Dementia isn’t just about forgetting names or losing track of time. It’s about identity, safety, dignity — and the heartbreaking way our systems often fail to protect all three.

In this episode, we go deeper than the surface signs. We talk about:

• What dementia really looks like in day-to-day life

• Why labile mood, paranoia, and even aggression have real neurological roots

• How overuse of antipsychotics can worsen outcomes

• And why many patients with dementia are misdiagnosed, misunderstood, or mistreated — especially in inpatient psych settings

We also discuss:

• The importance of non-pharmacological interventions like redirection, music, and even baby dolls

• How early symptoms get brushed off — or blamed on “just aging”

• And what clinicians, caregivers, and loved ones need to understand to avoid doing harm

This episode challenges assumptions, validates caregiver exhaustion, and offers real strategies — not just for managing dementia, but for seeing the person still inside.

Because they are still there.