21. From Love Letter to Legacy: How One Daughter's Thank You Became a Map for Dementia Care

Send us Fan MailEpisode DescriptionIn this season finale, I'm joined by Beth Fitzmaurice, whose caregiving story became a digital story transforming how McCormick Dementia Services trains staff and supports caregivers. Beth shares what it was like to care for her mom 24/7 for five years, how digital storytelling helped her find purpose after loss, and why she went from isolated to advocate. This conversation shows how one five-minute video can create ripples of impact far beyond what we imagine.Key Takeaways• How Beth and Lisa co-created a five-minute video now used for staff training, board orientation, and caregiver support groups • Why simple details—a singing video, a photo showing humor, knowing someone was an x-ray tech—transform care • The isolation of 24/7 caregiving and how sharing her story helped Beth realize she did the best she could • Privacy decisions: What Beth shared publicly (Scrabble tiles, family photos) versus kept private (hospital videos) • McCormick's village approach: Day programs, nurses, social workers, and spa services that enabled home care • From farewell speech to Calgary Story Slam: How "a journey only love can navigate" resonated with audiences • The therapeutic power of admitting publicly "I keep thinking I didn't do all I could" • Finding a video of her mom singing after her death—and wishing she'd shared it with care staff soonerLinks & Resources MentionedWatch the digital story, LOVE 'D'Common Language Story Slam"The Caregiver's Journey" - Beth's story featured in Western Universtiy Alumni Magazine (Spring/Summer 2025 issue on aging and caregiving)Previous episode reference:  Episode 5 with Kristy Wolfe - where Beth's story was first mentionedMcCormick Dementia Services (London, Ontario) - Providing day programs, education, support groups, counselling, and specialized care for persons with dementia and their care partnersFeatured GuestBeth Fitzmaurice cared for her mother 24/7 for five years following her 2019 dementia diagnosis. Her letter of gratitude to McCormick became a digital story featured at Calgary's Digital Story Slam, used for training at McCormick, published in Western University's Alumni Magazine, and shared in support groups.Thank you for listening!Do you have a question or a topic related to "capturing essence for care" that you would like discussed on the podcast?  Email:  [email protected] use the "Send us Fan Mail" link at the top of the Episode Description to text the show!Interested in learning more?  Check out my Etsy ShopVisit my YouTube channel or websiteIntro and outro music with thanks:  Upbeat and Sweet No Strings by Musictown Lisa brings over 25 years of experience working in healthcare settings with older adults. The perspectives shared on this podcast are her own and do not represent the views of any past or current employer. Patient/resident stories are shared only with explicit permission or as anonymized composites for educational purposes.