September 24, 2025 • 24 mins
For women over 50, caregiving can feel invisible — but it can also uncover resilience, healing, and even unexpected joy.
When her mother was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Katrina Prescott’s life changed overnight. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she faced caregiver burnout, grief, and the painful realities of family caregiving. But in the crucible of caregiving, something unexpected happened: resilience, forgiveness, and a stronger mother-daughter relationship began to emerge.
In this powerful conversation, Katrina shares:
- How caregiving after dementia diagnosis reshaped her relationship with her mother.
- Practical caregiver support strategies, from finding respite care to practicing self-care for caregivers through conscious breathing.
- How resilience through caregiving challenges created space for healing and forgiveness.
- The inspiration behind her viral series “Things Not to Say to a Caregiver,” which has reached over a million viewers and opened crucial conversations about grief and compassion.
For anyone who has felt unseen while caring for a loved one, Katrina’s story is validation and hope. Her message is simple but powerful: “You’re doing the best you can in the circumstances you’re in, with the tools and resources you have right now.”
Resources
For a caregiving story that inspired millions, check episode 139 and if you like podcast for women over 50 The Late Bloomer Living Podcast embraces change and sparks joy, to live playfully at any age. Meet inspiring guest who share practical, real-world tips.
Katrina Prescott – Caregiver Advocate & Storyteller
🌐 Website: katrinaloveprescott.com 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katrina-love-prescott-5799157 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/katrina.prescott 📸 Instagram: @katprescott 🐦 X (Twitter): x.com/prescottkatrina
Beverley Glazer – Transformation Coach & Host of Aging with Purpose and Passion
📧 Email: Bev@reinventImpossible.com
🌐 Website
💼 LinkedIn
📘 Facebook
👥 Women Over 50 Rock Group
📸 Instagram
🎁 BONUS: Take your first step to clarity, courage and momentum. Your free checklist: → From Stuck to Unstoppable – is here.
https://reinvent-impossible.aweb.page/from-stuck-to-unstoppable
Have feedback or a powerful story that's worth telling? Contact us at info@Reinventimpossible.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to Aging with Purpose and Passion, the
podcast designed to inspire yourgreatness and thrive through
life.
Get ready to conquer your fears.
Here's your hostpsychotherapist, coach and
empowerment expert, BeverlyGlazer.
Beverley Glazer (00:30):
Have you ever felt exhausted and invisible
caring for a loved one?
Well, welcome to Aging withPurpose and Passion.
I'm Beverly Glazer, atransformational coach and
catalyst for women who are readyto raise the bar in their own
life, and you can find me onreinventimpossiblecom.
(00:50):
Katrina Prescott is an activistfor caregivers.
She's a coach, a speaker and anaward-winning advocate who
empowers others with tools tomanage stress, find strength and
(01:10):
connect with themselves in thecaregiving role.
Her viral series, things Not toSay to a Caregiver has reached
over a million views, and itbreaks the stigma and opens
conversations about thecaregiving role.
This story will demonstratethat caregiving isn't just about
giving to others.
It's about finding resilience,forgiveness and even joy within
(01:33):
yourself.
Welcome, katrina.
Katrina Prescott (01:37):
Hi Beverly.
Thanks so much for having mehere today, katrina you grew up
spending time with yourgrandparents.
Beverley Glazer (01:45):
What were those early days like for you?
Katrina Prescott (02:08):
them and from being in relationship with them.
Um, they were very uh of theirtime.
You know my grandfather.
It was the seventies, eighties.
My grandfather still wore athree-piece suit every day.
Uh, my grandma had an updo andwore her outfit.
You know, always a dress outfit.
You know, always a dress.
And they taught me reallyrespect, respecting my elders,
(02:38):
respecting other people.
Pick up a penny if you find iton the street.
That was big.
They lived through thedepression, you know.
But you know I really, mygrandfather lost his vision and
had other health challenges.
He had cancer and I reallylearned a lot.
That was when I started tolearn about caregiving, even
though, of course, I didn't knowthat I was a caregiver at the
age of four or five or whateverit was.
