Caregivers Out Loud

Family Caregivers of BC
  • 4.6 (7)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS

Powered by Family Caregivers of British Columbia and hosted by Bill Israel, "Caregivers Out Loud" will explore the ways in which the role of a caregiver can be both rewarding, while also emotionally, psychologically, and physically taxing. By sharing stories of caregivers and insight from community experts, we bring you perspective and connection, and ensure that you have support and balance from inspired caregivers, who are caregiving out loud. Please share this podcast with family and friends who could also benefit from hearing these stories. Discover more episodes and find more caregiving resources at https://www.FamilyCaregiversBC.ca or call the Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line toll-free in BC at 1 (877) 520-3267.

  1. 2025-11-25

    The Art of Making Memories: Fostering Lost Connections

    When a care recipient with Alzheimer's or dementia cannot interact like they used to, how do you forge connections in a new way? That's the question Helga Strauss was faced with when she became a caregiver for her father. Seeking the joy and laughter they had always shared, she turned to visual art—and suddenly, a practice she had always loved rekindled the pathways between them. Today, Helga is a certified therapeutic art practitioner and artist. She applies the skills she developed, while scribbling and dancing to meaningful songs with her father, to assist others in similar situations. Both caregivers and care recipients can discover the power of enjoying the moment and focusing on the process, rather than trying to "fix" or revert to a former self. The pride and joy that come from creating art foster a new way of listening, enabling self-expression and helping to process pain, ultimately rebuilding those precious shared connections. Learn from Helga's welcoming and creative approach to caregiving: How a care recipient's physical and mental health can be revealed through art; The impact of playing songs from a care recipient's teenage years; The simple, flexible options available to anyone who wants to introduce art into their caregiving; Why everyone should try scribbling with both their hands. Resources: Listen to episode 14 about the benefits of creativity - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast/episode-14-creativity-as-a-form-of-self-care Explore Art for Wellness with Helga at Carr House in Victoria - https://www.eventbrite.ca/cc/art-for-wellness-3430419 Learn more about Helga - https://www.helgastrauss.com/ Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 Twitter/X https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    24 min

  2. 2025-09-30

    Navigating Care in the Sandwich Generation: Dignity, Boundaries, and Advocacy

    How do you uphold respect and dignity for an ageing parent when balancing the regular demands of career and children? So many people today are part of the Sandwich Generation—caring for a parent while still managing work and raising kids. Ensuring your parent feels safe and cared for without losing sight of your own boundaries and wellness is a hard balancing act to manage. As a registered nurse who also raised three children on the spectrum, Valerie Wiens was perhaps better prepared than many adult children when it came time to care for her parents in the last years of their lives. She can certainly relate to how overwhelming and difficult it is to navigate the healthcare system for both caregivers and patients. Valerie recognizes the importance of setting aside ego to enable thoughtful communication, an important part of ensuring parents feel dignified and respected as they make the transition to being "parented" by their own children. She also shares her approach to that fine line between demanding respectful care from medical professionals and remaining calm and reasonable in the face of frustrating interactions. As Valerie says, it's important to "be effective" and have "expectations that are reasonable and measurable," both when interacting with the healthcare team and in your own expectations for caregiving. Every caregiving journey will be different, and finding ways to be fully present, whatever that means for you, is the most meaningful gift you can give. Consider the impact your caregiving interactions have, both on your parent and yourself: When to set aside your ego so your parent can retain their dignity; How to advocate for a parent's care while also respecting healthcare professionals; Why even the most loving children must develop boundaries when caring for their parents; How setting caregiving goals early on can transform your mindset in the end. Resources: Caregiving in Partnership with Fraser Health e-learning course: https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/learn   Navigating the Healthcare System: https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/read-resources/navigating-the-healthcare-system How to Advocate for Yourself: https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/read-resources/how-to-advocate-for-yourself-and-your-family-member How to Advocate for Your Family Member: https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/read-resources/advocating-for-a-family-member Step-by-step guide from Valerie's book "What Do We Do About Mom?" - https://www.amazon.ca/What-About-Mom-strengthen-caregiving/dp/1778178715 Work with Valerie at Keystone Eldercare Solutions - https://keystoneeldercare.com/ Patient Care Quality Office (PCQO) - http://www.phsa.ca/about/patient-experience-quality-of-care/patient-experience/patient-care-quality-office Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 Twitter https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    22 min

  3. 2025-06-12

    Secondary Caregivers Relieving Primary Caregivers Through Circles of Care

    How can building a circle of care around yourself help you continue to deliver the best care? Even the most devoted and capable caregiver needs support in their role. From weekends away to help around the house, letting another caregiver take some of the demands off your plate keeps you well enough, in body and mind, to continue your important work. Greer Rosequist has plenty of experience being a caregiver, from her former career as a nurse in long-term and palliative communities to offering respite to her sisters, who provide daily care for their mother. This experience led her to a different kind of network—a circle of care—full of friends who serve as consistent supports to those in the group and beyond. What began as a gathering of four has become a coffee collective of a dozen. They step in to assist in whatever capacity they can, from visiting house-bound friends to pitching in on yardwork to staying overnight so a primary caregiver can take some time for themselves. Though Greer has a background in healthcare, she encourages everyone to help out in whatever capacity they can. Anyone can call up a friend with a simple offer of a cup of coffee. You don't need nursing skills, Greer says. "You just have to be there." Discover the impact of reaching out, as both a caregiver and a friend: How to balance care for others and care for yourself; Recognize and respect the boundaries inherent in being a secondary caregiver; Why it is helpful to appoint a spokesperson within your circle of care; The societal importance of enabling people to live in their homes as long as possible. Resources: Episode 2: Speak Out With Courageous Conversations in Caregiving - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast/episode2-communication/ Episode 4: How to Make Time to Care for Yourself with Self Care and Boundaries - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast/episode4-selfcare/ Asking and Receiving Help with Caregiving - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/read-resources/when-asking-for-help-is-hard The Embrace of a Caring Circle - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/archives/20996 Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 Twitter https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    16 min

  4. 2025-03-18

    Juggling Roles: Finding Balance When Caring for a Parent

    How do you navigate the transition from child to caregiver of a parent while supporting both their dignity and your own wellness? Caring for an aging or ill parent comes with countless responsibilities, from prepping meals and scheduling medication to attending appointments and much more. While this shift to caregiver is, in some ways, a natural progression, it also requires you to navigate into a new relationship with your parent. As such, you need to learn how to balance respect and consent for their desires with your own health and happiness. Roma Palmer is a registered clinical counsellor who not only helps parental caregivers but also fills this role herself, first with her mother years ago and now with her father. Today, she shares what she's discovered through her work and firsthand experience juggling family, career, and caregiving. Learn from Roma's thoughtful and proactive approach that keeps respect and love in focus throughout this shifting relationship: The importance of involving your parent and family members in the caregiving decision process Tools for fending off isolation and scheduling breaks to take care of yourself How to ensure the division of caregiving labour is distributed openly and fairly Practices that prioritize the care recipient's continued sense of identity at this tumultuous time Resources: "Building Your Personal Resilience" flipbook - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/read-resources/building-your-personal-resilience Guilt and Making Decisions: Role of Adult Children in Assisting Parents - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/read-resources/guilt-and-making-decisions-role-of-adult-children-in-assisting-parents-2 Connect with Roma Palmer - https://www.romapalmer.com/ Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 Twitter https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    21 min

