We are back and covering the most listened-to episode of season 4! Here is a recap:5) Episode 105: What exactly is ‘Caregiver Burnout’?4) Episode 95: Yes, eating disorders can very much be related to caregiving- with Kyla Fox3) Episode 93: ‘My parent has poor health habits but refuses any of my support or suggestions for change’2) Episode 94: Supporting Family Caregivers in Healthcare Through Research, Education and in Practice with Dr. Jasneet Parmar1) Episode 92: How to Care for the CaregiverWe truly hope you enjoyed this season and we cannot wait to see you back here for season 5.Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support:www.compassionincaregiving.comFor more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 Medicine, in the Division of Palliative Care at McMaster University. She teaches palliative care to health care professionals. She has won numerous awards for her work.Find Dr. Winemaker:On Instagram: @sammy.winemakerAt the Waiting Room Revolution: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 prevent cognitive decline for the future. This is one episode you don’t want to miss!About Lynn:Lynn Posluns is the Founder, President, and CEO of Women’s Brain Health Initiative, the only organization dedicated to protecting the brain health of women, caregivers, and families. Since the charity launched in Canada and the U.S. in 2012, Women's Brain Health Initiative has made tremendous strides in raising awareness about the inequity in brain aging research for women, in funding that research, and in creating compelling preventative health evidence-informed education programs so there is a greater understanding by the public of the best ways to prolong their cognitive vitality.Lynn has held several executive positions within the Retail and Fashion industries and, throughout her career, has raised millions of dollars for many philanthropic causes, focused primarily on the healthcare industry.Lynn has received numerous awards for her work in philanthropy and giving back to the community, including the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management’s Top Ten High Achieving Women Award, Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellowship Award, an Honorary Doctorate by York University and most recently Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence award.In December 2021, Lynn was appointed as a member to the Order of Canada for her contribution to research on cognitive health and aging through the founding of Women's Brain Health Initiative.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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 situation and trying to keep your head above water. 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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 episode! About Amy : Amy Coupal is the CEO of the Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO), a charitable organization that exists to support Ontario’s 4 million caregivers who provide physical and/or emotional support to family members, partners, friends and neighbours. A visionary leader with over 20 years experience in the not-for-profit sector, Amy is passionate about mobilizing change through knowledge exchange and building collaborative initiatives that positively impact the lives of individuals and communities. The impact of this work is demonstrated through the breadth of direct to caregiver programs and services available through OCO, as well as the early successes of embedding caregiving in the culture of healthcare and the amplification of the voices of caregivers to influence decision making at a system level.Amy has a Master of Education from the University of Calgary and is an Adler-trained coach. Her insights have been shared through speaking and media engagements, both internationally and here in Canada. Amy has a deep understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with caregiving. As acaregiver for most of her life, Amy helped to support her brother who had Cerebral Palsy. She was also a caregiver to her mother throughout her cancer journey and now supports her father through older adulthood.Find Amy and the OCO at: http://www.ontariocaregiver.caRate, 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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 severe 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 for other parents and leads the way when it comes to changing the narrative of caregiving.About Nicole:Nicole Dauz is a self-care coach, speaker, author and advocate who chooses happiness despite her circumstances. Experience is her teacher as the mother of a 17-yr-old neurotypical son and a 15-yr-old autistic daughter with a rare genetic disease.Her mission in life is to change the story around caregiving and celebrate the journey. She honours the role of the caregiver by helping them recognize their worth and their true gifts. As a self-care coach, she works with parents who feel overwhelmed and at the end of their rope. She helps them regain control of their lives and provides them the tools and strategies needed to shift parents from feeling stressed and overwhelmed to regaining control of their lives and feeling gratitude and joy in their lives.Find Nicole on IG: @nicoledauz http://www.nicoledauz.comWe 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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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, 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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 enjoying this podcast and want to hear more!Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 these diagnoses.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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregivingAbout Nicole:Nicole Petrie is a model, activist, entrepreneur, and caregiver from Wisconsin. Since her mom's FTD diagnosis she has dedicated her career & social media presence to raising awareness for dementia related diseases and the hard work of caregivers everywhere. She has grown an online community of over 1.1 million followers between tiktok & Instagram, sharing a variety of videos including, her day-to-day life as a young adult caregiver & educational information about dementia. Some of her notable professional accomplishments include being featured in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition, becoming an official ambassador for The Association of FrontoTemporal Degeneration, & modeling for brands such as Ulta, Bulgari, and Balmain. Additionally, Nicole has recently created a clothing & accessory merchandise line with designs that aim to recognize caregivers, spread awareness for FTD, and honor her mother. Find Nicole on Instagram: @nicolepetrie On her website: http://www.nicolepetrie.comThank you to today’s sponsor, Memorable Minds. To learn more about Memorable Minds and all that they do for caregivers, visit https://www.memorablemindsconsulting.com/.

