Caregiver's Compass
This is Caregiver's Compass. An uplifting, inspirational podcast talking about all things caregiving. Therapist and caregiver 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.
Episodes
138 episodes
What is the purpose of a caregiver processing deep emotions in therapy (isn’t it better to just let these things go as life is already so stressful?) (Episode 132)
Why would you even want to talk about or process the deep emotions? The painful thoughts or feelings that just feel too difficult to think about? In caregiving, isn’t it easier to just let these go and focus on the task of hand since things ...
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9:04
Some of the WILD things people have said to me as a caregiver and following my mom’s passing (Episode 131)
In this episode, Stephanie shares some of the most memorable (frankly, ridiculous) things people have said to her while she was caring for her mother and following her mother’s passing. Visit us on our website t...
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Season 5
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Episode 131
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10:02
From not speaking, to forming a close relationship and caregiving for both his parents (for years), with Charles Morris (Episode 130)
Charles Morris has an incredible story, and we are so thankful he is sharing it on our podcast today. From not speaking to his mother for years, to forming a beautiful and meaningful relationship with her, to moving in with his parents and c...
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Season 5
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Episode 130
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42:12
The need for a national caregiving strategy in Canada, government-level advocacy and policy change and the hope on the horizon, with James Janeiro (Episode 129)
Canada is in dire need of a national caregiving strategy. And on today’s episode, we welcome James Janeiro, director of policy and government relations at the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE), a program of the Azrieli Foundat...
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Season 5
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Episode 129
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41:19
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)
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 p...
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Season 5
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Episode 128
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44:37
Do I even need a power of attorney document and/or advanced directives? (Episode 127)
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. ...
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Season 5
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Episode 127
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12:04
People no longer visit the person I care for (Episode 126)
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. <...
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Season 5
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Episode 126
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10:08
The gaps in dementia and aging care in Canada, a defined dementia pathway and the path forward, with Dr. Saskia Sivananthan (Episode 125)
If you have ever faced navigating the healthcare system through a dementia diagnosis, you know the difficulties that can be faced. A confusing path to navigate, difficulties receiving diagnoses, often not knowing what comes next and staying ...
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Season 5
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Episode 125
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51:54
Strain and conflict we can experience in a romantic relationship while also caregiving for a parent, child, sibling or other family member, with Barry Jacobs and Julie Mayer (Episode 124)
Caring for someone can add complexity and conflict in a romantic relationship. Whether your partner disagrees with your decisions and beliefs regarding caregiving or whether they feel you are not present for them the way you once were, this ...
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Season 5
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Episode 124
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42:08
Talking all about ANGER and resentment in caregiving (Episode 123)
What leads to anger and resentment in caregiving and is there anything you can do to help prevent or mitigate these very intense, and sometimes overpowering, emotions?Today Stephanie talks about what can commonly trigger feelin...
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Season 5
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Episode 123
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10:39
Guilt for not being able to do ‘it all’ while caring for multiple people and balancing other responsibilities (Episode 122)
Do you care for multiple family members or friends? Do you feel like you are not doing all you ultimately ‘should be’ doing given the limitations of caring for multiple people (plus potentially working and other responsibilities)? In today’s...
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Season 5
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Episode 122
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7:46
From caring for her mom with frontotemporal dementia, to creating a film and advocating to normalize the caregiving experience, with Katie Prentiss (Episode 121)
After being thrust into the world of caregiving and caring for her mom with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Katie Prentiss saw the need to share the caregiver experience with others, both those who could relate or those who did not understand...
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Season 5
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Episode 121
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42:28
Guilt about moving someone to a facility when you promised them you would always keep them at ‘home’, with Susanne White (Episode 120)
In today’s episode, Stephanie speaks to Susanne White (Caregiver Warrior) about the one thing that brought her tremendous guilt for many years after the passing of her parents: transferring them to a facility after promising she would keep t...
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Season 5
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Episode 120
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32:56
Being questioned about your involvement as a caregiver (Episode 119)
Have you ever had your caregiving or involvement as a caregiver questioned? This can STING. You have spent so much time and energy providing care and suddenly someone is questioning what you have done or how you have done it. Or maybe you ha...
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Season 5
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Episode 119
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11:34
WE ARE BACK FOR SEASON 5!
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 ...
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Season 5
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Episode 119
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7:10
TOP episodes of season 4!
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 Kyl...
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Season 4
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Episode 118
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6:18
Debunking the common misconceptions behind ‘palliative care’ and advocating for awareness about palliative care and MAID, with Dr. Samantha Winemaker (Episode 117)
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...
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Season 4
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Episode 117
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56:46
Dementia prevention, women’s brain health and the power to improve your health NOW and for the future, with Lynn Posluns (Episode 116)
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 t...
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Season 4
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Episode 116
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44:19
Caregiving while balancing a career at the same time (Episode 115)
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 T...
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Season 4
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Episode 115
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10:09
Let’s talk about the nursing home transition… (Episode 114)
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 tra...
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Season 4
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Episode 114
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12:13
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)
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 jo...
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Season 4
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Episode 113
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39:05
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)
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 car...
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Season 4
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Episode 112
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43:36
Holidays and events are so hard since the loss of/ changes have transpired in my loved one (Episode 111)
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.
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Season 4
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Episode 111
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10:00
I really wish I had a sibling to help me in my caregiving (Episode 110)
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 e...
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Season 4
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Episode 110
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8:08
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)
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 publ...
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Season 4
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Episode 109
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46:02