Explore every episode of the podcast Caregiver's Compass
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| All about the Association of Frontal Temporal Degeneration (AFTD) including what they do, who they help, and where they hope to go next, with Esther Kane and Debbie Elkins (Episode 128) | 15 Aug 2025 | 00:44:37 | |
In today’s episode, caregiver @debbieelkins , shares her story caring for her husband Chuck with frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), and discusses how @theaftd supported her during both her caregiving journey, and provided her a sense of purpose through volunteer and advocacy. AFTD’s director of support and education, Esther Kane, also joins us on today’s insightful episode to discuss all that AFTD provides currently, how they support caregivers and those with an FTD diagnosis, and what may be on the horizon for the organization and the FTD landscape. About Debbie Elkins: Debbie Elkins is a care partner for her husband, Chuck, who is living with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD), a proud mother of three daughters and a grandmother of six. She is deeply committed to advocacy and education, volunteering with The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD) as an Ambassador and support group leader, and serving as a voting member of the West Virginia State Dementia Task Force. Through her efforts, she strives to raise awareness, support affected families, and contribute to the development of a stronger, more informed future for those impacted by dementia. You can theaftdconnect with Debbie on Instagram @debbieelkins About Esther Kane: Esther Kane, MSN, RN-CDP, has been serving as the Director of Support and Education at AFTD since November 2020. With a rich background in dementia care, Esther previously held the position of Director of Nursing at several long-term care facilities specializing in the care of individuals with dementia. Her expertise in clinical dementia care, combined with her deep commitment to delivering compassionate, high-quality care for those living with neurological conditions, drives her work at AFTD. Esther is dedicated to ensuring that every person affected by Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) has access to the support and care they need. She is also passionate about educating healthcare professionals to enhance diagnosis and care, underscoring the critical role of education and training throughout the entire process from diagnosis on. Find the AFTD website here: https://www.theaftd.org/ Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: | |||
| Do I even need a power of attorney document and/or advanced directives? (Episode 127) | 08 Aug 2025 | 00:12:04 | |
This is not commonly provided education so do not worry if this is all new or confusing! Most people are confused about powers of attorney, advanced directives and wills and why they can be extremely important/ what they can help with. In today’s episode, Stephanie discusses her perspectives on having a power of attorney document and what she has seen in her personal life and in hospital and private practice when it comes to powers of attorney and advanced directives. *please note, Stephanie is not a lawyer and this episode does not represent legal advice. Please speak to a lawyer or other legal representative for your own power of attorneys and other legal matters* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: | |||
| WE ARE BACK FOR SEASON 5! | 06 Jun 2025 | 00:07:10 | |
Welcome back to Caregiver’s Compass! We cannot believe we are already on season 5 and we have some incredible guests coming your way. In this episode Stephanie introduces this season and briefly discusses her mom’s recent passing after many years of caregiving.
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| Caring for 2 Parents Simultaneously as an Only Child and Starting a Family Without a Mother or Father by Your Side- with Lani Lipson (Episode 33) | 18 Feb 2022 | 00:31:24 | |
In this episode, Lani Lipson, co-founder of ee-mah very candidly opens up about her experiences caring for both her mother and father simultaneously in her 20s as an only child. She explores the grief she felt after losing both her parents and the decision to then start her own family without her parents by her side, while at the same time seeing so many friends raise families with parental support. About Lani: Find Lani: Website: | |||
| The research behind systemic barriers in accessing social and physical supports for children and their caregivers following surgery for epilepsy and how we can look to improve the healthcare system- with professor Lucy Lach (Part 1) (Episode 31) | 04 Feb 2022 | 00:24:06 | |
