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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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
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:
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: mgspigel@gmail.com
Tedx Talk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIrXZJWs5N0
More information about this episode 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:
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.
See the full show notes here
In this heartfelt and practical episode, I sit down with Krista Smith, a seasoned digital marketer and family member navigating the Seniors’ Care journey with her parents. We dive deep into the importance of embracing a Relational Approach in seniors’ care—from the move-in experience to daily interactions.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace Authenticity: Show families the real moments of connection, joy, and compassion happening in your care home. Ditch the stock photos and lean into storytelling through user-generated content.
2. Understand the Seasons: Whether you’re focused on staff recruitment, family outreach, or resident engagement, tailor your messaging to meet your audience where they are.
3. Shift from Transactional to Relational: The admission process can set the tone for the entire experience. Simple changes, like starting conversations with “Tell me about your loved one,” can build trust and reduce stress.
4. Support Family Connections: Partner with families to share their stories or offer peer-to-peer support opportunities to help others feel less alone in their caregiving journeys.
5. Bring Joy to Dementia Care: By inviting families to lean into the world their loved one creates, they can discover moments of wonder and connection rather than focusing on loss.
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
In today’s solo episode, you’ll be getting a masterclass in how to better navigate and manage expectations, from both the perspective of staff and families in seniors’ care.
I’ll break down the formula of Disappointment = Expectations – Reality (from Chip Conley, Emotional Equations book) and how we can reframe “unrealistic expectations” into a perspective that you can better work with.
We cover a lot of information in this podcast so have provided references here:
From Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown:
“Disappointment is unmet expectations. The more significant the expectations, the more significant the disappointment. Every day, sometimes every hour, we are consciously and unconsciously setting expectations of ourselves and the people in our lives, especially those closest to us. The unconscious, unexamined, and unexpressed expectations are the most dangerous and often turn into disappointment. In fact, the research tells us that disappointment is one of the most frequently experienced emotions and it tends to be experienced at a high level of intensity.”
“When we develop expectations, we paint a picture in our head of how things are going to be and how they're going to look. We set expectations based not only on how we fit in that picture, but also on what those around us are doing in that picture. This means that our expectations are often set on outcomes totally beyond our control. Like what other people think, what they feel or how they're going to react. The movie in our mind is wonderful but no one else knows their parts, their lines or what it means to us. Disappointment takes a toll on us and our relationships. It requires considerable emotional bandwidth.”
Questions staff can ask families:
For families, these questions can help you review and assess the expectations you have coming into seniors’ care:
I referenced these questions from Brene Brown’s book Atlas from the Heart:
Check out Episode 2 “Bridging Gaps in Admission Anxiety: A Family and Staff perspective to hear more about the Knowledge, Emotion and Identity Gaps.
Here are the 20 misconceptions that are from Now What? Managing the Emotional Journey of Long Term Care for Families, and in the book I share information and clarification with these misconceptions.
If you’d like to purchase a copy of Now What? Managing the Emotional Journey of Long Term Care for Families, visit my website DeborahBakti.com. You can also purchase from Amazon.
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you!
Let’s face it, stress and overwhelm can be a daily occurrence which interrupts how we are showing up and impacting others. This can then contribute to the frustration and friction between staff and families in seniors’ care.
As much as stress is a reality, having negative reactions and ruminations is optional. This is one of many things I took away from my conversation with Trish Tutton.
If you would love to have some practical and simple tools in your back pocket to help you feel less stressed, you’ll find this episode useful, uplifting and empowering.
Trish Tutton bio:
After years working in cultures where stress and burnout were seemingly the only way to success, Trish suffered a shocking loss and things became clear: stress is unavoidable, but it doesn’t have to dictate our lives. As a speaker and mindfulness teacher, Trish has taught the skills to become UNSHAKABLE and THRIVE amidst change and challenge to over 10,000 people across North America. She is passionate about helping folks become more resilient and less stressed with simple but impactful mindfulness techniques.
