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Island Treasures
Island Treasures began as a platform for caregivers with its guests sharing their stories to encourage, provide insights, and resources to support those in the midst of caregiving. With over 100 heartfelt episodes, it reminded caregivers they were not alone, as it uplifted voices of wisdom, empowerment, and compassion. In October 2025 Island Treasures enters a new chapter.
This relaunched season explores life after caregiving—the transitions, transformations, and moments that follow with former caregivers sharing how they have transitioned into their next chapter.
In addition to these heartfelt episodes addressing life after caregiving, from time to time we will celebrate the treasures of Vancouver Island with an episode highlighting a place or experience unique to Vancouver Island—after all that’s where the podcast calls home.
Whether you’re just beginning to rediscover life beyond caregiving or caregiving is part of your distant past, Island Treasures offers stories that we trust will resonate with you and inspire you as you move forward after caregiving. Or if you’re curious about Vancouver Island and want to hear more about the people and places that make it special, we’re delighted to have you join us for those episodes as well.
Please note: the original episodes remain available and provide a rich archive of support for caregivers. This new season simply expands the journey.
Island Treasures
How Boundaries Provided Freedom In Caregiving
Valerie Wiens, a nurse with a geriatric specialty and a 'sandwich generation' caregiver joins me in this episode. Valerie is a colleague of mine and when I heard her caregiving story, I invited her to be a guest on the podcast so that her story could encourage caregivers.
When caregiving, she found herself being pulled in all directions and through the observation of her husband, she learned the importance of boundary setting. By creating boundaries she not only could manage her roles better, but they provided a sense of freedom and gave her the ability to give fully within the boundaries she set.
In her career as a nurse, Valerie is often asked questions of how to navigate challenges facing aging parents. Out of those questions, Valerie put her personal experience, professional knowledge of the healthcare system as well as creative problem-solving into a book called ‘What Do We Do About Mom?’
In addition to writing the book, Valerie is now the owner of Keystone Eldercare Solutions. Through her business she is able to provide care locally in the Comox Valley and remotely – helping guide families in their decision making and identifying problems to solve creatively. Valerie is also proudly certified as a Teepa Snow Care Consultant which is our foundational approach for dementia care.
On her days off, Valerie aims to get out in her kayak and stare at blue ocean with her husband Les or their 3+1 grown children if they come join.
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