changing that equation by ditching strict hourly minimums, implementing nurse-led assessments, and vetting every caregiver against the "Mom and Dad" litmus test. We also dive into a critical, underused resource for military families: why an estimated 7 million veterans qualify for covered in-home care benefits, and how Home Halo helps families navigate the VA system to access the support they’ve earned. In this episode, we discuss: The 2017 personal crisis that sparked the creation of Home HaloWhy eliminating rigid 4-hour minimums helps prevent family caregiver burnoutThe "Mom and Dad" hiring standard for caregiver retention and trustHow nurse-led assessments uncover hidden fall risks and health red flags earlyNavigating the VA healthcare system to unlock funded veteran home care benefitsPractical ways to ease a resistant loved one into accepting help Connect with Home Halo: Learn more about services, local agencies, and veteran care resources at https://www.thehomehalo.com

    When Moving Isn’t An Option - How Home Halo Protects Independence

  5. Oct 13

    Downsizing a Parent's House Without Splitting the Family Apart

    Family Dynamics + Downsizing: Surviving the Legal and Emotional Estate Minefield Dementia care is hard enough. But when you add a house full of 47 years of physical belongings, a vague estate plan, and mismatched sibling dynamics, a difficult transition can instantly turn into a family crisis. In this week's episode of Dementia Decoded, I sit down with Heather Nickerson, a former CIA intelligence analyst and the co-founder/CEO of Artifcts.com. Heather’s entire career pivoted from national security to legacy preservation because of a single, clinical sentence on page 23 of her late mother’s estate plan: “All tangible assets are to be divided equally among my children.” Left with an estate attorney waiting for answers and a house full of silent objects, Heather had to figure out how to navigate the emotional minefield of downsizing while processing ambiguous grief. In this episode, we unpack: The Trap of "Page 23": Why standard estate plans fail family executors when it comes to physical belongings.The Power of the "Legacy List": How to bypass the paralyzing overwhelm of an entire house by finding just five items that truly anchor a person's life story.Space vs. Sentimentality: Tactical tools to help a loved one with cognitive decline separate their memories from physical objects without triggering defensive walls.When Siblings Clashing Over "Stuff": How to strip the raw emotion out of estate logistics before it breaks your family relationships. Take the Strategy Further: Want the exact, step-by-step communication scripts to handle a sibling who is checked out, a sibling who wants to keep everything, or a stalemate over the same item? Head over to our Substack to unlock The Strategist’s Masterclass: Sibling Script Toolkit. ???? https://substack.com/@thedementiadecodedlab Connect with Heather & Artifcts: Website: Artifcts.com

  6. Oct 6

    How Can Memory Care Design Preserve Dignity, Function, and Calm

    When managing an Alzheimer’s or dementia journey, we meticulously audit medications, medical files, and care schedules. But how much time do we spend auditing the physical space where all that care happens?  In this episode, I sit down with veteran architect Martin Kimmel, principal and co-founder of Kimmel Architecture, to pull back the curtain on how geriatric environments are engineered. The hard truth is that physical architecture is never neutral—it is either a proactive tool that supports independence, or a hidden obstacle that accelerates cognitive fatigue, pacing anxiety, and behavioral triggers. We break down the genius design features of multi-million-dollar memory care communities—including lighting choices that stabilize the circadian rhythm, the "square donut" layout that eliminates terminal dead-ends, and the "sniff test" for evaluating a facility. More importantly, we map out exactly how family caregivers can "steal" these elite architectural rules to turn their own four walls into a supportive care asset. WHAT WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE: • The Visceral "Sniff Test" When Evaluating Memory Care • Circadian Lighting vs. Evening Sundowning • Eliminating "What Now?" Pacing Anxiety with Layout Loops • Designing for Safety and Dignity (The En Suite Bathroom Rule) • The "Wainscot" Hack: Balancing Independence and Drywall Protection • Final Strategy: Taking Radical Ownership of Your Atmosphere CONNECT WITH MARTIN KIMMEL:  • Website: https://kimmelbogrette.com/ RESOURCES MENTIONED: ???? Subscribe to The Caregiver's Guide on Substack for our downloadable Home Environmental Audit Checklist: [Insert Substack Link]