  5. 2024-12-10

    Caregiving for a Partner: Intimacy Reimagined

    How do you maintain an intimate relationship when you become a caregiver for your spouse or partner? Sharing life as a couple means facing and overcoming countless challenges. For so many, the ultimate challenge begins when an illness is uncovered, and one of you must become a caregiver to the other. Rene faced this transition when her husband of 20 years was diagnosed with Parkinsons in his mid-40s. In the two decades since his diagnosis, the couple has navigated a dramatic shift in household and relationship responsibilities and must constantly work at alternative ways to maintain intimacy and joy in an often difficult day-to-day. In this episode, Rene Smyth details the ups and downs of how their relationship has changed, and Dr. Linda Franchi, a community counsellor with the Parkinson Wellness Projects, delves into the many facets of intimacy and the adjustments and adaptations spousal caregivers must embrace. Find harmony between the caregiver and romantic partner relationships: The numerous kinds of intimacy beyond the physical; New ways to lean into each other, even in the face of painful and unprecedented change; Practical ways to incorporate self-care into your caregiving duties; The importance of reimagining the bond that holds your relationship together. Resources: Find exercise classes, counselling, support groups, and education with Parkinson Wellness Projects - https://parkinsonwellness.ca/ Learn more about Parkinson Society BC - https://www.youtube.com/@ParkinsonSocietyBC  Alzheimer Society of Canada, "How your intimate relationships can change" - https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/im-living-dementia/managing-changes-your-abilities/how-your-intimate-relationships-can "The Value of Peer Support" - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/emotions-of-caregiving/the-value-of-peer-support/ "Parallel Paths: The Changes Experienced in the Caregiving Relationship" - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/caregiver-learning-center/read-resources/parallel-paths-the-changes-experienced-in-the-caregiving-relationship Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 Twitter https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    25 min

  6. 2024-10-21

    Planning Life's Final Choices: A Guide to End-of-Life Dialogue

    How do you begin the difficult dialogue around end-of-life wishes for your care recipient? When you are the caregiver for someone whose health is declining, the reality of death can be overshadowing and feel frightening to acknowledge. So often, it's as though we fear that simply speaking about death will speed it to our door. Karla Kerr, a funeral director and death doula in Victoria, BC, sees things differently. She approaches conversations with families who are facing or have just experienced death in an exploratory and compassionate way that recognizes death is inevitable. Respecting and upholding the wishes of care recipients can only be accomplished through practical, values-centred communication. Death has a tendency to reveal to us what is most important; engaging in these conversations can have a tremendous impact on the depth and intensity of our relationships, especially when we prioritize them when we still have plenty of time, rather than waiting until the end. Discover how Karla's experiences with hundreds of families at this pivotal moment can inform your own conversations with your care recipient: The importance of acknowledging the inevitability of death and having reverence for the death process Why it is so beneficial to talk about what is most meaningful before the final moments The hard questions that will ensure you can take action with deference to their values and beliefs The positive impact of gratitude at every stage of our relationships Resources: Learn more about Karla Kerr, End of Life Planning and Care - https://karlakerr.ca/ A Caregiver's Guide: A Handbook About End-of-Life Care - https://www.virtualhospice.ca/Assets/CHPCA%20caregivers_guide_2015_en_20170314094930.pdf After Death Checklist from Government of BC - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/After-Death-Checklist-Government-of-BC-1.pdf Proactively Planning for End-of-Life Blog - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/archives/19255 Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association - https://www.chpca.ca/ Canadian Virtual Hospice - https://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Support/Support.aspx Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 Twitter https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    23 min

  7. 2024-02-13

    Supporting Young Caregivers: The Overlooked Caregiver Demographic

    What difficulties develop when a child becomes a caregiver to their own parent? Studies show that young caregivers make up at least 12% of Canadian youth. One of these young people is Kristie Mar. At just 16 years old, Kristie set aside a significant part of her adolescence to become the sole carer for her mother, who was navigating schizophrenia and anorexia. The medical professionals, counsellors, and groups from whom she sought assistance, however, never gave her the title of "caregiver." As such, it took her years to think of herself in this way or discover the resources that search term could unlock. Today, Kristie is a medical student and an active participant in this community. She wants to help increase awareness and resources for fellow adolescents who are thrust, so often unprepared and unsupported, into the role of caregiver for their family members. Hear the difficulties a young caregiver faced, caring on her own, including: The impact of expanding the narrow definition of "caregiver" to better identify young caregivers Where to uncover resources that help reduce the deep sense of isolation The many facets of childhood that are lost to young caregivers Strategies for maintaining mental health while balancing childhood and a very adult responsibility Resources: Powerhouse program for young caregivers - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/young-caregivers-2 Managing expectations - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Managing-Expectations-April-2020-1.pdf Episode 11 How to Use Writing for Healing and Self Care -  https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast/episode-11-how-to-use-writing-for-healing-and-self-care Episode 14 Creativity as a Form of Self Care -  https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast/episode-14-creativity-as-a-form-of-self-care Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line - 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 X / Twitter https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    26 min

  8. 2023-11-14

    A Contemporary Approach to Palliative and Hospice Care for Family Caregivers and Their Recipients

    How can you build a healthier relationship with death and dying that will benefit both caregiver and recipient? Aaron Yukich is an end-of-life doula, mindfulness practitioner, and hospice care worker. In his work with the Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line, Aaron incorporates meaning-making and self-reflection into his sessions with caregivers, helping them uncover new ways to provide support to their care recipients without overlooking their own well-being. The end-of-life process has many varied aspects. Aaron helps caregivers navigate this intricate spiritual and emotional experience with grace, through activities and mindsets that can offer comfort and even joy. He also guides them in practical considerations, such as establishing often-overlooked financial and personal mental health support structures. Aaron shares his holistic perspective on providing end-of-life care: Moving through the transition from palliative to hospice care Resources for addressing the impacts of caring for a care recipient Imbuing the time your loved one has left with more meaning Considering death and dying through a lens of celebration and reflection as well as grief Resources: United Way Better at Home - https://betterathome.ca/ Island Health Dementia Video Series - https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/seniors/dementia-video-series Discover a local hospice - https://www.chpca.ca/listings/ Hospice care information and assistance - https://www.virtualhospice.ca/ Hospice resources with a cultural focus - https://livingmyculture.ca/ Navigating the End of Life: A Road Map for Caregivers webinar - https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/archives/video/navigating-the-end-of-life-a-road-map-for-caregivers Finding Peace at the End of Life: A Death Doula's Guide for Families and Caregivers by Henry Fersko-Weiss (2020 edition) - https://bookshop.org/p/books/finding-peace-at-the-end-of-life-a-death-doula-s-guide-for-families-and-caregivers-henry-fersko-weiss/13032460?ean=9781590035023 Caring for the Dying: The Doula Approach to a Meaningful Death by Henry Fersko-Weiss (2017 edition) - https://www.amazon.ca/Caring-Dying-Doula-Approach-Meaningful/dp/1573246964 BC Grief and Bereavement Society: list of support groups and other help for BC residents (also some options are across Canada) Contact the Helpline at 604-738-9950 and toll-free 1-877-779-2223 - https://bcbh.ca/groupsandevents/ TalkDeath: death positive, grief and bereavement resources - https://www.talkdeath.com/ Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line: 1-877-520-3267 (Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm PT) Connect With Us! To read a full transcript of each episode, visit the Family Caregivers of BC website https://www.familycaregiversbc.ca/podcast Visit us at our office: #6 – 3318 Oak Street, Victoria, BC V8X 1R1 Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Telephone: (250) 384-0408 Toll-Free Line Within BC: 1-877-520-3267 Fax: (250) 361-2660 Email: info@familycaregiversbc.ca Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiversBC/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/familycaregiversofbc/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/18122187 Twitter https://twitter.com/caringbc Thank you! BC Ministry of Health - Patients as Partners Initiative - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/patients Organized Sound Productions - https://www.organizedsound.ca/

    20 min
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4.6
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Powered by Family Caregivers of British Columbia and hosted by Bill Israel, "Caregivers Out Loud" will explore the ways in which the role of a caregiver can be both rewarding, while also emotionally, psychologically, and physically taxing. By sharing stories of caregivers and insight from community experts, we bring you perspective and connection, and ensure that you have support and balance from inspired caregivers, who are caregiving out loud. Please share this podcast with family and friends who could also benefit from hearing these stories. Discover more episodes and find more caregiving resources at https://www.FamilyCaregiversBC.ca or call the Family Caregivers of BC Caregiver Support Line toll-free in BC at 1 (877) 520-3267.

Information

  • Creator
    Family Caregivers of BC
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020-2024 Family Caregivers of BC
  • Show Website
    Caregivers Out Loud