Palliative care: a term we often hear in our communities and in the healthcare system. But do we actually know what the term palliative care means for us and the people we care for? In today’s enlightening episode, palliative care physician, Dr. Samantha Winemaker, talks to Stephanie about this very important topic in addition to concepts surrounding advocacy for palliative care and MAID. About Dr. Samantha Winemaker:Dr. Winemaker is an Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Family ...
Lynn Posluns dedicates her life to women’s brain health, education and research for prevention and improvement that you can make in your life right now. In today’s episode, Lynn provides insightful and valuable information on brain health and talks about her ‘why’ for founding the WBHI. She additionally goes into detail about the many ways WBHI is working each and every day to help others learn how to take small and attainable steps to shift their brain health for the present and help to prev...
Are you caregiving and working at the same time? This very real and very common situation is also very hidden and not talked about enough… But when you take the stress of home and everything you have to balance with the person you care for ON TOP of a career and working, the stress and overwhelm can be above and beyond what you may feel is manageable. In today’s episode, Stephanie talks about caregiving and balancing a career and offers some practical tips you can use if you are in this situa...
The nursing home transition can be very very hard, not only for the person who is moving to the residence, but for the caregiver too (in a big way). In today’s episode, Stephanie talks about this transition, the emotions behind nursing home transitions for caregivers and some helpful strategies that can help along the way.We want your feedback. Let us know how you liked today’s episode! Rate, review and subscribe to let us know you are enjoying this podcast and want to hear more!Visit us...
There are over 4 million caregivers in Ontario, yet the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO), a government funded organization aimed to support this wide variety of caregivers, is still relatively new. In today’s episode, OCO CEO, Amy Coupal joins Stephanie on the podcast to talk about who she is behind her vocation, her caregiving experiences and how she and her team work to shape an organization that caregivers truly need. We want your feedback. Let us know how you liked today’s episod...
Nicole Dauz imagined an idyllic future for her family of 4 after giving birth to her baby daughter. She soon realized that her vision of what would be looked very different in reality. In today’s episode, Nicole takes us through her journey caregiving for her kids, learning about navigating the system and care for a child with autism and a rare genetic disease and learning the true meaning of self-care to survive. Nicole has used her learnings and experience and has become a self-care coach f...
The first, second, third…. times we experience a holiday or an event since changes or the loss of someone we love can be so hard. These moments and the anticipation of them can be so full of loss and grief and memories of what once was. In today’s episode, Stephanie talks about these moments, what they can feel like and what we can start to do to process and acknowledge them rather than push the pain away. We want your feedback. Let us know how you liked today’s episode! Rate, ...
As an only child, for many years Stephanie thought that having a sibling by her side would really help in the caregiving process. But after working with caregivers for many years, she soon realized that this is not always the case. In today’s episode, Stephanie walks listeners through some scenarios when sibling conflict was more prevalent than support in caregiving. We want your feedback. Let us know how you liked today’s episode! Rate, review and subscribe to let us know you are e...
Nicole Petrie is not a person who is easily describable with words. Using her passion for FTD advocacy and surpassing numerous obstacles and limits in her way, she achieved an outstanding career in modeling, featured in some of the largest publications and on the largest platforms worldwide. In today’s episode, Nicole talks about her journey caring for her mother with early onset FTD as she continues to pursue her career, boundlessly advocating for dementia and FTD and all that surrounds thes...
When Katrina Prescott left her commercial production role in New York City and returned to British Columbia as she was faced with the realities of her aging grandmother. Little did she know, almost immediately following her grandmother’s passing, she would become a full on solo caregiver for her mother with FTD. In today’s episode, Katrina takes you through her caregiving journey and talks about what she learned along the way and the incredible advocacy she now engages in daily for caregivers...
As people, we have thousands and thousands of thoughts each and every day. But do you truly recognize your thoughts and are you aware of the thoughts you are having? How are your thoughts impacting you and your daily life as a caregiver?In this episode, Jessica and Stephanie talk about the importance of noticing our thoughts and how this practice can change our lives, emotions and overall outlook. About Jessica:Jessica is a writer, meditation teacher, death doula, and dementia consultant...
The driver’s license and cognitive or physical impairment. Something that, unless you’ve experienced it, you can never fully understand. The battle and the ethics and the nuances to exploring safety vs. autonomy and taking the path of least resistance.What in the world do we do when we are faced with the reality that it may be time to confront the reality that to the person you care for may no longer be safe to drive (or maybe they have already been told by a member of their medical team they...
We hear about this term, caregiver burnout, so often. But what exactly is ‘burnout’ and how do we get there? What can we do to try and prevent or mitigate burnout? In today’s episode, Stephanie takes it back to basics to talk about this commonly used term and what it means.We want your feedback. Let us know how you liked today’s episode! Rate, review and subscribe to let us know you are enjoying this podcast and want to hear more!Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for careg...
Caitlin Melvin’s life changed forever in 2021 when her 3 week old baby Scottie passed away. Having to continue caring for her young son in the face of grief, Caitlin learned how to navigate a situation she never thought she would face. In today’s episode, Caitlin talks about feeling substantial pain and having to continue on while growing her family and running a successful business.About Caitlin:Caitlin Melvin lives in Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband and two children, Huxley and...
Patti LaFleur (known as misspatticake on social media) has become a well-known figure in the caregiving space. After leaving her teaching job of many years, she dedicated her life to caring for her father and her mother Linda, diagnosed with dementia. Documenting her journey daily, Patti and Linda were an inspiration and a real view on the happiness and positivity that was possible in a carepartner bond between mother and daughter. When Linda passed away more suddenly than ever anticipated, P...
Mary Lou Falcone lived a life of sophistication and excitement as a prominent figure in the classical music space, her husband a well-known artist. Using music throughout her life helped as a means of expressing herself and proved to be paramount when her husband was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia- at a time in her life that was shocking and unexpected. In this episode, Mary Lou describes her journey through caregiving and the rollercoaster of moments that will be sure to leave you with te...
Do you ever feel completely removed, turned off or differently in general about your partner who you care for? Do you notice that you no longer want to engage in intimacy with your partner because of the changes in your relationship and the dynamic as a result of your caregiving? In today’s episode, Stephanie touches upon the topic of sex as a caregiver and normalizes and validates the emotions you may have surrounding sex and intimacy.Today’s episode was the number 1 requested episode this s...
For 43 years André Picard has been at the forefront of health journalism and health reporting for The Globe and Mail. In today’s episode, André takes a deep dive into the reality of our healthcare system and its impact on caregivers and the people they care for. André compares and contrasts the Canadian system in relation to systems in other nations, the gains that have been made in the Canadian system over time and what improvements are needed to best impact caregivers, both now and in the f...
Debbie Compton and her husband cared for 3 family members at the same time. It was during this balance that she recognized exceptionally innovative ways to navigate presenting difficulties and stressors. She has since adapted these innovations and techniques for other caregivers to help them through their journeys. Debbie is a positive and truly inspirational leader who shares her incredible story in today’s episode.About Debbie Compton:Debbie Compton is a three-time caregiver for parents wit...
You work so hard to organize and plan respite care so that you can get that long awaited and very needed break, but your expectations and hopes fall short of what you were hoping for, and suddenly you find yourself frustrated, angry and even more depleted. In episode 97 of Caregiver’s Compass, Stephanie talks about expectations and realities of respite care and how we can maximize this truly valuable time so we can come back home refreshed and content.Visit us on our website to see all that w...