(03:00):
But that was what was happeningand I did care about them and I
wanted to make their worldbetter and I engaged in that and
they.
That opportunity of being nearthem.
(03:21):
It did teach me that.
Beverley Glazer (03:24):
Sure, and your mom and you, though, didn't
always get along, which isnormal.
You know mothers and daughters,but did that change when she
was diagnosed with early onsetdementia?
Katrina Prescott (03:39):
Not really not at first.
It did, but not at first.
It love my mom so much.
Growing up, my mom was myperson and then I became a
teenager and an adult and thingschanged and we really couldn't
see eye to eye and my mom wasdiagnosed not long after my
(04:01):
grandmother died and I didn'treally know anything about
dementia.
I didn't know anything.
I thought my mom had visionproblems.
I didn't really know what wasgoing on and it, it, it took me
a while, like probably years,before I kind of chunked into
(04:24):
okay, I'm the only one who canchange here, she that has
control of how they can change.
She's changing and she has nocontrol over it.
I am, I can change and havecontrol over how I navigate that
change, how I navigate herchanging.
And I really was somehow, by thegrace of the powers that be,
(04:51):
was able to let that go.
A lot of things go, notprobably everything, but allow
for her to be her.
And once I could do that, thetension dissipated, the anger
started to melt away, thefeelings of I really love this
(05:14):
person and maybe now, instead ofpushing against that my whole
life, because I'm trying toteach you a lesson, I will,
which is what I was doing.
Um, I'll step into this and uh,or or, I'm right, you're wrong.
That's classic right lesson andI'm right.
(05:35):
But when I was able to let go,you know, that became such a
gift to us both.
It wasn't perfect.
Nothing is but the fact that Iallowed myself to love my mom
and let my mom feel that I lovedher.
Wow For me, that was verypowerful.
(05:57):
Wow For me, that was verypowerful.
Beverley Glazer (05:59):
What was the hardest part, Katrina, of being
a full-time caregiver?
Katrina Prescott (06:09):
I mean, you have to give up your life for
that.
That's a lot.
What was the hardest part?
The hardest, I would saythere's two hardest parts.
I don't think there's onehardest part, there's two
hardest parts.
So one of the hardest parts isno sleep, right, so that when
you're tired, everything's thatmuch harder.
Um, it's re.
(06:32):
You just can't function.
You know they use sleep as aform of torture or sorry, sleep
deprivation as a form of torture, right, so you become somebody
that you're not.
It's really hard, like at timesI thought I was totally losing
it.
Or you're angry, or you'reemotional, and would you be
(06:54):
those ways if you'd slept?
You be those ways if you'dslept?
I, now that I'm with me andmom's not here and I don't sleep
, I prove my own theory I'memotional because I didn't sleep
.
Um, so I would say that'sreally the hardest part, or one
of the hardest parts.
The real hardest part is thelack of help, the lack of
(07:18):
support, and if that was inplace I probably would have
slept.
But really not having help, whatdoes help look like?
It looks like many differentthings.
You know just the medicalsystem here in Canada.
(07:40):
It actually causes more stress.
Medical system here in Canada.
It actually causes more stress,and then that stress robs us of
precious moments that we couldbe having with the person that
we're caring for, and then theyhave to deal with our stress.
So it affects that.
You know it's really disruptiveto the relationship, the stress
.
So you know what else does help?
Look like it looks like beingjudged or misunderstood, hence
(08:04):
things not to say to a caregiver.
You know you should really takecare of yourself.
Well, I never intended to nottake care of myself.
The reality is is that thereisn't enough support from the
system available for me toachieve self-care.
So things like that, but thosethat that lack of support, and
(08:27):
that comes in multiple ways andlack of which can lead to lack
of sleep.
Beverley Glazer (08:32):
So Of course.
So what did you do?
How did you take a break?
Because this is 24-7.
Katrina Prescott (08:42):
Yeah, how did I take a break?
We started to get somegovernment support.
