Dementia Care in Canada Is Broken — Here's Why (with Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen)
The Dementia CollectiveShow Notes
What happens when a system built to protect people becomes the very thing that limits their freedom — and the people inside it are left to carry the emotional weight?
In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Dr. Sharon Kaasalainen — nurse, researcher, and co-lead of the SPA-LTC palliative care initiative — to explore what long-term care looks like from the inside, why caregivers often feel shut out of decisions, and how a new approach could reshape the way Canada cares for people living with dementia. Sharon has spent decades working in LTC homes, listening to care aides, supporting families, training nurses, and challenging the assumptions that have governed the sector for too long.
Together, Andrew and Sharon dive into why caregivers are still viewed as “difficult,” how early palliative conversations can calm crisis before it begins, and why the most meaningful innovations in LTC aren’t high-tech — they’re human.
They also tackle the darker side of regulation: Bill 14, the rise of investigators, and what happens when a sector meant to care becomes a sector afraid to move. Sharon offers a candid perspective on the burnout of nurses, the undervaluing of care aides, and the emotional cost of a system where everyone feels watched but no one feels supported.
In this episode: • Why caregivers should be involved from the very beginning — not only when signatures are needed • How early palliative conversations help families avoid crisis • The role of care aides, and why their expertise must be recognized and regulated fairly • Why LTC feels more like an institution than a home — and how to change that • How the Netherlands is reshaping global expectations for dementia care • The emotional reality of nurses navigating impossible workloads • The danger of punitive regulation and how it undermines innovation • How SPA-LTC is reducing hospital transfers and improving quality of dying • Why listening is still the most underrated skill in dementia care • What Sharon hopes the next generation of LTC will finally get right
Whether you’re a caregiver advocating for a loved one, a healthcare provider navigating the pressures of LTC, or someone trying to understand how we rebuild a system from the inside out, Sharon’s insights offer clarity, compassion, and a vision for long-term care where people — not policies — come first.
Learn more at: https://www.bluebellvillage.ca https://spaltc.ca
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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