In this episode, esteemed professor Lucy Lach discusses her many years of research looking at the outcomes for caregivers of a child with epilepsy, particularly after undergoing surgery. Specific outcomes discussed include community supports, accessing and navigating community supports and caregiver mental health. Stephanie and Lucy also discuss how the global pandemic has impacted caregivers overall and their ability to access community supports and mental health supports. This episode is part 1 of 2. Dr. Lucyna Lach is an associate professor in the School of Social Work and an associate member of the Departments of Pediatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University. Her program of research focusses on the well-being of children with neurodisabilities and their caregivers (i.e. caregiver health, and parenting). Dr. Lach's current projects address social determinants of health of children with neurodisabilties. Dr. Lach is a peer-reviewer for numerous journals as well as organizations who provide funding in this area of research. | |||
| Trauma as a result of caregiving (particularly as a result of caring for a child with a disability) with Donna Thomson (Part 2) (Episode 30) | 28 Jan 2022 | 00:20:33 | |
Trauma as a result of caregiving (particularly as a result of caring for a child with a disability) with Donna Thomson (Part 2) (Episode 30) Donna Thomson, a well-known advocate for caregivers, joins Stephanie in this episode to discuss her experiences as a caregiver both to her father and her son with severe cerebral palsy and medical complexity. She also touches upon the trauma that can result from caregiving and her experiences navigating the Ontario healthcare system. Donna Thomson is the co-author with Dr. Zachary White of The Unexpected Journey of Caring and the author of The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I've Learned From a Life of Caregiving. Donna facilitates Caregiving Essentials and instructs the Family Engagement in Research, both at McMaster University. Donna has sat on The Expert Group on Home and Community Care, the advisory committee for the white paper on aging and on the Working Group on Complex Care for Adults with Developmental Disabilities for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care . She is a lifelong family caregiver and advocate. Find Donna: https://www.donnathomson.com/ This episode is part 2 of 2. Visit us on our website: | |||
| Trauma as a result of caregiving (particularly as a result of caring for a child with a disability) with Donna Thomson (Part 1) (Episode 29) | 21 Jan 2022 | 00:35:36 | |
Donna Thomson, a well-known advocate for caregivers, joins Stephanie in this episode to discuss her experiences as a caregiver both to her father and her son with severe cerebral palsy and medical complexity. She also touches upon the trauma that can result from caregiving and her experiences navigating the Ontario healthcare system. Donna Thomson is the co-author with Dr. Zachary White of The Unexpected Journey of Caring and the author of The Four Walls of My Freedom: Lessons I've Learned From a Life of Caregiving. Donna facilitates Caregiving Essentials and instructs the Family Engagement in Research, both at McMaster University. Donna has sat on The Expert Group on Home and Community Care, the advisory committee for the white paper on aging and on the Working Group on Complex Care for Adults with Developmental Disabilities for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care . She is a lifelong family caregiver and advocate. Find Donna: https://www.donnathomson.com/ This episode is part 1 of 2. Visit us on our website: | |||
| Saying 'No' during caregiving when you are at your wits' end- a real case example of a primary caregiver with a loved one admitted to hospital. (Episode 28) | 14 Jan 2022 | 00:12:19 | |
In today's episode Stephanie shares a real case example of a very overwhelmed primary caregiver who had to say 'no' and take a step back while her father was admitted to the hospital. This story emphasizes that it is ok to take a step back when needed and discusses who you can lean on and transfer concerns to when you need to say no. Visit us on our website: | |||
| "What do I do when a family member/ friend keeps contacting me about their 'trivial concerns' while I am navigating crises? This is very frustrating to me.' (Episode 27) | 07 Jan 2022 | 00:15:38 | |
We all have that person in our lives- they are well-meaning and do not recognize it but will reach out to us ongoing about concerns that are very minimal to us while we are navigating crises and significant stressors. What do we do in these situations? Do we reply to their comments and where do we draw the line? In this episode Stephanie discusses how to approach these situations and what we can do to communicate with those we love who reach out to us in this manner. Visit us on our website: | |||
| 'What do I do when a family member/ friend keeps contacting me about their 'trivial concerns' while I am navigating crises? This is very frustrating to me.' (Episode 27) | 07 Jan 2022 | 00:15:38 | |
