Show Notes
What does it mean to care for someone with dignity when culture, language, family, and personal identity are often overlooked?
In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Varsha Bhat, business and innovation leader, caregiver advocate, Vice-Chair of the Alzheimer Society of Montreal, and host of the Aging With Dignity podcast.
Varsha shares how her mother’s dementia diagnosis and her father’s sudden cardiac decline changed the course of her life. While continuing to work and manage her own responsibilities, she helped coordinate home care, palliative care, medical decisions, and support for both parents.
Together, Andrew and Varsha explore why dignity is personal, why cultural competency matters in dementia care, and why completing tasks is not the same as truly caring for someone. They also discuss the role of community, the challenges faced by first-generation immigrant families, caregiver burnout, family privacy, and the pressure to make every decision correctly.
This is a conversation about dementia, culture, caregiving, grief, compassion, and the importance of seeing the person behind the diagnosis.
In this episode:
• Varsha’s journey from daughter to caregiver • Her mother’s corticobasal degeneration diagnosis • Caring for both parents at the same time • Cultural competency in dementia and eldercare • Why dignity means something different to every person • The role of community in supporting caregivers • Navigating home care and palliative care • Why caregivers cannot do everything alone • Accepting that caregiving decisions will not always be perfect • How Varsha’s experience inspired Aging With Dignity
Whether you are a caregiver, healthcare professional, or family member, this conversation offers an honest look at what dignified care requires and why compassion must remain at the centre of it.
Learn more at: https://www.bluebellvillage.ca https://agingwithdignity.podbean.com/
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Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or treatment. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., or any of its employees, contractors, or team members.
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