The sandwich generation is feeling stretched to the limit. Especially if they’re caring for a loved one with dementia. In this special series devoted to widening our circle of empathy for people who often feel marginalized or misunderstood, watch this insightful episode featuring Claire Webster, a Certified Dementia Care Consultant.
After her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Claire felt isolated and overwhelmed. After suffering from a major burn-out, she founded Caregiver Crosswalk to help families navigate the complex journey of dementia care.
Together, we discuss:
The emotional, practical, and systemic challenges that caregivers face
Practical strategies to prevent caregiver burnout
The importance of empathy and advocacy in healthcare
Caregiver support resources, such as Dementia: Your Companion Guide
If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate the complexities of Dementia with empathy and agency—Claire’s story will inspire you.
00:00 Preview
01:16 Introduction
02:30 About Claire Webster
04:18 Claire’s backstory
10:55 The difference between Dementia and Alzheimer’s
15:13 What are the early signs?
18:17 How to manage family conflicts?
21:27 Dementia: Your Companion Guide
24:12 Empathy for a parent with Dementia
28:28 How to support a parent caring for a spouse with Dementia
31:26 Claire’s burnout story
36:21 The silent struggle caregivers face that nobody talks about
40:31 How can friends better support caregivers?
45:07 Dementia care resources
47:50 Claire Webster’s Purposeful Empathy story
CONNECT WITH ANITA
✩ Email purposefulempathy@gmail.com
✩ Website https://www.anitanowak.com
✩ Buy a copy of Purposeful Empathy http://tiny.cc/PurposefulEmpathyCA
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanowak/
✩ Instagram https://tinyurl.com/anitanowakinstagram
✩ Podcast Audio https://tinyurl.com/PurposefulEmpathyPodcast
✩ Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/anitanowak.bsky.social
CONNECT WITH CLAIRE
✩ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-webster-873904a7/
✩ FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/McGillDEP
✩ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mcgilldep/
SHOW NOTES
✩ McGill Dementia Education Program https://www.mcgill.ca/dementia/
✩ CareGiver Crosswalk https://www.carecrosswalk.com
✩ Dementia: Your Companion Guide https://www.amazon.com/Dementia-Companion-University-Education-Program/dp/1772470619
Video edited by Jad Misri, Green Horizon Studio