I live in BC, so it's perprovince, I think.
At first I was getting sixhours a week, which is you know
nothing.
What are you doing?
(09:04):
Okay, so I guess I'll takethree, two hour blocks.
That's what I did.
And then are you going to havea shower?
Are you going to lay there?
Will you even fall asleep?
Can you fall asleep?
There's so much on one's mind,how can one even fall asleep?
And then the guilt of not doingthe things that need to get
done, like maybe you didn't getyour taxes done, or maybe you
(09:27):
would have plus I was working,so I would work, or um, yeah, so
back to the question.
I did start to get more homesupport.
We ended up getting, I think itwas 27 hours a week.
Five times five is 25.
Yeah, it was 27 hours a week.
(09:48):
So I would take that in chunks.
Uh, five hour, four hour blocks, and I would really just work
then.
And then eventually, um, I did,um, get private help.
Um, you know, we got reallythis is crazy, but we got in a
car accident, my mom and I.
(10:10):
We got in a car accident andthe insurance company actually
started to give us private helpand I needed it so bad and it
was such a blessing, you know.
And then from there I startedto figure out okay, budget wise,
how can I do this?
(10:31):
Mom had a small amount ofsavings.
I didn't know how long my momwas going to live, so it's like
do you or what's happening?
Like.
So I eventually used her smallsavings to provide her with what
I felt was excellent care.
That's what her money's for.
So that eventually happenedmore towards the last couple of
(10:56):
years of her life.
Beverley Glazer (10:58):
So let me ask you when did you start to
realize that caregiving wasreshaping you?
Katrina Prescott (11:07):
Not just giving.
Oh, that's such a good question.
Good question, beverly.
Good question.
I wonder if I could.
I always call myself anaccidental advocate because I
didn't, I wasn't trying to be anadvocate way which is a little
(11:45):
more, um, maybe nuanced than a,than a protesting way, so to
speak.
Uh, and both.
Both are needed, um, but Iwould say, you know, little
things started to happen, likeat first it was realizing what I
spoke to earlier.
I have to change me.
She's changing.
She can't control it.
I need to control.
Am I reacting or responding?
It was kind of like little,little snip slivers of things.
(12:09):
Um, and we have a senior'sadvocate here in BC and they
asked me to review our homesupport survey and I think at
that point that's really when Iwas like, okay, I'm doing
something, my lived experienceand sharing it could have a
(12:31):
positive impact, it could impactothers.
That was really interesting tome.
So there were kind of two thingsgoing on.
There was like the activist, me, and then the self-coaching.
Right, how am I going to getthrough this?
I need to use my tools tomentally do this.
I had counselors, but none ofthem understood caregiving, so I
(12:56):
felt further judged by them,which made things really hard.
It made me feel worse, so Irealized I had to use my tools.
Okay, what are my tools?
Conscious breathing, that's abreak.
It might just be 30 seconds,but when we're consciously
breathing, that's the only timewe can't think, and not thinking
(13:18):
for 10, 15, 30 seconds.
In that kind of environment,the overwhelm and chaos that's a
break.
It might not seem like a break,but you do that 20 times a day.
It adds up.
So I guess those little thingsdid lead me to the next thing.
(13:42):
Okay, my awareness would shift.
When I started taking thesebreathing breaks, I could
respond.
Instead of react, I could catchmyself, I could have awareness.
Did that really?
Is that triggering me on theinside, or am I supposed to be
triggered right now and I'm justreacting?
Those little shifts, I think,were continuous.
Beverley Glazer (14:12):
Right.
Does that make sense?
Oh, it absolutely does.
You have to shift yourperception and just small little
micro ways, but they do add up.
But then mom passed and aftercaregiving 24 7, there's a big
gap.
How did you find yourself afterthat katrina?
Katrina Prescott (14:38):
yeah, it was so it's.
Maybe I still am.
No, I mean maybe it it, it itwas bizarre.
It was bizarre.
You know where'd she go, and ofcourse, then the things with
death happen and that can takeover your life.
