The Relational Approach: In Seniors' Care

What if creativity isn’t something a few people are born with but a skill that every team can learn and apply?

In today's episode, Dr. Amy Climer invites us to rethink what it means to be creative, and how structured curiosity can transform how care teams collaborate, problem solve, and engage with their work. Drawing from her book, Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results, Amy shares practical ways leaders and staff can spark innovation without adding more to their plates.

Through thoughtful stories and accessible frameworks, Amy shows how creativity thrives when trust, clarity, and curiosity come together. Whether it’s involving families in ideation or shifting a brainstorming session to be more inclusive, this episode is filled with practical tools to bring a more relational (and creative!) approach to your team culture.

You’ll hear: 

• Why creativity is a learnable process, not just a talent 
• The three essential elements every creative team needs 
• How to use “How might we…?” questions to spark better solutions 
• Why traditional brainstorming doesn’t work...and what to try instead

Join us for a practical and energizing conversation about how care teams can build creative confidence, think more relationally, and find fresh ways forward - together.

You can find the full show notes here

About Amy:
Dr. Amy Climer is a speaker, trainer, and coach who teaches teams how to innovate on demand. She is the author of Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results written to help leaders understand how to increase creativity in their teams. She hosts The Deliberate Creative™ podcast and she is the designer of Climer Cards, a creativity and teambuilding tool. Amy has a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change.

You can learn more about and connect with Amy here:

•  climerconsulting.com
• Deliberate Creative Teams Book: deliberatecreativeteams.com 
  • book listing on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WD4lMR  
• Climer Cards: climercards.com
• Facebook: 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyclimer/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyclimer/ 
• BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amyclimer.bsky.social 
• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyclimer

What if connection was as simple as sharing a 15-second story?
In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Marsha Shandur guides us into the world of storytelling, not just as entertainment, but as a powerful relational tool for care teams. With warmth and wisdom, she unpacks how small, emotionally-rich stories can help build trust, foster empathy, and create meaningful connections with families in senior care.

Marsha shows us that storytelling isn’t just a skill, it’s a bridge. A 15-second story can ease anxiety, humanize care, and help family members feel seen and reassured. When care teams learn how to “make a movie in someone’s brain,” they transform everyday moments into emotional touchpoints that deepen relational connection.

You’ll hear:

• How storytelling activates empathy and emotional resonance
• Why a tiny story can be more impactful than a checklist
• How leaders and staff can use small personal moments to build trust

Tune in and discover how storytelling isn’t just about what you say, it’s about how you help others feel. A Relational Approach starts with connection and that begins with the stories we choose to tell.

See the full show notes here

You can learn more about Marsha here: https://www.yesyesmarsha.com/

The special resources she provided for listeners is here: https://www.yesyesmarsha.com/deb

What if high performance in seniors’ care starts not with doing more but with showing up differently?

In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Dr. Liane Davey introduces us to the concept of thought load: the mental and emotional weight we carry on top of our day-to-day tasks.

You’ll hear:

• Why your stress might have more to do with focus than workload
• How to protect your energy without stepping away from your purpose
• The surprising difference between emotions and the stories we tell about them
• Why small moments of awareness create big impact

This is a practical and grounding conversation for anyone who wants to stay steady in the chaos and lead with more clarity, compassion, and connection.

🎧 Tune in and let it reframe the way you work and relate.

Read the full show notes here

What if supporting caregivers wasn’t about having all the answers… but simply making space to listen?

In today's episode, Denise Brown shares a powerful reminder: presence isn’t a soft skill, it’s the foundation for trust, healing, and connection.

You’ll hear:

• Why “compassion fatigue” is often something deeper
• How a simple phrase like “We know this is a hard day” can shift everything
• Why listening without fixing can be the most supportive thing you do
• How presence and problem-solving actually go hand in hand

It’s a beautiful, grounding conversation that will leave you thinking differently about how you show up for caregivers, for your team, and even for yourself.

Tune in and take a breath with us. This one is full of heart.

Read the full show notes here

What if family councils could become a bridge instead of a battleground?

In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Lisa Dawson shares what it really takes to build trust between care teams and families and how to move from frustration to collaboration.

You’ll hear:

• How trust, not tension, sets the tone for everything else
• Why curiosity opens more doors than complaints
• What it looks like to reset when a relationship has gone off track
• How to keep residents at the center of every conversation

Whether you’re part of a care team or a family member navigating this journey, this conversation offers hope, clarity, and practical steps for working together relationally.

