Eleven months, 46 episodes and countless conversations later, what has The Hart of It All taught us about caregiving?

In the season one finale, Teri Hart looks back at 10 lessons that changed how she thinks about aging, caregiving and the systems families are navigating.

Revisiting conversations with Alyson Schafer, Deb Galet, Beverley Wolfe, Rob Carrick, Dr. Amina Jabbar, Cathy Barrick, Neal K. Shah, Dr. Amy D'Arprix, Jordana Talsky and Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, Teri reflects on some of the season’s most practical and thought-provoking takeaways, from difficult family conversations and aging in place to dementia risk, finances, sibling conflict, legal planning and the future of caregiving.

Whether you have been with us since episode one or are just discovering the podcast, this finale is a great place to catch up and think differently about caregiving.

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Resources: 

- Alyson Schafer's starting the conversation episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/starting-the-caregiving-conversation-without-fear/id1843639868?i=1000730606378

- Deb Galet's aging in place episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/planning-to-age-in-place-what-seniors-and-families/id1843639868?i=1000758384090

- Beverley Wolfe's hearing loss episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/why-hearing-loss-matters-more-than-we-think-with/id1843639868?i=1000741500706

- Rob Carrick's finance episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-financial-checklist-every-caregiver-needs-part-1/id1843639868?i=1000769606479

- Dr. Amina Jabbar's geriatrician's advice episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/what-a-geriatrician-wants-families-to-know-about/id1843639868?i=1000744963093

- Neal K. Shah's caregiving as a diagnosis episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/why-caregiving-should-be-treated-like-a-diagnosis/id1843639868?i=1000766195660

- Cathy Barrick's Alzheimer's episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/navigating-alzheimers-one-step-at-a-time-with/id1843639868?i=1000743945187

- Dr. Amy D'Arprix's sibling conflict episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/how-to-handle-sibling-conflict-in-caregiving-with-life/id1843639868?i=1000763992839

- Jordana Talsky's wills and executors episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-gift-of-clarity-wills-and-choosing/id1843639868?i=1000739256968

- Dr. Saskia Sivananthan Dementia Task Force episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/a-new-plan-to-support-dementia-caregivers-before/id1843639868?i=1000779836937

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

__ 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caregiving is complicated. Caring for someone who has hurt you can be even more so. How do you protect yourself while caring for someone who caused you harm?

For people caring for a parent, family member or other care recipient with whom they have a complicated or painful history, the emotional weight can be even greater. How do you step into a caregiving role without ignoring what happened in the past or sacrificing your own wellbeing?

In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart speaks with registered social worker, psychotherapist and Compassion in Caregiving founder Stephanie Muskat about navigating caregiving when the relationship is anything but simple.

Stephanie explains why caregiving does not have to mean reconciliation or unlimited access, and how understanding your own values can help you decide what role, if any, you want to play. She shares practical strategies for setting boundaries, preparing for difficult interactions and recognizing when guilt or shame is pushing you beyond the limits you have set for yourself.

Teri and Stephanie also explore how dementia can further complicate already difficult family dynamics, why conversations about the past may not always bring the closure caregivers hope for, and how sibling relationships can become another source of tension when caregiving responsibilities are uneven.

Drawing on both her professional expertise and her own years of experience as a caregiver, Stephanie offers a different way to think about boundaries: not as rigid walls, but as limits that allow caregivers to continually ask themselves what they need, what they can realistically give and why they are making the choices they are making.

Not every care recipient is a “loved one,” and caregiving should not require losing yourself in the process.

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Resources: 

Follow Stephanie Muskat:  

Website: http://www.compassionincaregiving.com

Listen to Stephaine's Podcast, "Caregiver's Compass":

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/caregivers-compass/id1576543499

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U5OizDwrtCGJAzdqnMmT8

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@compassionincaregiving

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassionincaregiving

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

__ 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when being the caregiver your loved one needs means accepting that you cannot do it all yourself?

In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart speaks with four-time JUNO Award nominee Shawnee Kish about becoming a caregiver to her mom, Lynn, after a catastrophic brainstem stroke changed both of their lives in December 2020.

Shawnee shares the extraordinary lengths she and her wife, Jen, went to support Lynn, from navigating hospitals and rehabilitation during COVID to buying and renovating a home so they could live together and provide the support she needed. But as Shawnee tried to help her mom rebuild her life, she began to realize that recovery could not happen on her terms. Lynn had changed, her needs had changed, and Shawnee had to learn the difference between trying to fix someone’s life and supporting them as they decide what they want that life to look like.