We all have that person in our lives- they are well-meaning and do not recognize it but will reach out to us ongoing about concerns that are very minimal to us while we are navigating crises and significant stressors. What do we do in these situations? Do we reply to their comments and where do we draw the line? In this episode Stephanie discusses how to approach these situations and what we can do to communicate with those we love who reach out to us in this manner. Visit us on our website: | |||
| The Journey After Caregiving- what happens once caregiving ends? The grief, happiness and everything in between once you are no longer caring for a loved one- with Adrienne Glusman (episode 26). | 31 Dec 2021 | 00:29:57 | |
In Episode 26 of Caregiver's Compass, Adrienne discusses her experiences since her mom's passing 18 months ago (from Multiple System Atrophy), while entering a new chapter in her caregiving journey. Adrienne touches upon grief, traveling after caregiving and experiencing life without her mom. Adrienne Glusman is professional speaker, ambassador and advocate on the topic of Millennial Caregiving, sharing her story and journey as an only-child caregiver to her mom, Hetty, who passed away in 2020 after living with Multiple System Atrophy since 2010. Adrienne's story as Hetty's caregiver was featured in a Wall Street Journal article, 'The Call To Care for Aging Parents Comes Sooner Now'. Her story has also been featured in Health magazine, Toronto Sun and Vox.com to name a few. In addition to keynoting national conferences for Leading Age, National Church Residences and the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition, Adrienne has also been involved with various caregiving campaigns including serving as a caregiver ambassador for EMD Serono's Embracing Carers, Leading Age's 'Carry the Convo' and The Scan Foundation's 'Do You Give a Care'. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook @younglifeinterrupted, or subscribe to her podcast, Young Life Interrupted, where she is lending a voice to her journey so other young caregivers can feel seen, heard and supported. Find Adrienne:
Visit us on our website: | |||
| 'Stay out of it - you are caring at a distance'- Living as a long-distance daughter and exploring the myths when it comes to long distance caregiving and the differences between caring at a distance vs. caring for a loved one at close proximity: with Laur | 24 Dec 2021 | 00:25:00 | |
In this week's episode, Laura Smothers-Chu (founder of Befriended Heart, LLC) discusses what it can be like as a long-distance daughter and a long-distance caregiver. She explores some of the myths surrounding distance caregiving and she and Stephanie additionally discuss the emotional aspects associated with distance caregiving. Laura opens up about her fertility journey in this episode and about experiencing loss after caregiving. About Laura:
Find Laura: | |||
| Channeling Grief into Helping Others (in a Very Big Way)- Creating a Podcast and Growing an Incredible Support Community After Navigating the Stressful World of FTD and ALS, With Remember Me's Maria Kent Beers. (Episode 24) | 17 Dec 2021 | 00:33:17 | |
Maria Kent Beers, one of the co-creators of the Remember Me Podcast, talks to Stephanie about how she channeled her grief into helping others and creating meaning from the difficult times in her life. Stephanie and Maria also discuss living with a mom diagnosed with FTD at a very young age while starting a family and a career. Maria Kent Beers is a fierce advocate for Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and ALS. Her passion for this work was fueled by her mother's diagnosis in late 2016, at the young age of 52. In 2020, Maria channeled her grief and creative talents into creating a FTD-focused podcast, Remember Me, with internet friend and fellow caregiver, Rachael Martinez. Now formally formed as Remember Me, LLC, Maria and Rachael's organization is dedicated to providing a platform for early-onset dementia resources and a loving and engaged community bonded over shared experience. Find Maria on Instagram: @remembermepodcast The Remember Me community and online store: http:///www.remembermeftd.com Visit us on our website: | |||
| TOP episodes of season 4! | 01 Nov 2024 | 00:06:18 | |
We are back and covering the most listened-to episode of season 4! Here is a recap:
Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: For more visit our Instagram! | |||
| Comparing yourself and your life to others around you? This may be just the episode you need. (Episode 23) | 10 Dec 2021 | 00:14:04 | |
It is completely normal to compare yourself to other caregivers and other people around you. Why do others have more help when it comes to caring for others? Why did all of this have to happen to you at your age while not to others? Why do others seem so happy and care-free while you are struggling daily? In this episode Stephanie discusses comparing to others in general and during stressful times in our lives. She also suggests specific ideas for how to move past comparing and more towards gratitude for your own life and what you have. Visit us on our website: | |||
| Navigating the Holidays as a Parent Caring for an Aging Loved One (in the sandwich generation) (Episode 22) | 03 Dec 2021 | 00:25:05 | |
