What if your family forgot who you were? What if you had just minutes to prepare to be remembered?

In this episode, Andrew talks with Aaron Tong, caregiver, father, and founder of Aeternum — a private, inheritable digital platform designed to preserve memory, legacy, and identity across generations.

Aaron shares the deeply personal story behind Aeternum: a terrifying flight, a conversation with his young daughter, and the realization that even love isn’t always enough to be remembered. What started as a father’s promise became a mission to help other families — especially those affected by dementia — capture the stories, voices, and values that make us who we are.

Together, they explore how preserving memory can reduce caregiver stress, rebuild empathy, and offer families a new way to stay connected — even after memory fades.

In this episode:

• The moment Aaron thought he wouldn’t make it home — and what he did next

• Why his daughter’s question changed everything: “What if I don’t remember you?”

• How Aeternum helps caregivers preserve stories before they’re lost

• Why traditional platforms like Facebook fall short for legacy and dementia support

• How memory-sharing can reduce friction and rehumanize caregiving

• What engineering taught Aaron about building simple, meaningful technology

• Why legacy matters more than ever for caregivers and the next generation

Whether you’re just starting the dementia journey or reflecting on what remains after someone is gone, this episode is a powerful reminder: we all deserve to be remembered — and there are ways to make that easier.

Learn more at:https://www.bluebellvillage.ca

https://www.aeternumproject.com

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

In this powerful episode of The Dementia Collective, host Andrew Karesa sits down with Stephanie Fauquier — strategic leader, endurance athlete, and founder of Race with Steph — to explore how love, movement, and purpose can transform the way we talk about dementia.

When Stephanie’s mother, Dr. Robin McLeod, an Order of Canada recipient and trailblazing surgeon, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she chose to act. What began as one triathlon became ten races across Canada, raising nearly $1 million for Alzheimer’s research and sparking a national conversation about compassion, resilience, and legacy.

Together, Andrew and Stephanie talk about caregiving through travel, finding structure amid chaos, and how kindness and curiosity can help families face dementia with strength and grace.

In this episode:

• How Race with Steph united communities across Canada

• Lessons from Dr. Robin McLeod’s life and legacy

• The reality of traveling with a loved one living with Alzheimer’s

• Why resilience and community matter in caregiving

• How small steps can lead to lasting change

Learn more at:https://www.bluebellvillage.cahttps://www.racewithsteph.comDisclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

What does it really mean to care for someone with dementia — not just keep them safe, but keep them seen?

In this episode, Andrew talks with Katie Fyfe, caregiver, storyteller, and founder of Eldering.co.uk, who moved her father next door and gave him a dog — not because it was easy, but because it was right. That decision sparked a journey that led to the creation of @dadanddolly, a growing community centered on joy, memory, and connection in the face of Alzheimer’s.

Katie shares how her lived experience caring for both her mother and father has shaped a life and business rooted in empathy. Through creative projects like the Dad and Dolly Project, she’s showing that later life — and caregiving — can be full of meaning, if we choose to slow down, pay attention, and care with intention.

In this episode:

• Katie’s journey from medicine to caregiving• Why she moved her dad next door — and eventually in together

• The role Dolly (the dog) plays in companionship and cognitive strength

• Daily strategies to help her father live well with dementia• The surprising power of clothing, memory, and routine• How society undervalues care work — and why that needs to change

• Why creativity is essential to both care and identityWhether you’re walking the dementia journey now or preparing for it in the future, this conversation is a moving reminder that care isn’t just what we do — it’s who we become.

Learn more at:

https://bluebellvillage.cahttps://www.eldering.co.uk

https://www.dadanddolly.com

https://www.instagram.com/dadanddolly

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

In this episode of The Dementia Collective, Andrew Karesa discusses the profound impact of language in dementia care. He emphasizes the importance of using respectful and person-centered language, which acknowledges the individuality of those living with dementia. By reframing terms and focusing on the person rather than the diagnosis, caregivers can foster better relationships and improve the quality of care. The conversation also highlights how language influences behavior and communication, urging listeners to consider the implications of their words in the context of dementia care.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

In this powerful episode of The Dementia Collective, host Andrew Karesa sits down with Dr. Rose Joudi — a globally recognized expert in aging, ethnocultural diversity, and elder abuse prevention.

Drawing from a life that spans the Middle East, Australia, and now Canada, Dr. Joudi shares her deeply personal journey and the cultural lens she brings to elder care, trauma-informed practice, and system-wide advocacy.

Together, they unpack why aging isn’t one-size-fits-all — especially when it comes to dementia care in ethnocultural communities. From cultural expectations around caregiving, to overlooked signs of mistreatment, to the language we use to describe aging itself, this conversation challenges assumptions and offers real, inclusive alternatives.

Whether you’re a caregiver, healthcare provider, policymaker, or simply passionate about justice in aging — this episode will leave you thinking differently about what it means to age with dignity.In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why culturally inclusive dementia care matters now more than ever

• The unique challenges ethnocultural older adults face in Canada

• What “dignity” means when someone is living with memory loss

• How language can either reinforce or dismantle ageism

Learn more at:⁠

www.bluebellvillage.ca

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

In this special solo episode of The Dementia Collective, host Andrew Karesa shares the personal story behind blueBell Village. This company was not built from a business plan. It was built for one person—his grandmother, Shirley Bell.