At the same time, the demands of full-time caregiving were taking a devastating toll on Shawnee’s career, marriage, motherhood and sense of self. She opens up about reaching a point where something had to change, the guilt she felt admitting she could no longer provide the level of care her mom needed, and how another major health crisis forced their family to rethink everything once again.

Today, Mama Lynn is thriving with a team providing around-the-clock support, while Shawnee has found a new way to be both her daughter and her caregiver. Their relationship, she says, has never been better.

This is a powerful conversation about caregiver burnout, guilt, power of attorney, family dynamics, stroke recovery and the difficult realization that sometimes the most loving thing a caregiver can do is stop trying to be the hero.

Resources: 

Follow Shawnee Kish: 

Website: https://www.shawneekish.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawneekish

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawneekish/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67KtTWjRTAU9ZkjRFnaffZ?si=70T4i4kCSvqc2YPcvLk6AA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/shawnee-kish/1559364390

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Officialshawneekish

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawneekish

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

- 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if families had a clear path through dementia care from diagnosis?

In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart speaks with Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, CEO of the Brainwell Institute, about the Ontario Dementia Task Force and its goal to transform care across the province.

Dr. Sivananthan explains why caregivers need clear guidance, assessments and support before they reach burnout or crisis. She also challenges misconceptions about dementia and shares why better treatment and care are now possible.

This is a hopeful conversation about building a system people living with dementia and their families no longer have to navigate alone.

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This episode is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. This content is provided for general information only and is not intended to provide any advice nor endorsements/recommendations. All opinions and views expressed by the speaker(s) are not representative of views and opinions of RBC Wealth Management. All Information and opinions provided in this podcast are in good faith of the speaker(s), but without legal responsibility for RBC Wealth Management.

A longer life means planning for the longer run. And that requires more than just financial foresight. It takes a plan that encompasses health, wellness and finances. That’s why RBC Wealth Management partners with leading organizations to help Canadians maneuver each of life’s stages with peace of mind and confidence. 

Learn more at: 

RBC Wealth Management: http://rbcwm.com/

Aging Well Hub: http://rbcwm.com/agingwell

__

Resources: 

Learn more about The Brainwell Institute:

Website: www.brainwellinstitute.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainwell_institute/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Brainwell-Institute/61563530946708/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-brainwell-institute/

Contact: https://brainwellinstitute.org/contact-us/

Watch the Ontario Dementia Task Force Announcement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9U1tD_IIng

Learn more about First Link - Dementia Supports:

https://firstlinkontario.ca/

Learn more about The Alzheimer's Society of Ontario:

https://www.alzheimer.ca/on/en

Read "The Emperor of All Maladies":

https://www.indigo.ca/products/the-emperor-of-all-maladies-a-biography-of-cancer

https://www.amazon.ca/Emperor-All-Maladies-Biography-Cancer/dp/1439170916

Learn more about "The Dementia Bill" - Bill 121:

https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-121

Follow Dr. Saskia Sivananthan: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassy_nikali

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

- 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to build a secure and fulfilling retirement? After decades of helping Canadians prepare for the future, The Wealthy Barber author David Chilton is now entering retirement and considering what makes those years work.

David joins Teri Hart for a conversation about retirement, aging parents, and the cost of care. He shares his family’s experience navigating his 93-year-old father’s dementia, assisted living, and long-term care.

Together, David and Teri explore why many Canadians believe the government will cover future care, how in-home support can reshape family finances, and why younger generations may find themselves supporting children and parents. They also discuss aging in place, home equity, and why every family’s needs are different.

David explains why wills and powers of attorney are only the beginning. Honest conversations about money, housing, health, and caregiving expectations can help families avoid rushed decisions in a crisis.

This episode of The Hart of It All is a hopeful reminder that retirement planning is about more than saving. It is also about health, connection, communication, purpose, and joy.

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This episode is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. This content is provided for general information only and is not intended to provide any advice nor endorsements/recommendations. All opinions and views expressed by the speaker(s) are not representative of views and opinions of RBC Wealth Management. All Information and opinions provided in this podcast are in good faith of the speaker(s), but without legal responsibility for RBC Wealth Management.

A longer life means planning for the longer run. And that requires more than just financial foresight. It takes a plan that encompasses health, wellness and finances. That’s why RBC Wealth Management partners with leading organizations to help Canadians maneuver each of life’s stages with peace of mind and confidence. 