The holidays can be a very difficult time as a caregiver- add the stress of being a parent, and negative emotions can go to a whole other level. | |||
| Author Brandon Burke on How Caring for his Father Shifted His Career and Entire Meaning of Life (Episode 21) | 26 Nov 2021 | 00:17:58 | |
Brandon Burke is an inspiring author who has taken the impact of his experience as a young caregiver and turned it into a passion for helping others in similar situations. In this episode Brandon talks about the shock of his dad’s diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s and how caring for his father changed his life’s trajectory and overall meaning of life. About Brandon: As an adolescent, Brandon saw the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, specifically the havoc it wreaks on the diagnosed and the interruption of life it causes for caregivers, through the diagnosis of his beloved grandmother; but he never dreamed how that would shape his adult life. In 2015, Brandon was faced with the realities of Alzheimer’s disease front and center when his father, Gary, was diagnosed. He immediately understood that this diagnosis would change the trajectory of his life forever. On Nov. 1, 2020, Brandon released his first book, Rediscovering Dad and Discovering Myself: A Journey Through the Impact of Alzheimer’s. “I believe that sharing our stories is our superpower. We realize just how connected we all are when we have the courage to open ourselves up to others. You never know how your story can impact the life of someone else until you share. It just might save them,” Brandon relates. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a graduate of Hampton University, Brandon currently resides in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Find Brandon: On Instagram: @brandontheauthor Visit us on our website: | |||
| “Help! My Mom is Not Eating!” -Navigating the Dietetic Needs of a Loved One with Dementia with Registered Dietitian Molly Robinson (Episode 20) | 19 Nov 2021 | 00:15:55 | |
Registered Dietitian Molly Robinson discusses some of the common nutrition concerns of care partners and talks about the importance of having an experienced dietician involved in the care team of an individual with dementia. She explains the differences between a dietician and speech language pathologist and how it is very possible to introduce a variety of foods and drink other than the meal supplements that may often be suggested by some members of a care team.
Molly Robinson a registered dietitian with more than 18 years of experience and a passion for nutritional care in dementia. She specializes in providing support and solutions for families and care partners to nourish through the nutrition challenges that often come with the dementia journey. Molly believes in a dignified dining experience and promoting independence and quality of life with food throughout the dementia journey. She coaches caregivers in strategies to relieve stress at mealtime, improve nutritional status and prevent or stop weight loss.
Find Molly on Instagram: @dementia.nutritionist Visit us on our website: | |||
| It is SO hard for me to ask for help as a caregiver. What do I do? (Episode 19) | 12 Nov 2021 | 00:15:41 | |
Do you feel like it's extremely difficult for you to ask for help as a caregiver? You are NOT alone. As caregivers it can be daunting to ask for support. You may face extreme guilt, shame or just be truly unsure of where to go for support. Or maybe you have tried asking for help in the past, only to be faced with rejection or disappointment from the help you received. In this episode, Stephanie discusses the reasons as to why it may be so difficult to seek support as a caregiver and provides techniques that can assist you in doing so. Finally, she talks about why it is so important to seek help as a caregiver. Visit us on our website: | |||
| What Exactly Can Therapy Do For Caregivers (Episode 18) | 05 Nov 2021 | 00:15:14 | |
In this episode Stephanie discusses the realities and debunks the myths when it comes to therapy. She talks about the benefits that therapy can provide for caregivers and the lasting changes that can result from a positive therapeutic alliance. She also touches upon the variety of mental health clinicians that can be accessed and what therapists vs. psychiatrists vs. psychologists may be able to provide to clients. Visit us on our website: | |||
| Music Therapy in Caregiving and Dementia Care- with Music Therapist Karla Wilson (Episode 17) | 29 Oct 2021 | 00:20:47 | |
Music therapy yields fantastic outcomes and in this episode, board certified music therapist Karla Wilson discusses how clients can now access music therapy online and benefit from this remarkable field. Stephanie discusses the impact music has had on her mother and Karla shares shocking and immediate outcomes of her work with clients. Karla Wilson, founder of Music Therapy at Home, is a board certified music therapist with many years of clinical experience optimizing the transformative power of music for clients with wide-ranging needs across the life span. By providing exceptional, compassionate and convenient virtual music therapy services, Karla’s music therapy practice, Music Therapy at Home, fulfills her mission of reaching those Find Karla:
