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. ...
Jul 08, 2025•31 min•Ep. 10
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-sec...
Jun 24, 2025•31 min•Ep. 9
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...
Jun 10, 2025•33 min•Ep. 8
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...
May 27, 2025•32 min•Ep. 7
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 conver...
May 13, 2025•26 min•Ep. 6
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...
Apr 29, 2025•30 min•Ep. 5
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 ...
Apr 15, 2025•34 min•Ep. 4
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 ...
Apr 01, 2025•34 min•Ep. 3
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 a...
Mar 18, 2025•33 min•Ep. 2
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 tell...
Mar 04, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1
Feb 10, 2025•1 min
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 Bre...
Apr 23, 2024•35 min•Ep. 12
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,...
Apr 09, 2024•41 min•Ep. 11
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, an...
Mar 26, 2024•44 min•Ep. 10
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 o...
Mar 12, 2024•41 min•Ep. 9
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 Designa...
Feb 27, 2024•41 min•Ep. 8
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 ...
Feb 13, 2024•44 min•Ep. 7
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...
Jan 30, 2024•41 min•Ep. 6
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 ...
Jan 16, 2024•37 min•Ep. 5
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...
Jan 02, 2024•37 min•Ep. 4
In this episode of "The Empathy Exchange," host Deborah Bakti engages in a profound conversation with Edy Nathan, author of "It's Grief: The Dance of Self Discovery through Trauma and Loss." Drawing on their experiences of supporting senior care staff and families through grief, burnout, and trauma, Deborah and Edy explore the intricate dynamics of identity shifts within families as their loved ones transition into a senior care environment. The discussion delves deep into the often unnoticed re...
Dec 19, 2023•39 min•Ep. 3
In this episode of The Empathy Exchange, we delve into the emotional tapestry of the admission process. Mary’s story becomes a lens through which we explore shared family and staff experiences. Unveiling three impactful gaps - knowledge, emotion and identity - I guide you through key insights. The knowledge gap reveals misconceptions families often have about seniors’ care, highlighting the need for education and support. We navigate the emotion gap, exploring the complex feelings of guilt, grie...
Dec 05, 2023•29 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to the first episode of The Empathy Exchange. In this episode, I open up about my own experience working in seniors’ care and becoming a residents’ family member three times, with my dad, husband and mom, and how those journeys inspired me to shift out of my decades-long corporate career to a mission-driven focus to help strengthen the staff and family dynamic in seniors’ care. Listen in as I share why I chose The Empathy Exchange as the title and platform to explore the essential relati...
Nov 21, 2023•23 min•Ep. 1
This podcast is specifically crafted for seniors care leaders, staff, and the families of residents, who share the common goal of the best possible care for their loved one who is now a member of a seniors care community. It's about the ever-important, but often tumultuous relationship between seniors care staff and management, and the families of residents. Join host Deborah Bakti – a former executive in seniors care for 11 years, and a family member three times over, with her dad, mom, and hus...
Sep 05, 2023•2 min