You know she had her ownapartment, um, that had to be
(15:01):
navigated.
I basically I was living there,um, but that had to be handled
the paperwork, the all thethings right, and that can take
months and and I was exhaustedso really for, and I was
exhausted so really for, I wouldsay, the first year and a half.
(15:34):
I was really tuckered out still,but I guess what I would say
really kind of helped me wasbeing able to do the show things
, not to say to a caregiver, yes, I would say that having that
opportunity that I'm so gratefulfor, um, really, and and using
my lived experience and voice totouch other people and be like
(15:57):
I see you, um, and also in a wayto honor my mom, like my mom's
suffering um, is potentiallysupporting other people, um,
this is such a gift and and I'mgrateful that I did that it is I
(16:18):
still think about it.
It's been three years Like soweird, my mom's gone, um, you
know you have all this time.
You have all this and everyonewants to.
What are you going to do now?
Okay, Well, I'm gonna.
I don't know, I need a minute,um, and then you know, I let
myself breathe, I I really didlet myself grieve fully and that
(16:43):
I feel like, opened the channelfor other opportunities to come
in.
Beverley Glazer (16:52):
Let's talk about that series.
Things not to say to acaregiver.
It had over a million views, soyou're touching someone else's
heart, a lot of someone's.
Yes.
What inspired you to evencreate it Because this was not
just a lecture series, and a lotof them are this was actors.
(17:17):
This is in snippets and Iwatched it and it's fun and it
points dead on.
So, as a producer, you pulledtogether those actors and you
made this happen.
Tell us about that.
Katrina Prescott (17:35):
Happy to do so and thanks for asking.
Well, the idea had been floated.
So my producing partner,jessica Fraser, and thanks for
asking.
Well, the idea had been floated.
So my producing partner,jessica Fraser, and I.
She was also caring for her mom, who was living with
Alzheimer's, and a caregiver toher father.
But we would talk about thesethings that people said for
(17:57):
years and other people had inour world had said that are that
are going through other healthissues.
Oh my gosh, you know this personsaid, you know we just it
became in our, in our awareness.
It became just very somethingthat was there and we talked
about doing it and when mompassed, pretty much right after,
(18:23):
people would say, oh, you mustbe so relieved, you must be so
relieved that your mom died andother things, right, well,
you've got your life ahead ofyou.
I'm talking like a day, likeright, right.
Then people that I don't evenknow that well, or people and
(18:46):
jess and our other friend, uhliba, and I were sitting in my
living room right after mompassed, probably the next day or
something like that, and and Iwas like, if one more person
tells me how relieved I must be,I'm going to lose it, and in
that conversation it was likeokay, it's time to see if we can
(19:07):
pull this show together and doit, and some people might feel
relief.
That's fine, but assuming thatsomeone feels some way and
speaking for them is the thingnot to do, right?
Um, there's other things thatcan be said.
(19:30):
Like you know, I'm, I'm, I'msorry that that.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Beverley Glazer (19:36):
That's it.
Katrina Prescott (19:36):
That's all you need it can just be very simple
Um, that's it.
That's all you need.
It can just be very simple andwe don't know what to say often.
So this show we're using a bitof humor.
Hopefully it gives people agiggle to maybe think in a
different way and know somethings to say or give an
(19:58):
opportunity of.
This is how you could say it.
You know it's, it's not, it's atool.
You know, hearing things to say, as I mentioned earlier,
hearing things not to say, as Imentioned earlier is exhausting
when you're caregiving, becausethen you feel like you have to
justify yourself and yourchoices and and it creates more
(20:18):
work for us when we hear thesethings that that are can be
painful.
So writing when we wrote this,it's okay.
How do we lay this out and helppeople circumnavigate this
situation?
Just eradicate it.
Beverley Glazer (20:38):
Right.
So what would you want someoneto know?
Who's caring for a loved oneright now?
One thing what would you tellthem?
Katrina Prescott (20:48):
You're doing the best you can in the
circumstances that you're in,with the tools and resources
that you have in this moment,right now.
