Caregiver's Compass

In this episode, social worker, Courtney Sas, discusses her experiences working with patients who have struggled with navigating the healthcare system and navigating supports and resources. She and Stephanie discuss the need for patients and caregivers to often advocate, speak the native language and have awareness of the healthcare system in order to receive the best support and care possible. Ga...

*Disclaimer- this episode discusses the dying process* In this episode, Brian Smith discusses what he wishes he knew to prepare for his wife’s dying process and passing and how his life has shifted following her passing and after many years of being her caregiver.  About Brian: Brian Smith is a teaching professor at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN, USA. He was the primary caregiver...

Sometimes we are faced with caring for a loved one alongside others who we may not get along with, have a difficult past with, have a complex history with. This may be someone we prefer not to speak to or communicate with and suddenly we are faced with having to provide care with them and speak with/ see them on a regular basis.  In this episode, Stephanie uses a real case example to demonstrate h...

Have you ever had the following thoughts: -How can I feel so overwhelmed right now if I am not physically present in the caregiving process on a daily basis? -Is there something wrong with me for feeling all these emotions when I am not always there with my loved one? -My loved one is cared for but I still think about being a caregiver ALL THE TIME and am truly consumed by it. -I feel so guilty fo...

In this episode, psychotherapist Roxanne Francis talks about the incredible challenges she has faced and gotten through as a caregiver of her mother and children. She discusses the importance of following your internal compass and trusting your inner voice while facing challenges.  About Roxanne Francis: Roxanne is an award-winning Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist.  She is the CEO of...

In this episode, Jacquelyn Shapiro shares her experiences as a daughter of FTD in a very vulnerable way. She and Stephanie compare their experiences having mothers with this very difficult diagnosis and the daily rollercoaster it can entail. Jacquelyn also shares her knowledge and details surrounding the genetic components and advancements behind the disease.  About Jacquelyn: Jackie was born and...

Did you have a family member who had supported you who is no longer showing up? Did you have a friend around you in this crazy ride who has fallen away? Has your ‘partner in crime’ in all of this passed away?  This is an element of grief in caregiving that no one talks about. And it is SO hard. You attach yourself to others and finally have someone to go through this with- so what happens when the...

Does this sound familiar? You try and you try and you are practically SCREAMING to have your voice heard as the caregiver in the healthcare system. Yet you can never find the right person to speak to, you wait for hours on end to either receive a phone call or meet with a practitioner and are still met with nothing.  In this episode, Stephanie shares her knowledge about how you can finally contact...

In this episode Carrie Aalberts discusses how she hit rock bottom emotionally and had to shift her life and her career to honour herself and her overall well-being while still working in a field she is extraordinarily passionate about- dementia care. Carrie touches on how she is incorporating balance and positivity into her life while helping others on a daily basis to live a meaningful life.  Fin...

In today’s episode, Jessica shares her incredible journey caring for her mom, Patti. Jessica shares how presence, mindfulness and bringing in joy helps her through the most difficult times in the caregiving process. Jessica talks about impermanence, managing her emotions as a caregiver and finding an incredible partnership in her husband, Ken. She talks about processing the concept of death and ho...

In this episode, Stephanie talks about some ‘life hacks’ that you can implement in your daily life as a caregiver. These can help reduce overall stress and improve your mental health and coping to find more balance. This episode corresponds to a post on our blog. Access this post here: https://compassionincaregiving.com/blog/life-hacks-for-making-your-life-as-a-caregiver-less-stressful-1 This epis...

Welcome back to Caregiver’s Compass. We are so excited to be back and this season is sure to be an exceptional one. In this episode, Stephanie talks about what you can expect in Season 3 (we have some surprises up our sleeves this season) and sets the stage for the incredible content to come. About Caregiver’s Compass: Caregiver's Compass is an uplifting, inspirational podcast talking about a...

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 Co...

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 Po...

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 Waskavi...

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....

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 caregivi...

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...

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...

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...

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.compassionincare...

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 whi...

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...

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...

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...