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.
Episodes
129 episodes
From Caring for His Dad to Supporting Caregivers
Caregiving often arrives without warning, and for many families, the weight of responsibility is compounded by not knowing where to turn. In this episode, we sit down with Lance A Slatton, whose plan to help his father recover from a fall turne...
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Life After Caregiving: Heart Memories
In this episode, we welcome back a familiar voice from Season 5, Episode 1 — Grace Block returns to share what life looks like after caregiving.She opens up about the transition from being a full‑time caregi...
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Island Treasures Nature Spotlight: Sea Lions on the Shore
A rare gathering of California Sea Lions turned a quiet Vancouver Island shoreline into a living, breathing wildlife spectacle. In this Island Treasures spotlight episode, come along as we get an unusually close look at these massive, captivati...
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Life After Caregiving: Reconstructing Sharon
After eleven years as the sole caregiver for her mom living with young‑onset dementia, Sharon Davis wasn’t prepared for the grief, anger, and loss that followed her mother’s passing. Holidays lost their sparkle, her faith felt fractured, and li...
Family Is Everything: Helping Children Understand Alzheimer’s, and Life After Caregiving
Carol Steinberg is an accomplished writer/editor and a former award-winning journalist who contributed regularly to The New York Times, Success magazine, and other publications. In addition, Carol brings a deeply personal lens to th...
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Caregiver Recovery: Redefining Normal and Moving Forward
Caregiver Recovery: Redefining Normal and Moving Forward invites listeners into another honest conversation with Christina Keys about life after caregiving. Too often, caregivers are left 'soul tired' and unprepared for life after care...
Grief, Grit, and Growth: A Caregiver’s Guide to Healing and Renewal
In our first full episode since the relaunch, we sit down with former caregiver, Licia Thompson-Young, who shares what it means to grow forward with intention after caregiving. From stepping beyond her comfort zone to embracing the unknown in u...
Life After Caregiving: Finding Your Footing
When caregiving ends, it can feel like standing at the edge of a cliff—grief, uncertainty, and a quiet question echoing: “What now?” In this heartfelt episode of Island Treasures, we explore the transition from active caregivi...
Island Treasures Relaunch 2025
After six seasons, Island Treasures returns with a fresh focus. We’ve rebranded to explore life after caregiving—the stories, reflections, and quiet renewals.This new season shines a light on what follows caregiving, because tha...
Island Treasures Podcast: Change is A-Coming!
Island Treasures Podcast is taking a short break from publishing new episodes to reflect and seek future direction!Over the past six seasons, we've explored the many facets of caregiving, sharing insightful conversations and meaningful s...
Island Treasures Mini Podcast: No Regrets
A central theme of the full podcast episode with Rayna Neises, called "Rayna's Caregiving Wisdom: No Regrets and Cherished Memories" was how to have no regrets when caregiving.After 26 years of caregiving during which Rayna completed her...
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Rayna’s Caregiving Wisdom: No Regrets and Cherished Memories
In this episode we are joined by Rayna Neises for an enlightening conversation about her extensive caregiving journey. Rayna is a dedicated Caregiving Coach, author, and advocate for family caregivers. With a heart deeply rooted in ...
Island Treasures Mini Podcast: A Dementia Companion
This mini episode highlights key points from “Creating Connections with a Dementia Companion” featuring Gina Awad. Gina, who studied Dementia as part of her Health and Social Care degree, is a valuable resource for those living with dementia an...
Meaningful Connections with a Dementia Companion
Gina Awad's heartfelt journey into dementia caregiving began with her childhood visits to care homes, sparking a lifelong mission to support families navigating this challenging landscape. She studied Dementia as part of her Health and Social C...
Island Treasures Mini Podcast: Thinking Ahead with Betsy Haddad
This mini episode visits a few of the key takeaways Betsy Haddad shared with the listeners in the full episode "Thinking Ahead about Alzheimer's and Care Needs with Betsy Haddad". Since her caregiving experience she has become an activist...
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Thinking Ahead About Alzheimer's and Care Needs with Betsy Haddad
Betsy Haddad has returned to the podcast to share some exciting news on the fight against Alzheimer's Disease. Since the passing of her beloved dad, Edward, Betsy has had time to reflect on his suffering and that has channeled her grief i...
Island Treasures Mini Podcast: Geri-Gadgets®
Angela Fairhurst demonstrates the 3 Geri-Gadgets ® buckets that, as an entrepeneur she designed and created to enhance the lives of folks living with dementia. There's the Fidget-Gadget ® bucket, the Shapes bucket and the Flower buc...
A Caregiver's Innovative Creation
Angela Fairhurst was the primary caregiver for her mom who after a misdiagnosis and several different medications was eventually diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Angela's passion to find engaging activities for her mom led her to create...
Island Treasures 'Treasure Chest' with Judy Cornish
Another 'Island Treasures Treasure Chest' bonus episode. In this episode we revisit "Skills Retained: Strengths-Based Approach to Dementia Care" Season 2, Episode 13 featu...
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Island Treasures Mini Podcast: Caregiver Respite
Rebekah Dowhy, grew up being the caregiver for her mom. Through her caregiving life she learned the importance of support. She describes the rare opportunity she had to experience the joy that came with taking a break.&...
Normal Life Plus Caregiving
This episode offers valuable insights to both caregivers and non-caregivers, featuring valuable tips from Rebekah Dowhy for those who aren't caregivers but want to lend a hand.Rebekah's journey into caregiving began at birth, as her mot...
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Island Treasures 2024 Podcast Title Story
This mini episode contains a fictional short story that combines the titles from the full episodes of the Island Treasures podcast that aired throughout 2024. The story encompasses the various aspects of caregiving mentioned in the titles...
Island Treasures Mini Podcast: Two Poems from Sarah Merriman
In the full episode entitled "Roadblocks and Signposts for Caregivers", Sarah Merriman talked about her poetry and reminiscence sessions for people living with dementia; and that she is a poet herself! Sarah was willing to share t...
Roadblocks and Signposts for Caregivers
Sarah Merriman joins this episode straight from the United Kingdom. Sarah was the primary caregiver for her Nana for seven years. Her grandmother experienced cognitive deficits and despite Sarah's attempts to have her assessed, her ...
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Island Treasures 'Treasure Chest' with Loretta Veney
Loretta Veney is a LEGO Serious Play Instructor and she was able to find effective ways to incorporate LEGO into caregiving for her mom who was living with dementia. You can hear all about Loretta's journey as a caregiver in the full podc...
