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This is Caregiver's Compass. An uplifting, inspirational podcast talking about all things caregiving. Therapist Stephanie Muskat takes you through real-life caregiving stories from her own therapeutic experience and gives you the raw and personal on her own caregiving experiences as a young caregiver. Plus hear from tons of incredible experts and caregivers who are living through their day-to-day journeys. It's all here at Caregiver's Compass.
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In this episode Stephanie summarizes the top 5 episodes from season two of Caregiver’s Compass. Thank YOU for making season 2 what it was. Such a fantastic season full of incredible topics and guests. See you for season 3 next year!1) Episode 48: GUILT in Caregiving- how it arises, how to manage it, and the differences between guilt vs. shame (with Wendy Williams) 2) Episode 54: My Life Completely Changed When my Boyfriend was Assaulted and Suddenly Faced a Traumatic Brain Injury’- caregiving after a very sudden and traumatic life shift, with Katherine Smith 3) Episode 57:From inpatient nurse to caregiving consultant- how losing her job and burning out resulted in finding a daily passion for helping others- With Karen Lake 4) Episode 58:Managing postpartum mental health while caring for 1+ children and/or another family member- with Kelly Polci (MSW,RSW) 5) Episode 47: How Do I Know if I am a Caregiver (Demystifying the Definition of a Caregiver and the Stigma Associated With It/ Identifying as a Caregiver When Society Says You Are Not) Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.com Join our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnection For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In this episode, postpartum coach, Jaquie Dason, discusses losing her mom to cancer at the age of 18 and raising 2 children while feeling significant grief not having her by her side. Jaquie talks about why she created her company which provides postpartum coaching to moms who need that extra support and guidance during the difficult early periods of having a newborn. About Jaquie:Jaquie is a Postpartum Coach, CAPPA Certified New Parent Educator, Certified Infant Sleep Consultant and Mom of 2. Jaquie supports postpartum moms so they feel empowered to take on motherhood with confidence and joy. She helps with everything from postpartum mind and body to baby sleep, feeding, solid food and development. Find JaquieOn her website: http://www.postpartumcoaching.caOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaquiepostpartumcoach/Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In episode 65, Francine Waskavitz discusses how she, as a memory coach, helps those struggling with their memory and memory loss. She discusses how she works with clients to optimize memory, including clients with dementia and other neurological concerns. She also talks about dementia prevention and preventing possible memory progression with a dementia diagnosis. About Francine:Francine Waskavitz, owner and lead coach at Longevity Coaching, LLC. is a memory health expert dedicated to helping you get your memory back, strengthen it and keep it healthy for a lifetime.Her mission is to empower you to take early action to support your brain health so you can thrive in the life you’ve worked so hard to create, without memory loss interrupting your plans.Creator of the Memory Confidence Map™ Francine uncovered how to use the power of mindset and lifestyle to overcome and prevent memory loss. Now in her practice, Francine guides clients from forgetful to focused with a clear and personalized approach to memory health.Francine has her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) from the University of South Florida. She also attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) where she became an Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach.Leveraging her expertise in memory from her 10 years as an SLP with her passion for health and wellness, Francine is dismantling the myth that memory loss is inevitable with age. Find Francine:On her website:https://www.francinewaskavitz.com/On instagram: @francinewaskavitzVisit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In episode 64, Adrienne talks about how she got through university and graduate school as a caregiver herself while at her grandparent’s side in the hospital. Stephanie additionally touches on her experience caring for her grandmother at her bedside while in graduate school. She additionally discusses how difficult this time can be and how to get through. About Adrienne:Dr. Adrienne Shnier, M.A., Ph.D., J.D., is a mother and founder of two companies. Adrienne is the Advancement Coach & Strategist and Founder (2015) of Apply Yourself: The Advancement Spot Inc., where she holistically, healthily, and strategically works collaboratively with university students and their families to achieve lives beyond their wildest dreams, often starting with graduate and professional school applications using her personal experience with applications cycles, as well as her extensive experience as a member of academic admissions committees. Adrienne also founded Shnier Law & Policy Consulting, Professional Corporation (2020), serving small businesses, health-related clinics and practices, and regulated and unregulated health professional associations. Adrienne is also a professor of health and pharmaceutical policy, regulation, and law at a Toronto university and Toronto law school. Adrienne has published and lectured on her research internationally and supervises undergraduate and graduate students in their research. When Adrienne takes a break, you can find her kayaking up north or sipping a latte on a nice patio…but she’s probably still thinking about what’s next!Find Adrienne: On her website: http://www.applyyourselelfglobal.comOn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applyyourselfglobal/ Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
