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Episode 9 · Dementia & care management

Gina Negri

Nurse Practitioner, Dementia Care Advisor and Family Advocate at Primacare Companions, with more than three decades in eldercare

On Retirement Navigator

Dementia Warning Signs to Watch for the Next Time You Visit a Parent

Gina Negri

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“In my years of work, I found that a lot of children do not know their parents … Do make an effort to get to know them.”

— Gina Negri, Episode 9, at 23:57

About Gina

Gina brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience — from hospital bedside nursing to long-term care, home care agency ownership, and now care management. She walks through the different types of dementia, early warning signs families often miss, and why getting guidance early makes a real difference in quality of life for both the person with dementia and their caregivers. Gina is a clinician and trained Nurse Practitioner specializing in eldercare, with more than three decades of experience supporting older adults across the continuum of care.

Her background spans direct patient care, clinical leadership, and quality-focused operations, and she now advises and advocates for families navigating the day-to-day realities of dementia care. She is also a: Bedside Nurse Nurse Practitioner (NP) Director of Nursing (Long-Term Care) Utilization Management / Quality Management Professional Home Care Agency Manager Dementia Care Advisor and Family Advocate

Credentials

  • Nurse Practitioner specializing in eldercare
  • Dementia Care Advisor & Family Advocate, Primacare Companions
  • Former Director of Nursing, long-term care
  • More than 30 years in aging care

What you'll learn


  • What dementia really is — and why it's much more than memory loss (it affects safety, judgment, finances, and daily independence)
  • The most common types of dementia explained simply: Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal, and mixed
  • The biggest risk factors — age and family history — plus the ones you can influence: blood pressure, diabetes, diet, physical activity and social connection
  • Early warning signs to look for when you visit a parent or older loved one, especially around Mother's Day or Father's Day
  • How to start a conversation with a resistant parent about getting help
  • What a care manager actually does — and how they coordinate doctors, medications, home safety, and family decisions
  • Special guidance for "solo agers" — older adults living alone without close family nearby
  • How AI monitoring tools can support older adults living at home without replacing human care

In this episode


  • 00:00Meet Gina
  • 01:37A Career Across the Care Continuum
  • 08:27What Dementia Really Is
  • 10:47The Main Types of Dementia
  • 13:55Who Is Most at Risk
  • 16:19Lifestyle, Diet and Isolation
  • 21:06Early Warning Signs
  • 22:48When a Parent Resists Help
  • 24:40Bringing In Help and Planning Early
  • 27:35Solo Agers and the Neighbors Who Notice
  • 29:43What a Care Manager Does
  • 32:00Choosing the Right Care Manager
  • 34:55How Gina Helps Families
  • 39:51Start With One Conversation
  • 41:20Where to Find Gina
  • 43:55Technology as an Ally

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