The ZAMI NOBLA Podcast

This interview was recorded on May 20, 2025 via online video conferencing.

Part 1 is an oral herstory of Deneen's life in Ohio and part 2 is a detailed look at her family's journey with dementia along with Deneen's work in the area.

Deneen Day retired after a distinguished 30-year career as a Financial Crimes Investigator for the State of Ohio. Her journey as a dementia caregiver began in the 1990s when she became a long-distance caregiver for her grandmother, taking on the roles of guardian and decision-maker.

In 2007, Deneen's mother began to show signs of dementia, marking the start of her second "tour of duty" as a caregiver. Balancing full-time work, caring for her adopted special needs son, and her mother, Deeneen became a "sandwich generation caregiver."

Deeneen's son was just five years old when his grandmother began to show signs of the disease, and he continued to be a young caregiver until her passing when he was 17.

To support her son through this journey, Deeneen became an advocate for understanding the impact of dementia and caregiving on children, emphasizing the importance of awareness among teachers, coaches, peers, and their parents.

Her presentation is on YouTube at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY53q_onjHc

This interview was recorded on May 20, 2025 via online video conferencing.

Part 1 is an oral herstory of Deneen's life in Ohio and part 2 is a detailed look at her family's journey with dementia along with Deneen's work in the area.

Deneen Day retired after a distinguished 30-year career as a Financial Crimes Investigator for the State of Ohio. Her journey as a dementia caregiver began in the 1990s when she became a long-distance caregiver for her grandmother, taking on the roles of guardian and decision-maker.

In 2007, Deneen's mother began to show signs of dementia, marking the start of her second "tour of duty" as a caregiver. Balancing full-time work, caring for her adopted special needs son, and her mother, Deeneen became a "sandwich generation caregiver."

Deeneen's son was just five years old when his grandmother began to show signs of the disease, and he continued to be a young caregiver until her passing when he was 17.

To support her son through this journey, Deeneen became an advocate for understanding the impact of dementia and caregiving on children, emphasizing the importance of awareness among teachers, coaches, peers, and their parents.

Her presentation is on YouTube at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY53q_onjHc

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Arlene is a community psychologist who recently retired from the CDC. While there she worked as a behavioral scientist focusing on capacity building as it relates to HIV prevention. She received her BA in Psychology from the University of Tampa, MA in Counseling and Human Development from Clark Atlanta University and PhD in Community Psychology from Georgia State University. After beginning her public health work, she realized a need to augment her education and completed an MPH from Emory University. Arlene is also a veteran and retired from the US Army Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a Black lesbian her work and adult life has included finding ways to show up in an authentic manner and make space for others to do the same. Currently she works as a consultant on an HIV prevention project focused on encouraging Black women to view PrEP usage as an act of self-care, she is also growing a garden and a forest.