    How Can Memory Care Design Preserve Dignity, Function, and Calm

  7. Sep 29

    7 Heartbreaking Lessons From Caring For A Parent With Dementia

    When a fierce, independent parent develops dementia, the traditional support systems treat the journey like a jigsaw puzzle with a missing box top. They tell you to have "caring conversations" or wait for a DMV intervention—passive strategies that fail miserably in the trenches of real-world caregiving. In this episode of Dementia Decoded, I sit down with psychologist, member of the International Memoir Writers Association, and author Dr. Sarah Church Vosburg to unpack the unflinching reality of navigating role reversal, midnight delusions, and the complex boundaries of spousal care. Sarah shares the terrifying moment her mother’s driving became a clear and present danger, and the brilliant, unauthorized "mechanic's secret" she used to secure safety without destroying her mother's autonomy. We completely dismantle the passive advice of the medical establishment, look closely at the bittersweet natural metaphors in Sarah's stunning new memoir, Who Will Name the Bees, and discuss why dark humor is a mandatory protective shield—not a source of guilt. What we decode in this session: The Car Keys Battle: Why forcing a parent to hand over physical keys fails, and how to change the environment instead.Script-Shifting for Delusions: How to handle 911 "dialing for dollars" calls and intense paranoia without trying to use failing logic.Rejecting the "Circus" Mentality: Recognizing when home care becomes an unmanageable crisis, and why transitioning to memory care is an act of protective leadership.The Bittersweet Truth of Grief: Finding moments of quiet clarity and wonder out in nature even as a brain changes. ???? TAKE CONTROL OF THE BOARD: Stop managing the caregiving crisis by trial and error. Download our comprehensive, no-nonsense Dementia Decoded Strategy Checklist to establish firm boundaries and protect your family: https://substack.com/@thedementiadecodedlab ???? GET THE BOOK: Find Dr. Sarah Church Vosburg’s award-winning memoir, Who Will Name the Bees, here: https://a.co/d/08FjsLWv

    7 Heartbreaking Lessons From Caring For A Parent With Dementia

  8. Sep 22

    Expanding the Village: Why Professional Care is an Act of Love

    Are you trapped in a grueling cycle of caregiving firefighting, constantly waiting for the next emergency to force your hand? In this episode of Dementia Decoded, we are dismantling one of the heaviest burdens a family caregiver carries: the silent promise to \"never put a loved one in a home.\" Host Jen Fink opens up about the messy reality of late 2016 when her father was hospitalized and moving her mom—who was navigating advanced vascular dementia—into her own home was a bad option for everyone involved. From navigating sibling friction over inheritances to picking a facility entirely on a gut-instinct \"take my money\" whim, Jen shares the raw truth of her own journey as the poster child for what not to do. Joined by 34-year long-term care expert and author Cory Fosco (The Question of When), we completely flip the script on caregiver guilt. Cory shares why moving a loved one to residential care isn\'t a failure or a betrayal—it is a strategic expansion of your care village, a hard-earned promotion to Chief Clinical Advocate, and an extraordinary act of love. Tune in to learn how to look past the \"marketing gloss\" of senior living communities, identify the hidden indicators of quality care, and start the toughest transition conversations long before a hospital crisis decides for you. In this episode, we decode: The Promise Reframe: Why the classic promise to \"never put you in a home\" is actually a recipe for an emergency hospital crisis.The Promotion: How to step out of the exhausted caregiver role and step into your new title as Chief Clinical Advocate.The \"Micro-Environment\" Audit: How to look past the grand chandeliers and marketing gloss to see the real quality of a facility\'s staff tenure.The Star Ratios: How to use tools like CMS Care Compare to audit night and weekend shifts before signing a lease.Proactive Scenario Planning: How to initiate Plan C conversations with your loved one before their cognitive processing prevents it.Connect with Cory Fosco:Website: coryfosco.comBook: The Question of When: A Practical Guide to Knowing When It’s Time for Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Skilled NursingFree Resource: The Four Signal Categories ChecklistLinkedIn: Connect on LinkedInJoin the Dementia Decoded Community:Substack Premium: Upgrade to our paid tier for weekly operational blueprints, step-by-step advocacy guides, and strategic frameworks to claim radical ownership of your caregiving journey. https://substack.com/@thedementiadecodedlab

    Expanding the Village: Why Professional Care is an Act of Love
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About

Stop guessing and start leading. Caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s shouldn't feel like a constant state of crisis. In Dementia Decoded, host Jennifer Fink transforms her two decades of caregiving experience into a masterclass for the working family caregiver. After eight years as Fading Memories, we have evolved to provide you with more than just stories—we provide a strategy. As a caregiving strategist and advocate for AARP and the Alzheimer’s Association, Jennifer decodes the medical jargon, communication hurdles, and emotional toll of the disease to help you advocate for your loved one without losing yourself in the process. Each week, we dive into: Caregiving Strategies: Practical tools for managing daily care and long-term planning. Brain Health: Understanding the science behind the "why" of dementia. Advocacy & Support: Navigating the healthcare system and finding your village. The "Real Talk": Permission to laugh through the absurdity and heal through honest conversation. Experience matters. Strategy wins. Laughter heals. Whether you are in the first stages of a diagnosis or deep in the trenches, it’s time to turn the light on. Welcome to Dementia Decoded.

Information

  • Creator
    Jennifer Fink | Caregiving Strategist & Host of Dementia Decoded Dementia is confusing. We make it m
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    451
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Dementia Decoded
  • Show Website
    Dementia Decoded

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