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 everywhere.About Katrina:Katrina Prescott is an accomplished media producer.Her personal experience caring for her mother who was living with dementia compelled her to embark on a new career in caregiving advocacy and education. Now a sought-after Caregiving Coach, Katrina has harnessed what she learned first-hand as a full-time caregiver with her innate ability to teach and guide others without judgment as they navigate through this often overwhelming, exhausting, and yet also potentially rewarding journey.From navigating the healthcare system, guiding people through the fluctuating stages of hope and grief, finding helpful programs and resources, and encouraging caregivers in a straightforward yet highly engaging approach, Katrina is a beacon for both caregivers and care recipients.  By combining her role as a producer with insights from lived caregiving experiences, Katrina produced the widely viewed web series “Therapeutic Fibbing”.  Already seen by over one million people to date, this innovative educational series uses real-life examples and re-enactments of common scenarios often encountered by people who find themselves as caregivers to loved ones with dementia. The series offers tools and learning - and even some gentle humour - and has garnered significant caregiver engagement.In 2023, Katrina received an award for Caregiving Advocacy by the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. Looking ahead, she aspires to drive transformation in health care for individuals with chronic illness and their caregivers and collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders including non-profit groups, researchers, politicians, universities and medical professionals.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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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. Her studies with Ram Dass, Joseph Goldstein, Alua Arthur, and Pema Chodron have shaped her mindfulness and doula work with the dementia community, which focuses on bringing awareness to our thoughts and leading with compassion. You can find her on Instagram (@alzheimers_awakening) and Substack (@alzheimersawakening).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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 cannot and you are now dealing with the aftermath).In this episode, Stephanie takes you through the emotions and internal/ external battle of this very complex situation and takes you through her own personal experiences with the driver’s license and her own mother.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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 Goldie (and kitty - Lucca!). Caitlin owns Melvin Marketing Group, a boutique marketing agency that focuses on social media marketing and branding. She balances life with her passions for motherhood, cooking and baking, snowboarding, and enjoying Vancouver and the surrounding area via hiking boots, her bicycle and long drives with her family.Find Caitlin on Instagram: @caitlinalison Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support:www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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, Patti found herself lost and confused, looking to find herself and her identity once again. In today’s episode Patti bravely talks about her experiences in loss and grief, finding meaning after loss and learning who she is once again. About Patti:Patti LaFleur is the former care partner to her mom, Linda, who had younger-onset mixed dementia. Patti brings a wealth of knowledge after caring for both parents, teaching for ten years, volunteering with people living with neurocognitive disorders in art classes, and serving as a community educator for the Alzheimer’s Association. Patti also has a Masters in Instructional Leadership and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She is a member of the Lorenzo's House team, leading their vision as their Youth and Lighthouse Outreach Lead, where she connects with families, designs and implements youth programming, and leads their ambassador initiative (valued volunteer leaders).Find Patti on Instagram: @misspatticake Thank you to the sponsor of thoday’s episode, Innerhive. To learn more about Innerhive, visit http://www.innerhive.com !Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support:www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 tears.About Mary Lou Falcone:Mary Lou Falcone is internationally known as a classical musicpublicist/strategist who for fifty years has helped guide the careersof celebrated artists – Van Cliburn, Gustavo Dudamel, RenéeFleming, Sir Georg Solti, James Taylor – and advised manyinstitutions including Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony, Los AngelesPhilharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic,Vienna Philharmonic. Combining communication skills with herbackground as a performer and educator, she now adds anotherlayer: advocate for Lewy body dementia (LBD) awareness. Her latehusband, the illustrator Nicky Zann who died from LBD in 2020, wasthe catalyst for her first book, I DIDN’T SEE IT COMING: Scenes ofLove, Loss, and Lewy Body Dementia.Find Mary Lou: https://maryloufalcone.com/Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support:www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 season by our audience on social media! If you feel this way you are NOT alone.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 caregiver support:www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 future.About André Picard:André Picard is the health columnist at The Globe and Mail. He was named Canada’s first Public Health Hero by the Canadian Public Health Association, and a Champion of Mental Health by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his dedication to improving healthcare.He is also the author of six bestselling books, most recently “Neglected No More: The Urgent Need To Improve The Lives of Canada’s Elders.”Find André:https://www.andrepicard.com/Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support:www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

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 with different forms of Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Vascular Dementia. She is a Certified Caregiving Consultant, Certified Caregiver Advocate, Educator for the Alzheimer’s Assoc. speaker, and author of 9 books. Debbie’s first book, Caregiving: How to hold on while letting go, offers actionable steps for caregivers as well as questions to ask doctors, in-home caregivers, facilities, and more. It is full of humor and inspiration.Debbie is the founder of The Purple Vine LLC, whose mission is to empower caregivers with the tools and strategies needed to reduce stress, block burnout, and learn to laugh again. Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support:www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram!http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving