The Hart Of It All with Teri Hart

Senior Women, the Housing Crisis, and the Pension Gender Gap — with Senior Women Living Together's Pat Dunn

The housing crisis can feel especially frightening for senior women living alone. With rising rents, limited pension income, and few affordable options, the question of where and how to live can become urgent very quickly. In this episode, Teri Hart speaks with Pat Dunn, founder of Senior Women Living Together, about her own experience facing housing insecurity and the community-based solution she created in response. Teri and Pat discuss why so many senior women are financially vulnerable, how caregiving and the gender pension gap contribute to the problem, and why shared living can offer affordability, safety, friendship, and dignity. This episode is for anyone worried about the cost of aging, supporting an older woman through housing decisions, or looking for hopeful alternatives to aging alone. __ 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:  Follow Senior Women Living Together Website: https://swlt.ca/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576221544918 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swlt.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/senior-women-living-together-swlt/ Single Seniors For Tax Fairness: https://www.singleseniorsfortaxfairness.com/ Seniors Social Action Ontario: https://www.seniorsactionontario.com/ 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Paying for Care: RRSPs, RRIFs, HELOCs and What Families Need to Know — with Personal Finance Expert Rob Carrick

The financial side of caregiving can feel overwhelming, especially when aging parents want to stay at home. But understanding the options early can bring clarity, relief, and a stronger sense of control. In the last episode, personal finance expert Rob Carrick walked through a practical financial checklist to help caregivers start important money conversations with aging parents. In Part 2 of his conversation with Teri Hart, Rob goes deeper into the financial realities families may face as parents age, especially when they want to age in place. Teri and Rob unpack the difference between a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a reverse mortgage, how care costs can reshape expectations around inheritance, and why the so-called “great wealth transfer” may not be as straightforward as many families think. They also discuss registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs), estate planning, and the often-misunderstood tax implications that can come later in life. This episode is for anyone helping aging parents make financial decisions, trying to understand the cost of aging in place, or wondering how to have more honest conversations about money, care, and quality of life before a crisis hits. As Rob shares from both his professional expertise and his own caregiving experience, the “care years” are something many families enter with little preparation, but the right conversations can make those years easier to navigate. __ 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/ [http://rbcwm.com/] Aging Well Hub: http://rbcwm.com/agingwell [http://rbcwm.com/agingwell] __ Resources: Follow Rob Carrick: Website: https://robcarrick.ca/ [https://robcarrick.ca/] Substack: https://robcarrickpf.substack.com/ [https://robcarrickpf.substack.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-carrick-66a6a017/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-carrick-66a6a017/] To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod [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/ __ 🟡 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Financial Checklist Every Caregiver Needs — Part 1 with Finance Expert, Rob Carrick

Money is one of the hardest parts of caregiving to talk about, but it is also one of the most important. In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart sits down with longtime personal finance expert Rob Carrick for part one of a two-part conversation about the financial realities of aging, caregiving, and planning for the future. From aging in place to retirement homes, long-term care, home equity, personal support workers, and the hidden costs families often do not see coming, Rob explains why the question is not just “What do we want?” but “What can we realistically afford?” Rob also shares a practical financial checklist for adult children supporting aging parents, including what to know about joint bank accounts, monthly expenses, power of attorney, investments, taxes, beneficiaries, and current ID. It is a conversation about preparation, clarity, and having the money talks before a crisis forces your hand. Whether you are caring for a parent now or trying to plan ahead, this episode will help you understand the financial decisions that can shape care, housing, and peace of mind. And because there is so much to cover, Rob will be back next week for part two, where he and Teri dive deeper into RRIFs, home equity lines of credit, reverse mortgages, and the tax implications families need to understand. Resources: Follow Rob Carrick: Website: https://robcarrick.ca/ Substack: https://robcarrickpf.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-carrick-66a6a017/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-carrick-66a6a017/] 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Unpaid Caregiving in Canada: The $97.1 Billion Reality — with CCCE Executive Director Liv Mendelsohn

Caregiving in Canada is not a private family issue. It is one of the biggest social, economic, and healthcare realities of our time. In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart speaks with Liv Mendelsohn, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, about CCCE’s newly released Caring in Canada report and what it reveals about the true state of care across the country. Liv shares the staggering scale of unpaid caregiving in Canada, including the estimated $97.1 billion in unpaid care provided each year by family members, friends, and loved ones. She also explains how caregivers are managing far more than many people realize, from medical appointments and daily tasks to emotional support, transportation, advocacy, and the invisible labour that keeps families and communities going. This conversation looks honestly at the pressure caregivers and care providers are facing, including burnout, financial strain, health impacts, and a system that too often relies on families to fill the gaps. But it is not a conversation without hope. Liv also breaks down the clear, practical solutions already identified through CCCE’s National Caregiving Strategy, which was co-designed with caregivers, care providers, and endorsed by more than 85 national and provincial organizations. From refundable caregiver tax credits to better income supports, aging-in-place policies, and stronger recognition of caregivers in healthcare planning, Liv explains what can change and why those changes matter. This episode is for anyone caring for someone they love, preparing for what may come next, or trying to understand why caregiving belongs at the centre of Canada’s healthcare conversation. The numbers are big, but the message is clear: caregivers are not alone, and a better system is possible. Resources: Read the CCCE's "Caring in Canada" Report: https://canadiancaregiving.org/caring-in-canada/ Follow Liv Mendelsohn and The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canadiancaregiving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canadiancaregiving CCCE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canadiancaregiving/ Liv on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liv-mendelsohn-m-a-m-ed-60000b5a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/liv-mendelsohn-m-a-m-ed-60000b5a/] 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Dementia Caregiving: Is It Possible to Set Boundaries and Avoid Burnout? — with DEMENCHATS Creator, Troy McCallum

A lot of people dealing with dementia caregiving quietly wonder: Is it supposed to feel this overwhelming? Troy McCallum understands the kind of exhaustion that comes from constantly being “on” for someone you love. As his mother’s dementia progressed, Troy found himself trying to manage everything at once: the confusion, the wandering, the emotional volatility, the constant fear that something could go wrong. He was exhausted, anxious, and running on adrenaline for so long that his own health began to suffer. In this episode of The Hart of It All, Troy opens up about the reality so many caregivers live behind closed doors. The guilt of setting boundaries. The pressure to always be available. The feeling that your own life is slowly disappearing while you try to hold someone else’s together. From using smart home devices, cameras, and AirTags to help his mom stay safe, to learning when he needed to step back and protect his own well-being, Troy shares the practical strategies that made caregiving feel more manageable. Troy speaks candidly about navigating long-term care, managing the emotional toll of dementia, and the importance of recognizing your own limits before burnout takes over. If you’ve ever felt isolated, burnt out, resentful, scared, or like you’re failing at caregiving because you can’t do it all perfectly, this episode will feel deeply familiar. More importantly, it may help you feel a little less alone. Troy is a media professional and the creator/host of DEMENCHATS, an Instagram account documenting the everyday realities of dementia caregiving with honesty, humour, and compassion. Resources: VON Home and Community Care: https://www.von.ca/en Follow Troy McCallum & DEMENCHATS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demenchats 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.