The Hidden Crisis in Long-Term Care: What No One Tells You About For-Profit Care — with Elder Law Expert Melissa Miller

Alzheimer’s, Violence, and the Guilt Caregivers Carry — with the Hon. Lisa Raitt

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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why Politicians Can’t Afford to Ignore Caregivers — with CareYaya CEO, Neal K. Shah

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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Is Denmark the Blueprint for Fixing Canada’s Healthcare System? — with ER Physician Dr. Brian Goldman

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. -- 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. __ 🟡 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 Hidden Crisis in Long-Term Care: What No One Tells You About For-Profit Care — with Elder Law Expert Melissa Miller

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. -- 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 [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How to Show Up When Someone You Love Has Cancer — with Catherine Wreford

What does meaningful support look like when someone’s life has changed overnight? In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart sits down with Catherine Wreford, Broadway performer, Amazing Race Canada winner, brain cancer advocate, mother, and someone who knows what it means to both support others and receive support herself. Catherine was diagnosed with brain cancer at 32, just weeks after giving birth to her second child. She was told she had two to six years to live. Thirteen years later, she is still performing, parenting, advocating, and helping change the conversation around brain cancer, serious illness, and what meaningful support actually looks like. Catherine shares the moments that made the biggest difference during treatment, from friends who brought the food she actually loved, to a freezer full of donated breast milk, to the people who learned how to help without making her feel like a burden. She also talks about scan anxiety, self-advocacy in the healthcare system, what not to say to someone with cancer, and why emotional support can matter just as much as practical help. This episode is for anyone supporting a loved one through illness, navigating a serious diagnosis, or wondering how to show up when words fall short. Catherine’s story is honest, funny, generous, and full of reminders that the best support often starts with listening. -- Resources: Follow Catherine Wreford: Website: https://catherine-wreford.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinewreford/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.ledlow/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/catherine-wreford-09522ab 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/ [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.