Visit us on our website: | |||
| The Benefits of an Adult Day Program and Locating an Excellent Facility- with Carrie Aalberts (Episode 16) | 22 Oct 2021 | 00:25:17 | |
In today's episode, Certified Dementia Practitioner, Carrie Aalberts, discusses her role as the director of an adult daycare center and the true benefits and changes she has seen in the center's participants. Carrie and Stephanie also discuss navigating financial considerations when locating an adult daycare center and truly finding the right fit. Carrie has a true passion for her work and her work's outcomes which is very evident in this uplifting episode! Carrie Aalberts (Dementia Darling) is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and has her Master of Science degree focused in gerontology. She is currently the Director of an adult daycare center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dementia Darling provides support, education and community to dementia caregivers. Find Carrie on Instagram: http:/www.instagram.com/dementiadarling Tik Tok: @dementiadarling Visit us on our website: | |||
| Substitute Decision Makers, Powers of Attorney and Legal Matters in Caregiving- with Family Health Lawyer Lisa Feldstein (Episode 15) | 15 Oct 2021 | 00:24:42 | |
In this episode, family health lawyer Lisa Feldstein goes into the nitty gritty when it comes to the tough legal decisions pertaining to caregiving including: the law surrounding health decisions, financial decisions and consent and capacity. Real cases are discussed and common legal scenarios are touched upon in this very informative episode.
About Lisa:
Lisa Feldstein is the principal lawyer at Lisa Feldstein Law Office. Lisa is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and the University of Guelph, where she studied psychology. Lisa practices in the area of Family Health Law™, which includes providing advice in the areas of mental health law, guardianship law, privacy law, elder law, and other health law matters.
Prior to opening her own practice in 2013, Lisa was a lawyer at Canada’s largest health law firm providing advice to hospitals and other health care organizations. During that time she performed a secondment with The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
Lisa provides advice to family members in their role as caregivers, attorneys, guardians, substitute decision-makers and advocates, and represents family members before the Consent and Capacity Board. She routinely assists clients to navigate challenging ethical situations involving consent, capacity and substitute decision-making.
Lisa frequently writes and presents about health law matters and has been widely published and interviewed in media outlets such as the National Post, Global News, CTV, Vanity Fair, Macleans Magazine and the CBC. She teaches Health Care Law as an Adjunct Professor at York University.
You can find Lisa on her website or on Instagram:
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| My 27 Year Caregiving Journey'- balancing care for a bipolar husband, two special needs children and a mother with complex medical needs (Episode 14) | 08 Oct 2021 | 00:21:32 | |
In this episode, Wendy Williams discusses her 20+ year journey caring for her husband, who has severe rapid cycle type 1 bipolar disorder, while also providing care for her two adult children- one who requires total care and one with autism-and her mother. Wendy discusses how she has managed to develop an effective self-care routine and has established strong boundaries to maintain her overall mental health. 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 aging mother with complex medical needs. She is a caregiver to all four and resides in Houston, Texas. Find Wendy: On instagram: @crazywhisperer Visit us on our website: | |||
| Debunking the common misconceptions behind ‘palliative care’ and advocating for awareness about palliative care and MAID, with Dr. Samantha Winemaker (Episode 117) | 25 Oct 2024 | 00:56:46 | |
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.winemaker At 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! | |||
| I Am Grieving But My Loved One Is Still Alive- The Ongoing Cycles of Grief During Caregiving (Episode 13) | 01 Oct 2021 | 00:15:56 | |
Most of us have heard about grief that is experienced when someone dies, but not much is discussed in terms of the grief that is experienced while someone is still alive. In this episode, Stephanie discusses the very normal realities of going through the cycles of grief ongoing as caregivers, particularly the grief we experience about a loved one with a progressive illness. Techniques to manage feelings of grief are also touched upon in this episode.