Learn more at: 

RBC Wealth Management: http://rbcwm.com/

Aging Well Hub: http://rbcwm.com/agingwell

__

Resources: 

Get the latest, updated version of 'The Wealthy Barber':

https://www.indigo.ca/products/the-wealthy-barber-2025-indigo-exclusive

Follow David Chilton: 

Website: https://thewealthybarber.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWealthyBarber

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewealthybarber

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewealthybarber

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Wealthy-Barber-61553899000342/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wealthy-barber/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

- 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many people, driving represents far more than getting from one place to another. It means independence, freedom, adulthood, and connection. That is why the moment an older adult can no longer safely get behind the wheel can be one of the most painful transitions a family faces.

Returning guest and geriatrician Dr. Amina Jabbar joins Teri Hart on The Hart of It All to talk about what she calls “retiring from driving.” Together, they explore how families can approach the conversation with honesty and empathy, without treating age itself as the problem or making a loved one feel blamed for changes beyond their control.

Dr. Jabbar explains the physical, cognitive, visual, and medical factors that can affect someone’s ability to drive safely, from dementia and vision loss to medication side effects, diabetes, limited mobility, and slower reaction times. She also shares warning signs families should watch for, including getting lost on familiar routes, drifting between lanes, driving unusually slowly, or relying on a passenger to provide constant directions.

The conversation also breaks down what happens when a healthcare professional believes someone is no longer safe to drive, what Ontario drivers can expect when renewing their licence after age 80, and when an independent driving assessment may help provide clarity.

But stopping driving is not only a safety issue. It can bring grief, anger, isolation, and major new responsibilities for caregivers. Teri and Dr. Jabbar discuss practical ways to prepare for the transition, from comparing the cost of car ownership with taxis and rideshares to testing out a month without driving before a crisis forces the decision.

Whether you are concerned about an aging parent, supporting someone with dementia, or beginning to think about your own future behind the wheel, this episode offers compassionate language, practical next steps, and a reminder that no family should have to navigate this change alone.

Resources: 

Learn more about Functional Driving Assessments in Ontario:

https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/approved-functional-assessment-centres-for-drivers

Reduced Fee Taxi Chits in Peel Region (Ontario): 

https://peelregion.ca/transhelp/fares-payments/taxi-vouchers

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

- 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people avoid thinking about Alzheimer’s until it touches their own lives. Hon. Lisa Raitt once felt that fear herself. But when her husband, Bruce Wood, was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s at 56, she was forced to confront the disease, gaps in Canada’s dementia care system, and realities families often navigate alone.

In this candid conversation with Teri Hart, Lisa shares the path from Bruce’s diagnosis to becoming an advocate for people living with dementia and their caregivers. She opens up about seeking a second opinion, managing escalating symptoms, and facing a reality rarely discussed openly: the violence some caregivers experience when dementia alters the behaviour of someone they love.

Lisa recounts the moment she realized that she and her teenage sons were no longer safe, the struggle to find Bruce appropriate medical support, and the painful acceptance that he could no longer live at home. She also explains why she publicly shared videos from some of the most frightening moments of their lives. What began as a need to be seen became a way to challenge stigma and reach isolated caregivers.

Lisa and Teri also explore why caregivers need support separate from the medical care provided to their loved ones, and how grief, guilt, anger, exhaustion, fear, and love can exist at once. Lisa reflects on what she wishes she had done sooner to protect her mental health and why friends should keep showing up, even when a caregiver pulls away.

Now a member of the Ontario Dementia Task Force, Lisa is pushing for a more coordinated approach to dementia care and a clearer path from diagnosis through treatment, community support, crisis care, and long-term care.

This episode of The Hart of It All is essential listening for anyone caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia, supporting a caregiver, or working to improve the systems families depend on. It is an honest look at what caregiving demands and why families should not have to face it alone.

Resources: 

Learn more about The Ontario Dementia Task Force: 

https://alzheimer.ca/on/sites/on/files/documents/new-task-force-to-develop-roadmap-for-dementia.pdf

Learn more about the Vulnerable Persons Registry (also available in areas outside of Toronto):

https://www.tps.ca/services/vulnerable-persons-registry/

Follow Hon. Lisa Raitt: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaraittmp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisaraitt2019

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/lisa-raitt

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

- 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caregivers are doing some of the most important work in our society, yet so many are doing it unpaid, unsupported, and without even realizing that “caregiver” is the word for what they have become.

On this episode of The Hart of It All, host Teri Hart welcomes back CareYaya CEO Neal K. Shah to talk about the viral conversations that have struck a nerve with caregivers across North America. After his first appearance sparked a huge response online, Neal returns to dig deeper into why caregiving feels so invisible, why the healthcare system often fails to recognize it, and what caregivers actually need to feel supported.

