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
145 episodes
Experiencing a Father With Frontotemporal Degeneration as a 7 Year Old Child and Fiercely Advocating for Change and Awareness, with Spencer Cline (Episode 139)
Spencer Cline was only 7 years old when his father was first diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration (behavioural variant). From a very young age, he witnessed how profoundly this illness affected his father, mother, and entire family. To...
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Season 5
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Episode 139
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26:10
The Hidden Truths About Long-Term Care and What it will take to Create a Better Future in the Long-Term Care System with Dr. Vivian Stamatopoulos (Episode 138)
Vivian Stamatopoulos - advocate, professor, and long-time researcher in the field of caregiving and long-term care-joins the podcast to uncover the hidden truths about our long-term care system. Vivian shares what she realized during COVID a...
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Season 5
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Episode 138
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51:32
Caregiving as a teenager for a mother with Parkinson’s disease and informing her career using technology to help others through caregiving experiences, with Carla Velastegui (Episode 137)
Carla Velastegui began caring for her mother with Parkinson’s disease while still in high school, experiencing both the challenges and deep insights that caregiving can bring. In this episode, Carla shares how those early experiences shaped ...
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Season 5
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Episode 137
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38:03
The Statistics Behind Caregiver Mental Health: You’re Not Alone (Episode 136)
In this episode, we dive into the numbers behind caregiver mental health, sharing Canadian statistics that reveal just how many caregivers, including those who are working caregivers, face similar challenges. While it can often feel like you...
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Season 5
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Episode 136
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5:22
Do I need to change my entire routine to feel better as a caregiver? (Episode 135)
In this episode, Stephanie explores a common question caregivers face: Do I need to change my entire routine to feel better if I am overwhelmed as a caregiver? When self-care feels overwhelming or unattainable, is a complete lifestyle overha...
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Season 5
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Episode 135
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9:48
What does the research show when it comes to caregiver mental health and is there hope on the horizon, with Dr. Adrianna Shnall (Episode 134)
Dr. Adrianna Shnall, program director at the Baycrest Kochinsky Centre, has been a social worker and clinician in the field of aging and caregiving for over 30 years. In today’s episode, she shares her top learnings in the field, what she fe...
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46:34
What if I promised the person I care for that I would always keep them at home, yet now I need to move them to a facility or other location, with Jeanette Yates (Episode 133)
Many of us have had the conversation- we vow to keep the person we care for home forever; We will never move them to a facility or otherwise... And then one day, reality hits, and we face the fact that we may not be able to follow through on th...
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Season 5
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Episode 133
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39:25
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