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| Managing a Business While Caring for Others- With Business Coach, Lianne Kim (Episode 12) | 24 Sep 2021 | 00:22:56 | |
In this episode, Stephanie speaks to Lianne Kim, business coach and founder of Mamas and Co. who shares her insights into balancing and managing a business as a caregiver. About Lianne: Find Lianne:
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| Relationship expert Allison Villa explores how to navigate difficulties in romantic relationships that can arise when a partner is a caregiver (Episode 11) | 17 Sep 2021 | 00:20:17 | |
In this episode, Allison discusses what she has termed, The Relationship Seasons’ and discusses how partners in a romantic relationship can navigate possible shifts and breaks in a relationship, particularly when one partner is an overwhelmed caregiver for another loved one. Allison Villa is a psychotherapist, relationship expert, creator of The 4 Relationship Seasons™, and host of theCouplehood podcast. She specializes in keeping couples’ thriving. Allison has been featured on numerous podcast, blogs, and media outlets, including Breakfast Television & CBC. Join her VIP community to get free relationship tools and inspiration:www.allisonvilla.com Find Allison on instagram:@allison__villa
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| How do I stay hopeful during such low and difficult times? (Episode 10) | 10 Sep 2021 | 00:16:47 | |
The last 18+ months have been full of uncertainty, isolation and confusion. Add all our daily responsibilities the emotions we feel and life can seem hopeless and unmanageable. In this episode, Stephanie discusses real life examples of the hopeless and negative emotions she has witnessed in others in addition to her own and how she has navigated these emotions (and how you can too!).
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| Managing Caregiver’s Guilt (Episode 09) | 03 Sep 2021 | 00:18:57 | |
In this episode Stephanie discusses 4 main areas when caregivers can often feel guilt. Stephanie explores how these feelings can be managed in the moment and overtime. She also explores why some of us may be more prone to feelings of guilt than others. Visit us on our website: | |||
| Turning Lemons Into Lemonade: How a former caregiver transformed his difficult experiences into a meaningful second career- with Bill Cohen (Episode 08) | 27 Aug 2021 | 00:18:25 | |
Bill Cohen is a caregiver support group leader and speaker, an Alzheimer's Association volunteer, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®, and the owner of Cohen Caregiving Support Consultants.
Find Bill Cohen on his website: http://cohencaregivingsupport.com
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| The Power of a True Care Partnership- with Patti LaFleur (Episode 07) | 20 Aug 2021 | 00:23:04 | |
Patti LaFleur is a full-time care partner for her mom, Linda, who has been diagnosed with dementia and type 1 diabetes. She is also a significant support to her father who presently resides in a care facility and was diagnosed with dementia last year. | |||
| Is it Normal to Feel THIS Overwhelmed as a Caregiver? (Episode 06) | 13 Aug 2021 | 00:21:13 | |
In today’s episode Stephanie talks about the different factors that can lead to significant feelings of overwhelm as a caregiver and speaks about ways we can manage the factors that can lead to significant stress and overwhelm. Stephanie pulls from her own experiences as a caregiver to illustrate what can lead to significant caregiver stress. Blog post with the thought web example: Visit us on our website: | |||
| Role Shifts in the Family System: Chaos and upheaval in the family and navigating breaks in family dynamics as a result of a loved one’s diagnosis (Episode 05) | 06 Aug 2021 | 00:15:15 | |
Today Stephanie shares an anonymous* case example from her personal hospital experience to show how an entire family system can fall apart as a result of a loved one’s recent diagnosis and prognosis. Stephanie explores some of the steps one can take to overcome this break and the ‘restructuring’ of a family.
*Please note: details of this case have been changed to preserve the identity and confidentiality of the parties involved. Overall themes and main concepts remain the same.