You can find her as a teacher on the #1 free meditation app in the world, Insight Timer, and she is the author of the Mindful Mornings Journal.
My training highlights include:
You can find Trish at:
A great blog post: https://www.trishtutton.com/blog/coping-strategies-for-stress-5-ways-to-stress-better
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you!
In today’s episode, we talk about The P Word, a topic we don’t typically like to even think about, never mind plan for.
My guest, Dr. Sammy Winemaker shares her experience, knowledge and insights with her compassionate, approachable and pragmatic style, which has been likened to as a Mr. Rogers kind of approach to care.
Let’s face it, death is a reality, and when we have a loved one living in seniors’ care, it can be difficult to face. Yet knowledge is power for both the staff providing care, and the family going through this emotional journey.
This is a conversation that will help you think about the palliative approach with a bit more optimism and hope.
About Dr. Samantha Winemaker
Dr. Samantha Winemaker is an Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, in the Division of Palliative Care at McMaster University.
She teaches palliative care to health care professionals. She won the Ontario College of Family Physicians Award of Excellence in 2010, the Elizabeth J. Latimer Prize in Palliative Care in 2018, and the Dr. S. Lawrence Librach Award for Palliative Medicine in the Community in 2019.
Dr. Sammy is the author, with Dr. Hsien Seow of Hope for the Best, Plan for the Rest: 7 keys for navigating a life changing diagnosis and a founder of The Waiting Room Revolution.
You can find out more here:
https://twitter.com/SammyWinemaker
https://www.instagram.com/sammy.winemaker/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.sammywinemaker
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-winemaker-01ba21163/?originalSubdomain=ca
Summary of Questions from this episode
Questions staff can ask families
How about we talk about the illness that landed your loved one here at our front door.
How much do you understand about the circumstances or the health challenges that your loved one has that required them to come to long-term care? Let’s talk about that.
Whats your understanding of your loved one’s illness?
What’s your understanding of the decline you were seeing at home or the increase in their needs?
Did you understand how that connected with their underlying illness or illnesses?
Did you ever ask anyone before you came here?
What to expect going forward with this particular condition?
What did they tell you?
And if they hadn’t discussed that with you, is that something that you would like to talk about today because it can really help you, give you a roadmap.
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you!
In this week’s episode, join us for an insightful and heartfelt episode with Kristen Leal, Director of Programs at peopleCare Delhi LTC and Anita Friesen, whose mom is a resident and has been living at peopleCare Delhi LTC since October of 2022.
This conversation was so heartwarming, and you can feel the care and respect Kristen and Anita have as partners in care.
Together, we explore the power of empathy and understanding in seniors care, from the challenges of cognitive decline to the impact of community-building initiatives like Kristen’s Now What? book club.
Through personal stories and shared experiences, we uncover the importance of building relationships between staff and families, breaking down misconceptions about long-term care, and creating supportive environments where everyone feels valued and connected in their long-term care homes.
Tune in as we celebrate the resilience, compassion, and dedication of caregivers and families in the journey of senior living.
Learn more about peopleCare Communities by visiting peopleCare.ca.
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you!
I See What You Do by Anita Friesen
To all the Staff at peopleCare Delhi LTC
It has become apparent to me that
YOU NEED TO BE TOLD . . . I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
When I come for a visit and step inside.
You greet me with a smile.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
When I walk down the halls.
You work with such passion. I’ve seen it from you before.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
Your hours are long.
You’re always on your feet.
You must be exhausted.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
You come to your job.
Leave your problems behind.
Become part of a new family.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
The residents are dressed, bathed and fed.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
When someone is blue.
I see you put your hand on their arm.
You whisper or tell them a joke.
They are no longer blue.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
You know all their names.
Their likes and dislikes.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
A calendar listing all the events.
Entertainment for residents, family and friends.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
Meals are prepared three times a day.
The dishes are endless and don’t stop all day.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
The laundry is washed it’s dried and then sorted.
A sock may be lost . . . there’s nothing you can do.
Cause just like the dishes it’s endless too.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
The meds are dispensed with accuracy and care.
