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
116 episodes since 2021
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.
September 13, 2024
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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...
September 06, 2024
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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...
August 30, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 109
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46:02
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)
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 passin...
August 23, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 108
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40:57
Becoming more aware of our thoughts as caregivers, with Jessica Smith (Episode 107)
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?...
August 16, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 107
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37:33
Let’s talk about the driver’s license (Episode 106)
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 res...
August 09, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 106
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15:38
What exactly is Caregiver Burnout? (Episode 105)
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 commonl...
August 02, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 105
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11:22
Parenting after the devastating loss of an infant- continuing to care while growing a successful business and determining her own needs in processing substantial grief- with Caitlin Melvin (Episode 104)
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. I...
July 26, 2024
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Season 4
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38:16
Finding herself again after substantial loss: continuing on and locating meaning after a long chapter as a care partner to both parents- with Patti LaFleur (Episode 103)
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...
July 19, 2024
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Season 4
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53:27
Using music and art as a method of coping and growth while caregiving for her spouse with Lewy body dementia - with Mary Lou Falcone (Episode 102)
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 para...
July 12, 2024
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Season 4
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50:52
I no longer want to engage in sex or intimacy with my partner who I care for (Episode 101)
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 ...
July 05, 2024
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Season 4
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13:01
An informative look at our ‘crumbling’ healthcare system, its shortcomings , achievements and what we need to focus on shifting to benefit the future of our caregivers and those they care for- with André Picard (Episode 100)
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 ...
June 28, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 100
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46:21
How caregiving for 3 family members concurrently drove her to create innovative tools for other caregivers, with Debbie Compton (Episode 99)
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 innovatio...
June 21, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 99
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36:04
Exploring potentially unknown networks of support and community, mitigating feelings of isolation and loneliness and fostering connection by using the Atlas CareMap- with Rajiv Mehta (Episode 98)
In today’s episode, Rajiv Mehta talks about his non profit organization, Atlas of Caregiving, and his revolutionary mapping tool the Atlas CareMap which has been taught to and used by groups around the world. Rajiv explores how the Atlas Car...
June 14, 2024
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40:47
Examining our expectations of respite care: setting ourselves up for success when it comes to maximizing our respite experiences and outcomes (Episode 97)
You work so hard to organize and plan respite care so that you can get that long awaited and very needed break, but your expectations and hopes fall short of what you were hoping for, and suddenly you find yourself frustrated, angry and even...
June 07, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 97
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8:20
Learning from significant burnout- how incorporating care for self (even in the smallest ways) is a necessity when it comes to caregiving and grief, with Nikki Nurse (Episode 96)
Nikki Nurse learned what burnout in caregiving can look like when she broke 2 of her limbs while caring for her mother. It was at that time that she realized the true importance of incorporating self-care and working to minimize and prevent ...
May 31, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 96
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43:34
Yes, eating disorders can very much be related to caregiving- with Kyla Fox (Episode 95)
Did you know that eating disorders, at their core, have very little to do with how you look? In this insightful episode, social worker and therapist, Kyla Fox , identifies what an eating disorder is, how it can present in one’s life and how ...
May 24, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 96
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43:49
Supporting Family Caregivers in Healthcare Through Research, Education and in Practice with Dr. Jasneet Parmar (Episode 94)
Caregivers are aware there are significant gaps in our healthcare system, yet some of the answers to these gaps are found in supporting and providing education to the healthcare workers on the front lines. It was not until recently that Dr. ...
May 17, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 95
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40:42
‘My parent has poor health habits but refuses any of my support or suggestions for change’ (Episode 93)
So you have identified what needs to change when it comes to your parent’s care or habits, or you have recognized the risks in their current lifestyle choices and want to ensure they stay safe and healthy. But whenever you approach them to t...
May 10, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 94
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14:02
How to Care for the Caregiver (Episode 92)
We all know about the caregiver and the intense care they can provide around the clock. But when it comes to caring for the caregiver themselves, what might they need? How do we support and care for the caregiver who is doing it all?
May 03, 2024
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Season 4
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Episode 93
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16:52
Top 5 episodes of season 3!
There were so many incredible episodes this season and today Stephanie recaps the most listened to episodes of season 3. This entire season we have also highlighted quotes from our guests and these will be available...
January 05, 2024
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Season 3
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Episode 92
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9:52
The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, advocating for change in the caregiving landscape, and balancing life as a mom and caregiver to others, with Liv Mendelsohn (episode 91)
1 in 4 in Canada are presently caregivers and this number is expected to increase to 1 in 2 in the coming years. Yet our healthcare system is not equipped to support the family caregiver or the private caregiver in a way that prevents collap...
December 29, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 91
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33:11
Creating change in dementia through Montessori based strategies, with Rev Katie Norris (episode 90)
In today’s episode, the incredible Rev Katie Norris talks about her experiences caring for her mom with dementia with her son Jeffrey, and how this shaped her passion for entering a career in caregiving support. Katie discusses the very uniq...
December 22, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 90
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39:32
Navigating sibling relationships while providing 12 years of intensive care to a parent -learning how to process this and make amends with the siblings over time- with Rosanne Corcoran (episode 89)
In this episode, Rosanne Corcoran, podcast host, speaker and previous caregiver of her mom with dementia, details her journey in the sandwich caregiver role, caring for her mom and children for 12 years. She specifically talks about her sibl...
December 15, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 89
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34:57
What does a mom of 3, a business owner and a therapist do for self-care and balance (Stephanie’s ‘self-care’ routine)? (episode 88)
Although I truly do not think that anything I am doing is ‘more busy’ than the next person (especially if you are a caregiver!), I am sometimes asked what my personal care routine is and how I balance and wear so many hats. So here you go fo...
December 08, 2023
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Season 3
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Episode 88
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12:59