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| The INTENSIVE Caregiver: Caring for a Spouse, Working as a Professor and Parenting a Young Child - With Brian Smith (Episode 04) | 30 Jul 2021 | 00:16:42 | |
Today we are joined by Brian Smith-an engineer and professor, a father to a 7 year-old and a caregiver to his wife who has lived with Multiple sclerosis since 2006. In today's episode Brian talks about how he 'balances' (if balance is possible) it all, caregiver burnout, and his coping strategies to make it through each week. Brian is a true superhero- you really don't want to miss this episode! | |||
| Dementia prevention, women’s brain health and the power to improve your health NOW and for the future, with Lynn Posluns (Episode 116) | 18 Oct 2024 | 00:44:19 | |
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! | |||
| The Incredible Impact of Art Therapy - With Erica Curcio (Episode 03) | 23 Jul 2021 | 00:13:07 | |
Today we are joined by Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Erica Curcio, who discusses the incredible impact art therapy can have both on the care partner and the loved ones they care for. In this episode Erica goes into detail about the type of art modalities that can be used in therapy sessions and the incredible outcomes she has seen both in and after sessions. | |||
| Therapists Are Caregivers Too (Episode 02) | 16 Jul 2021 | 00:10:27 | |
Stephanie talks about her previous caregiving experiences with her mom and a recent incident in which she was told her mom would pass away after she was rushed to hospital. | |||
| Welcome to Caregiver's Compass! | 09 Jul 2021 | 00:02:42 | |
Welcome to Caregiver's Compass! In this episode Stephanie talks all about what you can find on our podcast. This podcast is meant to uplift, inspire and provide education and awareness about caregiving. | |||
| Caregiver's Compass | 06 Jul 2021 | 00:06:43 | |
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 a plethora of incredible experts and caregivers who are living through their day-to-day journeys. It's all here at Caregiver's Compass. | |||
| Caregiving while balancing a career at the same time (Episode 115) | 11 Oct 2024 | 00:10:09 | |
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! | |||
| Let’s talk about the nursing home transition… (Episode 114) | 04 Oct 2024 | 00:12:13 | |
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! | |||
| Who is the CEO behind the Ontario Caregiver Organization and how is the OCO working with caregivers to provide the diverse support they need when they need it? With Amy Coupal (Episode 113) | 27 Sep 2024 | 00:39:05 | |
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.ca 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! | |||
| Caregiving and navigating the healthcare system with both a neurotypical child and a child with autism and a rare genetic disease AND recognizing the true need for self-care along the way after extreme burnout, with Nicole Dauz (Episode 112) | 20 Sep 2024 | 00:43:36 | |
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 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.
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! | |||
| Holidays and events are so hard since the loss of/ changes have transpired in my loved one (Episode 111) | 13 Sep 2024 | 00:10:00 | |
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! | |||
| I really wish I had a sibling to help me in my caregiving (Episode 110) | 06 Sep 2024 | 00:08:08 | |
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: For more visit our Instagram! | |||
| People no longer visit the person I care for (Episode 126) | 01 Aug 2025 | 00:10:08 | |
This is a common scenario- perhaps when there was an initial diagnosis, people showed up and offered support and over time they stopped coming as often or at all. Or maybe even at the time of diagnosis people did not visit. Whatever the case may be, if you are finding that no one visits, this episode is for you. Stephanie breaks down the most common reasons why people don’t visit, how you can communicate your wish for visitors with others and pave the way to continue visits ongoing. Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: | |||
| Pushing forward, breaking boundaries and achieving an outstanding career in modeling while caring for her mother with early onset FTD, with Nicole Petrie (Episode 109) | 30 Aug 2024 | 00:46:02 | |
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: For more visit our Instagram! About 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 Thank 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/. | |||
| Moving countries and caregiving for her grandmother with cancer and her mom with dementia as an only child, and the lessons learned along the way, with Katrina Prescott (Episode 108) | 23 Aug 2024 | 00:40:57 | |
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: For more visit our Instagram! | |||
| Becoming more aware of our thoughts as caregivers, with Jessica Smith (Episode 107) | 16 Aug 2024 | 00:37:33 | |
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: For more visit our Instagram! | |||