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Proudly Hosting The Dementia Collective Podcast!

What does it actually mean to build with older adults, rather than simply for them? In this special episode of The Dementia Collective, Andrew Karesa sits down with seven guests at the Silver Tech Summit 2.0 in Edmonton to explore what aging well really looks like, who gets a say in shaping that future, and why older adults need to be part of the conversation. Across seven conversations, the discussion moves from technology to care, community, entrepreneurship, research, loneliness, Indigenous perspectives, and the importance of actually listening to the people we are designing for. Featuring: * Darlene Schindel, Founder, NurseWell Collective * Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, Professor, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta * Janice Baskin, Manager, Edmonton Regional Innovation Network * Karen Murdock, Founder, Silver Longevity Business Association * Jay Pritchard, President, WE Seniors * Zoran Kovacevic, entrepreneur and founder of Pace * Chief Billy Morin, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Northwest, former Chief of Enoch Cree Nation, and Indigenous Services Critic In this episode: * What “Build With Us, Not For Us” actually means * Why older adults need a voice in the technologies and services created for them * Why care is about more than technology * Loneliness, isolation, and rebuilding community * Turning research and innovation into real-world solutions * Entrepreneurship and designing alongside the people you serve * Indigenous entrepreneurship and culturally appropriate care for Elders * Rethinking how we define and measure successful aging This is a conversation about agency, dignity, community, independence, and who gets a seat at the table when we decide what aging well should look like. This special episode was filmed at and produced in conjunction with the Silver Tech Summit 2.0, hosted by WE Seniors in Edmonton, Alberta. Learn more at: https://www.bluebellvillage.ca ——— Join The Village and help shape conversations like this by submitting questions to our guests: https://www.patreon.com/cw/blueBellVillage ——— 00:00 Introduction to the Silver Tech Summit 00:47 Introduction to Darlene Schindel 06:14 The Language of Caregiving 12:23 Personal Experiences in Nursing 20:30 Embracing Technology in Senior Care 28:37 Building Together: The Meaning Behind the Slogan 32:23 Introduction to Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell 35:43 The fluid mechanics of urination 38:10 Research Impact on Aging and Disabilities 44:13 Challenges in Commercializing Innovations 47:12 Why university research is often not brought to market 54:23 Introduction to Janice Baskin 01:00:04 Edmonton Regional Innovation Network Overview 01:02:49 Entrepreneurship defined 01:05:54 Community Needs and Innovation 01:12:30 Commercialization Challenges in Innovation 01:20:51 Building with Users in Mind 01:24:38 Introduction to Karen Murdock 01:29:20 Building Community and Trust in Technology 01:37:35 Empowering Seniors: Stories of Inspiration 01:44:25 Creating Solutions for Seniors 01:51:22 Empowering Seniors to Share Their Needs 01:52:14 Introduction to Jay Pritchard 01:57:19 Humor and Connection in Senior Care 02:03:03 Strategies for Identifying Isolated Seniors 02:08:37 Building Technology with Seniors in Mind 02:12:32 Introduction to Zoran Kovacevic 02:17:27 Life on a Cruise Ship 02:23:46 Lessons from Law School and Personal Growth 02:29:02 Introducing PacePet: The AI Companion 02:34:37 Integrating Senior Feedback into Product Development 02:38:26 Introduction to Chief Billy Morin 02:41:16 Billy Morin's Background and Political Journey 02:44:16 Leadership Philosophy and Fiscal Responsibility 02:47:13 Infrastructure Development and Community Trust 02:48:37 Indigenous Knowledge and Elder Reverence 02:50:36 Cultural Values and Community Dynamics 02:51:42 Technology and Community Design 02:53:25 Entrepreneurship in Indigenous Communities 02:54:52 Balancing Community Development and Entrepreneurial Influence 02:56:07 Attracting Talent to Indigenous Communities 02:57:31 Navigating Allyship and Community Needs 02:59:21 The Importance of Ceremony and Tradition 03:00:49 Creating Urban Reserves for Indigenous Innovation 03:03:23 Building Community Spaces for Indigenous Identity 03:05:58 Indigenous Entrepreneurs in Education and Health 03:08:09 Redefining Success in Indigenous Services 03:10:01 The Role of Traditional Knowledge in Modern Solutions 03:10:56 The Haunting Absence of Indigenous Language and Culture ——— Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider about your health. In an emergency, contact local emergency services. Guests’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa or blueBell Village Ltd. Third-party references are for information only, not endorsements. You use this podcast at your own risk. Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., and their team are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from its use 3:14:05
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Build With Us Not For Us: What Aging Well Really Looks Like | LIVE from the Silver Tech Summit

What does caregiving look like when no one sees what you’re carrying? In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Katie Kristofic, founder of The Carefullist, caregiver advocate, and former family caregiver, to explore the realities of supporting a loved one through Alzheimer’s disease and why she now spends her late nights helping caregivers who have nowhere else to turn. After caring for her mother through every stage of Alzheimer’s disease, Katie transformed her own experience into a mission to make caregiving less isolating. She shares the subtle signs that first made her realize something was wrong, the challenges her family faced as her mother’s condition progressed, and how her father’s quiet devotion shaped the way they navigated dementia together. Katie also reflects on balancing caregiving with a demanding corporate career, the unexpected challenges caregivers face in the workplace, and how those experiences ultimately led her to create The Carefullist. Together, Andrew and Katie discuss the hidden emotional weight of caregiving, the importance of meeting every person living with dementia where they are, the value of community, and why caregivers deserve far more support than they often receive. They also explore what happens after caregiving ends, how purpose can emerge from grief, and why helping others became part of Katie’s own healing. This is a conversation about Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, caregiving, family, grief, purpose, advocacy, and finding hope by helping others. In this episode: * How Katie first realized something was wrong with her mother * What Alzheimer’s looked like throughout her mother’s journey * How her father cared for his wife at home with creativity and compassion * The challenges of balancing a career while caring for a parent * Why so many caregivers feel isolated and unsupported * How caregiving changed Katie’s purpose after her mother’s death * Why she created The Carefullist * The importance of finding community during and after caregiving * Practical advice for families beginning a dementia journey * Why Katie spends her nights supporting caregivers online Whether you are caring for a parent, spouse, grandparent, friend, neighbour, or someone living with dementia, this conversation is a reminder that while caregiving can often feel lonely, you do not have to carry it alone. Sometimes the greatest source of hope is knowing that someone else understands exactly what you’re going through. Learn more at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bluebellvillage.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.carefullist.com ——— Join The Village and help shape conversations like this by submitting questions to our guests: https://www.patreon.com/cw/blueBellVillage ——— 00:32 Katie Kristofic 01:00 The Carefulist: A Journey of Healing 02:45 Understanding Alzheimer's: Personal Experiences 08:42 Family Dynamics in Caregiving 11:32 Creative Caregiving Strategies 16:58 Caregiving Challenges 18:09 The Impact of Caregiving on Career 39:59 Navigating Grief and Loss 41:57 The Role of Community and Support 46:36 Navigating Caregiving Challenges 51:29 The Birth of a Podcast 53:39 Understanding The Carefulist 55:49 Lightning Round 01:00:36 Impactful Stories and Lessons 01:12:16 Finding Hope in Caregiving 01:14:28 Final Thoughts and Community Support ——— This episode is brought to you by Eugeria. Check out their website for dementia products you can trust. ——— Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider about your health. In an emergency, contact local emergency services. Guests’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa or blueBell Village Ltd. Third-party references are for information only, not endorsements. You use this podcast at your own risk. Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., and their team are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from its use. 1:17:21
YouTube Video UExxYWcwUU01bW5IaEN3dFNkQ21kOUFFTE1FYUtYSHM2SC4wQzZFNDlFNkI3MDBBMDcx

She's Up At 2AM Because That's When Caregivers Need Her Most (with Katie Kristofic) | EP52

What if the biggest problem with dementia care is not dementia, but the way we have designed care around it? In this episode, Andrew Karesa sits down with Eloy van Hal, co-founder of the Hogeweyk and senior managing advisor with Be Advice, to explore how one of the world’s most recognized approaches to dementia care grew from a traditional institutional nursing home into a neighbourhood built around normal life, autonomy, relationships, and personhood. Often described as the world’s first “dementia village,” the Hogeweyk began transforming dementia care more than 30 years ago. Eloy explains why the goal was never simply to build a nicer nursing home, but to rethink what life could look like for people requiring complex dementia care. Together, Andrew and Eloy challenge conventional ideas about safety, locked doors, risk, independence, and what people living with dementia should be allowed to do. Eloy explains why everyday experiences like cooking with a knife, shopping for groceries, walking outside, meeting strangers, and choosing how to spend the day matter. He also shares why, if he were starting again today, he might not build a dementia village at all. Eloy also reflects on his own experience supporting his mother, who is living with dementia, and how being a family caregiver has shaped his perspective after decades of working professionally in dementia care. In this episode: * How the Hogeweyk evolved from a traditional nursing home * Why Eloy dislikes the term “dementia village” * What normal life looks like for people requiring complex dementia care * Why dementia care needs to rethink risk and safety * Whether people living with dementia should be free to leave * How small group homes and shared lifestyles create comfort * Why everyday interactions and community matter * What Eloy has learned caring for his own mother * Why leadership is essential to changing dementia care * What Eloy would do differently if building the Hogeweyk today This is a conversation about dementia care, autonomy, dignity, risk, community, leadership, and a simple idea at the heart of Eloy’s work: people living with dementia should be seen first as people, not patients. This is a conversation about dementia care, autonomy, dignity, risk, community, leadership, and a simple idea that people living with dementia should be seen people first ——— Join The Village and help shape conversations like this by submitting questions to our guests: https://www.patreon.com/cw/blueBellVillage ——— 00:00 Introduction to Eloy van Hal, co-founder of The Hogeweyk Dementia Village 01:44 Changing the Hogeweyk 02:25 The concept of transforming a memory ward into a community neighborhood 03:22 Dream of integrating dementia support into normal neighborhoods 04:23 Moving from isolated institutions to inclusive communities 06:47 Security, autonomy, and human rights in dementia care 10:02 Current security measures and unlocking the community 11:24 Introduction to Caregiving Challenges 11:52 European approach to dementia care and autonomy 13:23 Redefining risk and safety in dementia environments 18:33 Eloy van Hal’s journey into dementia care innovation 30:21 History and evolution of the Hogevik model 34:41 Development of the neighborhood concept for dementia support 38:59 Media framing and misconceptions about dementia villages 41:35 Leadership and societal change in dementia care 43:22 Dementia villages globally 44:55 Traits of leaders driving care innovation 47:42 Community response and support for the Hogevik model 53:58 Adjustments and lessons learned at the Hogevik 01:07:57 Research, evidence, and impact stories from the Hogevik 01:13:21 Most impactful moments demonstrating the model’s success 01:14:33 How buying Fixodent denture glue showed independence and autonomy 01:17:19 Advice for creating community-centered dementia care 01:18:38 Lightning round 01:19:39 HAEVN's Biggest Groupie 01:26:21 Personal passions of Eloy van Hal 01:28:02 Disagreeing with misconceptions about dementia care 01:28:50 Thoughts on animals and their role in care environments 01:30:45 Most human thing recently experienced by Eloy van Hal 01:37:01 Sources of hope in dementia care innovation 01:38:05 Parting words: humanization and societal change ——— This episode is brought to you by Eugeria. Check out their website for dementia products you can trust. ——— Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider about your health. In an emergency, contact local emergency services. Guests’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Andrew Karesa or blueBell Village Ltd. Third-party references are for information only, not endorsements. You use this podcast at your own risk. Andrew Karesa, blueBell Village Ltd., and their team are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from its use. 1:40:35
YouTube Video UExxYWcwUU01bW5IaEN3dFNkQ21kOUFFTE1FYUtYSHM2SC5FMTM2MTg4QjIyQjMwODIz

The Truth About Dementia Villages (with Eloy van Hal) | EP51

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