Andrew opens up about how caring for his grandmother shaped everything. From her love of gardening to her sharp mind and daily scrabble games, Shirley inspired a vision for dementia care that was more human, more connected, and more personal.

Originally intended as a dementia village in Edmonton, the vision shifted when the realities of funding, bureaucracy, and family caregiving challenges came to the forefront. What emerged instead was blueBell Connect—a digital tool designed to keep care teams aligned and loved ones supported.

This is the origin story. Where it started. What changed. And why it still matters.

In this episode:

• The meaning behind the name “blueBell”

• The garden wagon that made a difference

• Discovering The Hogeweyk dementia village

• How one idea turned into something unexpected

• Why legacy is not about buildings, but impact

Learn more at bluebellvillage.ca

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

Who Really Holds the Healthcare System Together?

What if we recognized caregivers not as afterthoughts — but as the backbone of our healthcare system?

In this episode of The Dementia Collective, we sit down with Dr. Sharon Anderson — researcher, educator, caregiver, and one of the leading voices behind Alberta’s caregiver-centered care movement.

Sharon’s path to this work isn’t just academic — it’s deeply personal. Her own experience as a family caregiver opened her eyes to the cracks in the system, and she’s spent the last decade working to repair them from the inside out. Through education, co-design, and policy change, she’s helping reshape how caregivers — especially those supporting people with dementia — are seen, supported, and included.

Together with host Andrew Karesa, Sharon reflects on:

• Why double duty caregiving is becoming unsustainable — for people and for the system

• How her personal story became the catalyst for systems change

• The critical shift from patient-centered to caregiver-centered care

• What a caregiver-safe, dementia-friendly community actually looks like

• What gives her hope about the future of dementia support

This episode is a call to reimagine care — not just for those living with dementia, but for those walking beside them every step of the way.

Learn more at:⁠

www.bluebellvillage.ca

⁠https://www.ualberta.ca/en/medicine/resources/education/learning-design-studio/featured-projects/caregiver-centered-care.html

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

What if dementia wasn’t a whispered word, but a conversation broadcast across the world?

In this episode of The Dementia Collective, we sit down with Pete Hill, the voice behind The ‘D’ Word — the UK’s only weekly radio show dedicated to dementia.

Pete’s path wasn’t a straight line. After more than 30 years in local government and a side career in sports radio, his outlook shifted when he joined the Alzheimer’s Society in 2016. There, he managed community groups for people living with dementia and saw firsthand the need for connection, visibility, and dignity. Out of that experience came The ‘D’ Word, a show that has since grown into a global platform with hundreds of episodes and listeners from every corner of the world.

Together with host Andrew Karesa, Pete reflects on:

• The rainy-day moment that sparked the idea for The ‘D’ Word

• Lessons learned from hosting nearly 300 conversations on dementia

• How radio can break stigma and make space for lived experience

• The global voices that have shaped the show’s impact

• His hopes for what still needs to change for people living with dementia

Pete’s journey shows the power of turning silence into sound — and how one voice can amplify a movement

Learn more at:www.bluebellvillage.cahttps://ukhealthradio.com/program/the-d-word/Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

When someone you love is diagnosed with dementia, life can change overnight. You go from being a spouse, a child, or a friend — to suddenly becoming a caregiver. It’s emotional, overwhelming, and often filled with uncertainty.

In this episode of The Dementia Collective, we sit down with Tammy Lautner, a Registered Social Worker and founder of Peace of Mind Consulting, who helps families navigate the complex realities of caregiving.

Drawing from her own lived experience and years of professional practice, Tammy shares how families can move from confusion to clarity — and how the right guidance can make all the difference when the system feels impossible to navigate.

In this episode, we explore:

• What to do when you suddenly become a caregiver

• How to prepare for the emotional and logistical challenges of dementia care

• The identity shift from family member to care partner

• How Peace of Mind Consulting supports overwhelmed caregivers

• Practical advice for navigating systems, services, and support options

Whether you’re just starting your caregiving journey or supporting someone who is, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a path forward.

Learn more at:

www.bluebellvillage.ca

www.peaceofmindalberta.com

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.

What if dementia care could feel more like a neighborhood than an institution?

In this episode of The Dementia Collective, we sit down with Elroy Jespersen, the brainchild behind The Village Langley, Canada’s first dementia village.

Elroy shares how his formative years in a children’s home, surrounded by community and collective living, shaped his belief that people thrive best when they belong. After decades in recreation and senior living, he saw a gap in how dementia care was delivered — and set out to change it. That vision became The Village Langley, a groundbreaking community where people living with dementia live with freedom, dignity, and connection.

Together with host Andrew Karesa, Elroy reflects on:

• How his upbringing influenced his approach to community and care

• The journey from concept to reality in building Canada’s first dementia village

• Balancing freedom and safety in a new model of care

• The global attention sparked by National Geographic’s feature on The Village Langley

• What the future of dementia care could look like if we dared to reimagine it

Elroy’s story is a testament to how vision, courage, and lived experience can spark system change.

Learn more at:

www.bluebellvillage.ca

https://verveseniorliving.com/the-village/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.