Caregiver's Compass

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 how caregiving with someone you may have a complex relationship with can be navigated to achieve the best possible outcome for you and the loved one you are caring for. 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 for feeling this overwhelmed because there are so many who are always in person caregiving and I am not. 

In this episode, Stephanie talks about being a caregiver who may not always be present in person but may be consumed by the emotional side or ongoing awareness of the caregiving role which can be all consuming.

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com 

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 Francis Psychotherapy & Consulting Services, where she runs a busy group therapy practice. She is also a keynote speaker, leadership coach and a corporate consultant who addresses issues related to women’s issues, race & equity, mental health, parenting as well as wellness at work.  Roxanne supports, and mentors other therapists in the field and is also the media’s go-to mental health expert, providing answers to many of life’s difficult questions.

Find Roxanne on her website: http://www.francispsychotherapy.com

How to find Roxanne on Instagram: @francispsychotherapy

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com 

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 raised in New York to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. In 2020, her mom was diagnosed with bvFTD at the age of 56 when Jackie was only 30 years old. Her family later learned that her mom is a carrier of GRN (FTD gene), causing FTD. Though the disease is genetic, her family had no known history of dementia. Today, Jackie has become an advocate for genetic testing and support for caregivers. 

Find Jacquelyn on instagram: @ftdalovestory

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 they are no longer there with you? It HURTS and it is so hard. 

In this episode, Stephanie dives into this topic and provides her own personal perspective on this as she has been there too. 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 that practitioner, have your voice heard or let the team know what is truly important to both you and your loved one. Having worked in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings and having been a caregiver herself, Stephanie compiles her knowledge to give you her best tips. 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

 For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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. 

Find Carrie on Instagram: @dementiadarling 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 how she turned her uncertainties about death into her career. 

About Jessica:

Jessica Smith is a care partner and advocate for her mother, Patti, who has been living with Alzheimer’s since 2014. By day, Jessica is the Director of Sales for Florida Realtors but recently, she was certified as a

death doula as a way to further honor her mom’s journey and prepare for what her family will inevitably face in the coming years. The guiding principles Jessica employs in caring for her Mom stem from her work as a meditation teacher and as a student of Eastern philosophies: compassion, presence,

impermanence, and going with the flow. These tactics help her to show up for her mom consistently while always maintaining an air of peace.

While they don’t live in the same state (Jessica lives in North Carolina and Patti is in Florida), they see each other very frequently and for long stretches at a time. They also speak daily and Jessica helps her

step-dad make the difficult day to day decisions that he’s faced with. Together with Jessica’s husband, Ken, the three of them serve as Patti’s constellation of support. To remain grounded, Jessica enjoys spending as much time outdoors as possible whether it’s working in the garden with her husband, hiking, or taking daily walks. She is also a nutrition and health enthusiast,

animal lover, dancer, and avid traveler. Both she and Patti are HUGE music lovers as well, which serves as an aide in Patti’s day to day care and overall enjoyment of life.

Find Jessica on Instagram: @alzheimers_awakening

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 episode is sponsored by LifeLabs MyVisit. Visit the LifeLabs website to book your home test here! https://myvisits.powerappsportals.com/?utm_source=Instagram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=MyVisit_Jun2023&utm_content=Stephanie_P1

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

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 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.

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

Join our FREE Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/compassioncaregiverconnection

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving