Episode Details

We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text :-)

Theresa Flavin was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s Disease at 47. What followed was not just a medical journey, but a profound reckoning with how unprepared our systems are for people living with dementia.

In this deeply moving and confronting conversation, Theresa shares what it felt like to be dismissed, unheard and effectively “managed away” after diagnosis. From being told her diagnosis via dictaphone to discovering that dementia care systems are built around suppression rather than understanding, Theresa speaks with extraordinary clarity about what it truly feels like to live inside a brain that is changing.

We explore behaviour, consent, dignity, palliative care, human rights, and the urgent need for proper pathways after diagnosis. Theresa also shares her powerful moment addressing the United Nations, advocating for cognitive diversity and the rights of people living with dementia.

This episode is not about fear. It is about truth, agency and preparation.

Thank you for listening.

The Don’t Be Caught Dead Pub Quiz is back — now in its third year, and it’s a sellout event for a reason.

Join us on May 12 at 7pm at Hotel Lona in Frankston, as part of the South Side Festival.

Come solo and join a team, or bring your own crew — and compete for great prizes.

 Go to criticalinfo.com.au/events 

Every Tuesday at 7pm, I host Critical Chat Tuesdays —
free, online conversations where you can ask questions or just listen.

No pressure.
 No expectation.

Because this isn’t about planning for “someday” —
 it’s about being ready for whatever life throws your way.

Join anytime at criticalinfo.com.au/events

MY LOVED ONE HAS DIED, WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Our guide, ‘My Loved One Has Died, What Do I Do Now?’ provides practical steps for the hours and days after a loved one's death. Download it here.

SUPPORT SERVICES
If you're feeling overwhelmed by grief, find support through our resources and bereavement services here.

Support the show

Support the 'Don’t Be Caught Dead' podcast with a one-off or regular donation to help Critical Info, a certified social enterprise, keep creating free, high-impact conversations about death, grief and planning—every contribution fuels our mission to reduce the burden on families and build a more death-literate, compassionate community. Donate here now.

Learn more: https://criticalinfo.com.au/

Connect with Don't Be Caught Dead podcast host Catherine Ashton & Critical info on socials:
https://linktr.ee/catherine_critical_info?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Music composer: Ania Reynolds - https://www.aniareynolds.com/