You may be thinking to yourself: how could therapy possibly help me as a caregiver? Therapy cannot get rid of the tasks at hand or the responsibilities I have or my loved one’s decline- so how could a therapist help me with my overwhelm, stress, sadness and burnout?And in this episode, Stephanie discusses how the deep concerns that caregivers come to her with are often not even about the caregiving at all.In episode 63 Stephanie explores what often arises when caregivers come to her for support and how she helps caregivers through these difficult times.Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In episode 62, Stephanie speaks to Adria Thompson who, in 2021, grew her passion for helping dementia caregivers and those with dementia as an SLP with Be Light Care Consulting. She talks about how her career as a speech language pathologist led to her overall vision to provide support to caregivers around the world.About Adria:Adria Thompson is a speech language pathologist, a dementia educator, and is the founder of Be Light Care Consulting. She has 8 years experience providing one-on-one speech therapy services with adults and found her passion and purpose in specifically working with people with dementia. She has spent the last 3 years developing dementia programs for therapy companies and training other therapists to increase their effectiveness and confidence. She now provides one-on-one consulting services and creates daily videos of realistic, functional care tips for professional and personal caregivers of individuals with dementia.Find Adria:On Instagram: @belightcare Website: https://www.belightcare.com/Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In episode 61, Lisa Sonshine from the Juno Award winning duo Sonshine and Broccoli talks to Stephanie about her father’s FTD diagnosis, decline and passing- a part of her life she has not shared in great detail in the past. She notes how she has taken her grief from this very difficult time and has poured it into her passion for uplifting others through music and performance. About Lisa: Lisa is the co-founder and creator of Sonshine and Broccoli as well as a proud wife, entertainer and mom of 2 boys Zade and Barryn bringing joy, style, positivity and sonshine to all. With her sons Zade and baby Barryn in tow,she is just getting started as a new mom with the drive and passion to support, motivate and entertain other moms going through the stages of motherhood by her side. Find Lisa Instagram: @sonshinelWebsite: https://www.sonshineandbroccoli.com/ Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In Episode 60, Stephanie discusses a commonly expressed thought that many of her clients express having: I wish this situation would just end. She explores the guilt, shame and embarrassment that can surround this thought and the reasons why a caregiver may have these thoughts. *Please note: If you ever have the intention or thought of harming yourself or someone else please contact your local emergency department immediately.* Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In episode 59, Stephanie further talks about her journey after her mom’s initial diagnosis of FTD. She touches upon what her life looked like after she moved out of her home, caregiving for her grandmother, how she established boundaries when it came to balancing her own life and her mom’s care and how life has been since she had 3 children of her own.Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In this episode, Stephanie speaks to social worker Kelly Polci who has worked with pregnant and postpartum women and families in high-risk obstetrics and the NICU. They look at the systemic definition of postpartum and what supports are currently available in the postpartum period to women in Ontario. They additionally talk about scenarios in which a mother may have a child requiring NICU care while needing to go to and from the hospital to care for other family members and how one can balance their mental health needs at this time.Kelly Polci, MSW, RSW is a registered social worker and psychotherapist in private practice. She now works at The Hospital for Sick Children. The bulk of her career was in high risk obstetrics and a high-acuity neonatal intensive care unit at another hospital. Her passion and expertise is in women’s and more specifically reproductive mental health. Find Kelly:https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/kelly-polci-toronto-on/831972http://www.instagram.com/kellypolcitherapyGroup Therapy Works: https://www.grouptherapyworks.ca/Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In this episode, Stephanie speaks to nurse and caregiving consultant, Karen Lake, as she discusses how she went from caring for patients as a nurse in an inpatient hospital setting to providing consultations and assisting caregivers with their overall support systems and system navigation. About Karen Lake: Karen proudly works as a professional Caregiving Consultant and Care Navigator; called to offer this service to families after working as a Registered Nurse in Home Health Care for 25 years. She has a special passion for supporting, guiding, and directing family members to be the best they can be in their caregiving role, to help them make informed choices, to be prepared and to confidently navigate the complex issues that come with caring for a loved one. Karen has seen the emotional struggles that family members face as they attempt to balance caregiving with the other demands of life; children, career, retirement and illness. And so, she has made it her mission to serve and support family members of aging loved ones in the Fredericton area, and beyond.Gathering her years of experience and expertise, she has carefully crafted comprehensive programs that are tailored to meet each family’s specific needs. When not supporting her clients, she collaborates on other projects, such as the first ever Death Expo in Atlantic Canada, Caregivers Wellness Retreats, Caregiver Wellness Expos and has more recently ventured into the world of research working on several projects that support Family Caregivers.Find Karen:On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KarenLakeCaresOn her website http://www.karenlake.caVisit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
This situation is a very common and real occurrence. One day, you do not feel your loved one can be appropriately cared for in their home anymore. In this anonymous and real case scenario, Stephanie talks about a situation in which a patient she was working with was believed to no longer be safe in her home. She discusses the deep struggle her family went through to decide what the best plan would be for the most positive outcome. Stephanie also shares some suggestions that may assist while navigating this very emotional and difficult situation.Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In episode 55, Stephanie continues to talk about how her mom’s FTD diagnosis shaped her life and the relationships between herself and others as she touches upon how she initially reacted to the changes in her mom and the emotions that came along with this. Thoughts of grief, overwhelm, isolation, fear and anxiety are mentioned in this very real and relatable episode. Stephanie also discusses what she feels like 13-14 years later and how the emotions and adjustment to her mom’s diagnosis have changed.Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