I can see that when I am there.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
The cleaning is done.
And the maintenance too.
I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
So this is why I have to say, I truly appreciate everything you do
and YOU NEED TO BE TOLD . . . I SEE WHAT YOU DO!
Love You All
Anita Friesen (daughter of Godelieve VanMaele)
In this week’s episode, join us for a conversation with Jennifer Cornell, Director of Long-Term Care and Seniors Services with the County of Grey.
We delve into Jennifer's journey of transforming care communities, focusing on quality care initiatives, team development, and resident-centered approaches. With a fiery passion for improving the lives of residents and supporting their families, Jennifer discusses their innovative programs, including the "Colour It Your Way" philosophy and the Designated Care Partner Program.
You’re going to hear some incredible practical approaches Jennifer uses, such as a Pro Attention Plan that includes a co-design approach with families. She also shares ways to respond (versus react) to complaints and her tea chats (and it’s not about the tea.) You’ll also hear how she incorporates the ABC strategy to build trust with families.
Both staff working in seniors’ care and families will get great insights from this conversation with Jennifer, through her candid and down to earth reflections and strategies.
Connect with Jennifer Cornell and discover more about her work at the County of Grey by visiting their website at www.grey.ca/long-term-care or reaching out via email at jcornell@grey.ca
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you!
In this conversation with Fraser Wilson, he shares an inspiring and doable roadmap to building community connections, based on his newly released book Achievable: A Simple and Proven Way to Create a Culture of Possibility and Potential.
You’ll hear practical ways Fraser led a team of seniors’ care homes to “Rise Above the Regs” and create a culture where residents, families and staff can live into their potential, by putting people first.
Whether you’re a staff member, leader or a family member with a loved one in care, you’ll be inspired by the many stories Fraser shares where people exemplified “Making Others More”. I have no doubt you’ll gain a few ideas that you can bring to your workplace or loved ones’ home and create possibility and potential.
You can learn more about Fraser at AchievableCulture.com
You can reach Fraser at Fraser@AchievableCulture.com
You can purchase Achievable: A Simple and Proven Way to Create a Culture of Possibility and Potential here
Fraser's bio:
Fraser Wilson - Visionary Leader. Author. Talent Enabler.
He’s the author of forthcoming book: Achievable. A Simple and Proven Way to Create a Culture of Possibility and Potential.
Fraser’s personal motto is “Making Other More.” He has a deep desire to improve the lives of leaders and frontline team members by sharing a simple, more impactful way to enable people to live into their potential and achieve exceptional outcomes.
He was owner and CEO of OMNI Health Care which had 16 long-term care homes and 1,500 employees. He sold it in 2007 to a private equity firm based on its culture, brand, and financial performance.
In 2017, he joined Chartwell Retirement Residence as Vice President of Long-Term Care Operations where he was responsible for 27 homes and 5,000 employees. While there, his team won awards within the company and in the sector. They accomplished a 15 percent increase in resident very satisfied score, and a 7.5 percent increase in employee very engaged score in the two years. And they were gaining momentum, until the pandemic hit in March 2020.
In his second year with Chartwell, he was awarded Executive of the Year.
He has also served on the Board of Director of the Ontario Long Term Care Association for more than 15 years and has been its Chair.
He knows what it takes to be a leader who inspires and motivates people in a sector that is heavily regulated, over scrutinized, underfunded, and chastised by the media.
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you.
In this episode, I chat with Sam Peck and Liane Pelissier from Family Councils Ontario (FCO)
You’ll hear how they define the role of a family council within long term, care, as well as some misconceptions about the role of family councils, from both the home and family perspective. You’ll also hear how FCO is focused on helping homes rebuild the trust between families and staff, as we continue to recover from the last few years. You’ll also hear some interesting perspectives on conflict and ways to work through the frustration and misunderstandings to achieve more collaboration and partnership.
Whether you work in a home or at the corporate level, or are a family or a family council member, this conversation will give you insights and clarity around the power of partnership with your family council.