Together, Teri and Neal unpack the difference between parenting and illness-based caregiving, why so many people caring for aging parents, spouses, or loved ones with dementia or cancer keep their struggles private, and how the lack of recognition can affect everything from work to mental health to long-term financial stability.

Neal also shares what he is hearing from caregivers through his work at CareYaya and from his growing online community, where his candid takes on unpaid caregiving, caregiver burnout, and the hidden cost of care have resonated with millions.

This episode is for you if you are caring for a parent, spouse, family member, or friend and have ever felt like the system does not see what you are carrying. It is a frank, validating conversation about why caregiving deserves more recognition, more infrastructure, and more support.

Neal Shah is the founder of CareYaya, a care innovation platform focused on scalable solutions that support caregivers and improve care quality. His work, recognized by institutions like Johns Hopkins, is helping reshape how we approach aging and care.

Resources: 

Visit the CareYaya Website: 

https://www.careyaya.org/

Access CareYaya's "Yaya Guide":

https://www.careyaya.org/yayaguide

Follow Neal Shah: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nealkshah

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nealkshah

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nealkshahcareyaya/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-shah-careyaya

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

- 

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the emergency room reveal about the future of care in Canada?

In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart sits down with Dr. Brian Goldman, emergency physician, author, and longtime healthcare advocate, to talk about what Canada’s overwhelmed ERs are telling us about the deeper cracks in our healthcare system.

Drawing from his book The Casino Shift, Dr. Goldman explains how hospital overcrowding, long-term care waitlists, primary care shortages, and a lack of home care support are all connected. For caregivers, those cracks are not abstract. They show up when an aging parent waits for hours in an emergency room, when a loved one with dementia has nowhere to go, when a small-town hospital is forced to close, or when family members are sent home expected to manage medical tasks they were never trained to do.

Teri and Dr. Goldman also explore what Canada could learn from countries like Denmark, where nearly everyone has access to a family doctor and after-hours care is built into the system. They talk about the risks and realities of private healthcare, why small community hospitals matter so much, how technology and AI may change medicine, and why empathy still has a critical role in healthcare.

This conversation is for caregivers, healthcare workers, families with aging loved ones, and anyone worried about the future of healthcare in Canada. It is a clear-eyed look at a system under pressure, but also a reminder that better care is possible if we are willing to rethink how the system works.

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Resources: 

Read Dr. Brian Goldman's new book, "The Casino Shift":

https://www.indigo.ca/products/the-casino-shift

https://www.amazon.ca/Casino-Shift-Stories-ER-Edge/dp/1443473588

Follow Dr. Brian Goldman: 

X/Twitter: https://x.com/NightShiftMD

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/casinoshiftmd.bsky.social

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

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🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hidden crisis in Canadian seniors' care: why so many wait in limbo and how for-profit chains profit at their expense

Imagine a system where 70% of long-term care homes are owned by private corporations, yet they profit from taxpayer dollars meant for vulnerable seniors. Meanwhile, over 50,000 Ontarians await a spot in these facilities, living in hospitals, transitional units, or at home, often in dangerous limbo. Is this the care Canada prides itself on?

Melissa Miller, an elder law expert and advocate for seniors, pulls back the curtain on systemic failures, including underfunded staffing, maintenance shortcuts, and the profit motive that jeopardizes quality of life. She reveals how COVID laid bare these vulnerabilities and explains the complex maze families are forced to navigate: the distinctions between retirement communities, long-term care, and nursing homes, and why the lines blur when escalating needs arise. With jaw-dropping insights, Melissa details how for-profit chains cut corners on infrastructure, how government inspections often fail, and why the entire funding model is broken.

Discover why choices matter, from the realities of aging in place to the risky waitlist for long-term care. You'll learn practical strategies to recognize quality care, including what to look for beyond fancy lobbies and luxe amenities. Melissa shares transparent resources to look up licensing and inspection reports, empowering families to advocate fiercely. And as demand for seniors’ care continues to grow, her insights are a wake-up call for policy change and community action.

Whether you're a caregiver, a concerned family member, or someone planning your future, this episode exposes the urgent need to rethink aging and elder care before more lives are caught in the cracks of a deeply flawed system. If you believe care should prioritize dignity over profit, this episode is essential listening.

Get ready to question everything you thought you knew about seniors’ care and discover how you can help push for transparency, accountability, and real reform.

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Resources: 

Watch the Documentary "Stolen Time" featuring Melissa: 

NFB Website: https://www.nfb.ca/film/stolen-time/

Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0QMXDD9IRP9J5KYAXT0S2GUUEO

Follow Melissa Miller:

Website: https://hshlawyers.com/team/melissa-miller

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millermelawyer/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-miller-16524320/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital

Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

__

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.