Just before her 26th birthday, Katherine’s partner, Ben, was brutally assaulted while on vacation. Ben experienced a severe traumatic brain injury as a result which he has spent the past 3.5 years recovering from. Katherine put her entire life on hold and suddenly became his full-time caregiver, dedicating her daily life to his care and going on an emotional, life-altering journey. Katherine talks all about the past few years in episode 54 , and discusses how she has found light in the darkest of days.Find Katherine on Instagram: @kathhsmithhVisit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In this episode, guest Marie (name changed for anonymity) discusses her responsibilities as a caregiver for her parents who are emotionally and physically isolated. She touches upon how supporting their social needs and trying to protect her high risk parents from illness has impacted her marriage, caring for her two young children and trying to balance seeing her own friends and prioritizing life events. Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
The Importance of Sleep on Mental Health and Maintaining Overall Balance, with Sleep Consultant Andria Gordon (Episode 52)We have all heard that sleep deprivation impacts our overall lives. But when it comes to caring for others, waking up in the middle of the night and managing mental health issues, sleep can truly mean the difference between positive or negative daily outcomes. So what happens if you can’t sleep or you have known diagnoses that make sleeping difficult? Is there something that can be done to remedy this or help balance the outcomes? In this episode, sleep consultant and mom of 2 kids, Andria Gordon, discusses the importance of sleep. She and Stephanie touch upon what you can do if you cannot sleep, even without external sleep interruptions.Andria Gordon is the Owner & Founder of Have Baby. Must Sleep. She is a mom of two boys (Lenny and Nate), a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and is a former fellow sleep-deprived, highly caffeinated, desperate parent ready to do just about anything for even an hour of uninterrupted sleep. This is about more than just sleep training, we work with you to come up with the perfect approach and guide you through putting that plan into action. Your child will sleep, you will sleep, and you will gain your evenings, nights, and sanity back. If sleep is what you are after, Andria and her experienced team will get it for you (fast) and have you feeling empowered around all things child sleep in no time. Website: havebabymustsleep.comInstagram: @andriasleepVisit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
When People Question your Abilities as a Caregiver (episode 51)You are doing your absolute best as a caregiver and you have poured all of you into what you do for your loved one. But yet you continue to receive comments from others about what you are doing, how you are approaching your caregiving and how you are supporting your loved one on a daily basis. This can be SO frustrating- you did not ask for this feedback. Particularly if the commenters are not that involved with your loved one’s care.In this episode Stephanie discusses how you can approach this situation and provides examples of what you can say to those who are commenting and criticizing your actions. She also discusses the emotions that can result from others’ comments and how to manage the hard feelings.Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In this episode, Stephanie shares the real and raw experience of her mom’s diagnosis and how her father responded to the changes and ultimate FTD diagnosis of her mom. Stephanie discusses what it can be like when a family member is not at a place of acceptance, or is at a different stage of accepting a loved one’s diagnosis when it comes to a degenerative disease. Stephanie additionally discusses how her relationship with her father shifted when he had difficulty accepting her mom’s diagnosis and what the relationship with her father is like now. (Please note: full consent was provided by all parties to share this story. All additional parties remain anonymous for this episode for confidentiality purposes).Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
In this episode, social worker and hospice executive director, Nadine Persaud discusses,in detail, the differences between palliative care, comfort care and hospice care and the philosophies behind palliative care. The accessibility and barriers to accessing palliative care are additionally explored in this eye-opening episode.About Nadine:Nadine Persaud (MSW, PhD (c)) is currently the Executive Director of the Kensington Hospice and the Senior Director of Client Services at Kensington Health. Nadine has been working in the hospice palliative care field for the past 16 years. She sits on the Accreditation review panel for Hospice Palliative Care Ontario and is on the Board of Directors for the Hazel Burns Hospice. Nadine is a trainer for the Core Concepts Hospice Palliative Training for three of the hospices in Toronto and is a facilitator through Palcare for the hospices in York Region. Nadine was instrumental in redeveloping the Palliative Care Certificate Program through Durham College. This year, Nadine is the co-chair of the provincial conference for Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Nadine received her Bachelor of Social Work and minor in Psychology at Ryerson University, a Master of Social Work at York University and recently successfully defended her PhD in Palliative Care through Lancaster University in England. Her research interests include the importance of making palliative care equitable and accessible to individuals who are structurally vulnerable, maximizing supports that are available to healthcare providers working in the field, and the supports that are available to adolescents and young adults living with advanced cancer at the end of life.Find Nadine on Instagram: @_nadinepersaud_Find Nadine on Twitter: @NPersaud5Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
Have you ever felt guilty as a caregiver? You are NOT alone. Guilt in caregiving is so common. In this episode, caregiver (to her husband, son, daughter and mother) Wendy Williams, dives into the guilt she has felt as a caregiver and how this has impacted her and how she has managed these feelings over time. About Wendy:Wendy is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and caregiver. In 2010 she founded Crazy Whisperer, a supportive community that focuses on effective management of mental health issues.She has a bipolar husband, an autistic daughter, a disabled son with a rare genetic defect, and an ageing mother with complex medical needs. She is a caregiver to all four and resides in Houston, Texas. Visit us on our website:www.compassionincaregiving.comJoin our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnectionFor more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving
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