Listen in and explore what’s possible when we lead with trust.

 Access the full show notes and more about Lisa Dawson here

What if the most powerful voice in the hiring process isn’t the manager but the resident?

In today’s episode, Rose Lamb and Lou Watson show us what it looks like when residents aren’t just living in a seniors’ community, they’re shaping it. As a 92-year-young resident at The Village of Taunton Mills, Lou brings wisdom, wit, and a clear voice to the hiring table - literally. Together with Rose, Senior VP at Schlegel Villages, they share how involving residents in the interview process strengthens culture, trust, and connection.

This episode is a powerful reminder that when we see residents as contributors, not just recipients, we create more meaningful, human-centered care environments. From the "Wisdom of the Elder" program to the five pillars of Schlegel’s “Connect the Dots” philosophy, Rose and Lou walk us through what a relational approach really looks like in practice.

You’ll hear:

• How involving residents in hiring decisions can strengthen culture and connection
• What Lou looks for in a candidate (and why it’s not just about the resume)
• Why “value-added” is Lou’s north star when it comes to team fit
• How Schlegel Villages builds their relational culture through “Connect the Dots”
• Why honoring grief, autonomy, and different personalities matters in resident engagement

This is a rich, honest conversation about leadership, legacy, and why wisdom belongs at the center of how we build culture in seniors’ care.

You can learn more about Schlegel Villages here

You can read Rose and Lou’s bio’s and access the full show notes here 

What if it’s not about balance at all, but alignment?

In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Dr. Katie Keller Wood brings a Montessori-inspired lens to caregiving, offering gentle wisdom on how we can reconnect with our purpose, even in the mundane.

You’ll hear:

• How “alignment” can replace the pressure of work-life balance
• Why your work, no matter how small, has lasting impact
• What it means to discover your cosmic task
• How connection and purpose fuel care, even on the hardest days

This is a reflective and deeply encouraging conversation for anyone feeling stretched thin or searching for deeper meaning in their work.

Listen in and rediscover your why.

You can read Katie's bio and more about this episode here

You can learn more about Katie at 

katiekellerwood.com

alignment-book.com

Watch Katie's Tedx Talk here 

What if the real barrier to connection in seniors’ care isn’t communication, but fear?

In today's episode, Mindy Spigel helps us reframe how we respond to families in moments of fear, stress, and uncertainty. Her powerful metaphor of the “snake on your head” will change the way you see emotional reactions in seniors’ care.

You’ll hear:

• Why fear often looks like anger, and how to meet it with empathy, not defensiveness
• How one warm welcome can shape a whole relationship
• Why language matters more than we think
• The impact of starting with yes, even when the answer is no
• Why slowing down at the start can save hours later

This is a practical, compassionate conversation about building trust, reducing tension, and showing up with presence in the moments that matter most.

You can learn more about Mindy here:
https://mindyspigel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyspigel/
email: [email protected]
Tedx Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIrXZJWs5N0

You can access the full show notes here

What if the key to building trust with families wasn’t about trying to control, but about letting it go?

In today's episode I speak with Joanna Osborne, Director of Food Services and Dietitian at Windsor Elms in Nova Scotia. 

Joanna offers a deeply human perspective on how to support families in ways that create trust, not tension.

You’ll hear:

• Why letting go of control often builds more connection
• How to guide with confidence while honoring family emotions
• Why the way you say something matters as much as what you say
• How small relational gestures can soften even the hardest conversations

Joanna’s “passenger seat” metaphor will stick with you, and shift how you approach those pivotal moments with families.

Join us for a conversation that’s honest, grounded, and full of relational wisdom.

You can read Joanna's bio and access the full show notes here

Connect with Deborah:
website
Linked In
Instagram

What if your stories could build the bridge between fear and trust?

In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Krista Smith brings her lens as both a digital marketing expert and a family caregiver, showing us how real, relational storytelling can transform how we connect with families and communities.

You’ll hear:

• Why authenticity matters more than polished messaging
• How small, shared moments can shift perception and reduce stigma
• How families can become powerful collaborators in telling your care home’s story
• Why the admission process should start with “Tell me about your loved one”

This episode is a beautiful blend of heart and strategy. It's a fresh reminder that the stories we tell (and how we tell them) matter deeply.

Tune in to explore how a relational lens can change how you connect and communicate with your residents' families.

You can learn more about Krista Smith at her website, Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekristasmith/ or Instagram

More information about this episode here