Here are the bio’s for this episode’s guests:
Sam Peck, Executive Director Family Councils Ontario
Sam (she/her) is passionate about helping people and groups achieve their goals. In her 15 years with Family Councils Ontario (formerly Family Councils’ Program) she has supported thousands of family members and long-term care home staff to improve their work to achieve the best possible outcomes and meaningful impacts. In her role as Executive Director, she focuses on building and maintaining relationships with funders, stakeholders, and interconnected organizations to carry out activities that support FCO's mission & develop strategies that enable the organization to create positive change within the long-term care sector.
Sam holds an Honours B.A. from York University. A dedicated lifelong learner, she also holds Advanced Client-Directed Case Management and Volunteer Management post-graduate certificates from Humber College, Project Management Certificate from the University of Toronto, a Masters Certificate in Adult Training and Development from the Schulich Executive Education Centre, and is currently working on a Voluntary Sector Management Certificate from Ryerson University.
In her spare time, Sam is an avid athlete, reader, volunteer, and sci-fi fan. Fun fact: she has 3 cats!
Liane Pelissier, Client Services Manager with Family Councils Ontario.
Liane has been with FCO for 2 years. She is passionate about Making a Difference and helping others, but most particularly those living, working and family members in LTC. She has 19.5 years of experience of working in a LTC home as a Resident and Family Services Coordinator, helping support residents and families as they transitioned into LTC. Part of her role was being the Staff Liaison for the home’s Family Council. Her years of experience helped her to develop great skills in communicating with and supporting families, residents, and staff in LTC. Liane holds a background in Social Work. She is also Pieces and U-first Trained. She is a certified Gentle Persuasive Approach Coach through Behavioural Specialist of Ontario. Through the years she has gained knowledge, experience and training in Palliative Care, Customer Service and Person Centered Care Approach. Throughout her career in LTC she has been involved in Strategic Planning, Goal Planning, Accreditation and Ministry Compliance. In her personal life, Liane loves to spend time with her family creating memories.
You can find Family Councils Ontario at www.fco.ngo
You can reach Sam at speck@fgo.ngo and Liane at Liane.Pelissier@fco.ngo
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you.
In this episode I chat with Sandra Boyd about her experience navigating Retirement and Assisted Living with her parents and in-laws. We dive into the ups and downs of her family’s journey, with Sandra bringing in both personal and business perspectives. Sandra shares practical insights based on her experience. She talks about what went well, what could have been better, and how care providers can learn from it all – the challenges, the missed chances for building relationships, and the positive impacts they can make.
For family members dealing with similar situations, Sandra offers straightforward advice to help you navigate your caregiving journey more successfully.
Join us for a down-to-earth conversation about the realities of seniors’ care, packed with valuable takeaways from a family who’s been through it.
About Sandra Boyd
Sandra is the Managing Director of Organizational and Talent Development at B. Riley Farber. She brings over 25 years in the leadership & talent development space, spending the last 15 years in leadership roles for nationally recognized human capital firms.
Sandra is the published author of 2 books, research papers, articles and columns in national and international magazines and newspapers. Her key passion is helping leaders and employees elevate performance through connection.
Currently, Sandra is a Board Member of the East Wellington Family Health Team. She is also a former Board Member of Career Star Group, a global leader in career transition, leadership and coaching.
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com. I’d love to hear from you.
One of the contributors to friction between families and staff in seniors’ care are the narratives (aka limiting beliefs, assumptions, and stories) that both bring to the relationship. In today’s episode, I spill the beans on these narratives that I’ve heard from both families and
care team members, how they can create the problems we’d most like to avoid – friction, frustration and conflict.
I share how curiosity can be an antidote to judgment and ways for staff and families to communicate more effectively and play a role in rewriting these narratives, to create a more empowering and supportive connection.
Resources:
Questions shared on this episode to help rewrite these narratives:
Internal questions with your team
Staff can ask families:
Families can be proactive and share with staff:
You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at Deborah@DeborahBakti.com.
I’d love to hear from you.