And resources that you have inthis moment right now, it's
moment to moment.
It's very hard and you mightnot feel like you're doing the
(21:09):
best you can, but you are.
That's the best you could doright then.
Beverley Glazer (21:22):
And allowing for that is very important.
Thank you, Thank you.
Katrina Prescott is acaregiving activist, a coach, a
speaker and an award-winningadvocate who empowers others
with tools to manage stress,find strength and reconnect with
themselves in the caregivingrole.
A viral series Things Not toSay to a Caregiver is breaking
(21:45):
the stigma and openingconversations about the
caregiving role.
There are a few takeaways fromthis episode.
Even the hardest moments incaregiving hold valuable lessons
.
Reach out for the tools to helpyou.
They can become lifelines, andsharing your journey can help
(22:06):
break the stigma and help otherstoo.
If you've been relating to thisepisode, here are a few actions
that you could take right now.
Write down one little thing youneed for yourself today and do
it.
Ask for help, Even if it's asmall little thing.
You need a short break and findone tiny joy in a day, Perhaps
(22:31):
a little music or some food.
Savor it For a joyfulcaregiving story that's inspired
millions of others.
Check out episode 139 of Agingwith Purpose and Passion.
And if you love podcasts forolder women, the Late Bloomer
Living podcast is where YvonneMarches chats with inspiring
(22:55):
guests who share practical,real-world tips for navigating
midlife and far beyond.
That link is in the show notesbelow.
And so, Katrina, where canpeople reach out to you and find
out more about your services?
What are your links?
Katrina Prescott (23:12):
I have a link I try to keep everything in one
place for people.
It's katrinalovelprescott.
com and the show is on there.
I'm on there.
There's lots on there.
This can even be on there.
Beverley Glazer (23:32):
Terrific, and all Katrina's links are in the
show notes and they'll be on mysite too.
That's reinventedimpossible.
com.
And so, my friends, what's nextfor you?
Are you just going through themotions or are you living the
life that you truly love?
Get my free guide to go fromstuck to unstoppable, and that's
(23:53):
also in the show notes, too.
You can connect with me,beverly Glazer, on all social
media platforms and in mypositive group of women on
Facebook, women Over 50 Rock,and thank you for listening.
Have you enjoyed thisconversation?
Please subscribe and help usspread the word by dropping a
review and sending this to afriend.
(24:15):
And remember you only have onelife, so live it with purpose
and passion.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Thank you for joining us.
You can connect with Bev on herwebsite, reinventimpossiblecom
and, while you're there, joinour newsletter Subscribe so you
don't miss an episode.
Until next time, keep agingwith purpose and passion and
celebrate life.
Welcome to Aging with Purpose and Passion, the
podcast designed to inspire yourgreatness and thrive through
life.
Get ready to conquer your fears.
Here's your hostpsychotherapist, coach and
empowerment expert, BeverlyGlazer.
Beverley Glazer (00:30):
Have you ever felt exhausted and invisible
caring for a loved one?
Well, welcome to Aging withPurpose and Passion.
I'm Beverly Glazer, atransformational coach and
catalyst for women who are readyto raise the bar in their own
life, and you can find me onreinventimpossiblecom.
(00:50):
Katrina Prescott is an activistfor caregivers.
She's a coach, a speaker and anaward-winning advocate who
empowers others with tools tomanage stress, find strength and
(01:10):
connect with themselves in thecaregiving role.
Her viral series, things Not toSay to a Caregiver has reached
over a million views, and itbreaks the stigma and opens
conversations about thecaregiving role.
This story will demonstratethat caregiving isn't just about
giving to others.
It's about finding resilience,forgiveness and even joy within
(01:33):
yourself.
Welcome, katrina.
Katrina Prescott (01:37):
Hi Beverly.
Thanks so much for having mehere today, katrina you grew up
spending time with yourgrandparents.
Beverley Glazer (01:45):
What were those early days like for you?
Katrina Prescott (02:08):
them and from being in relationship with them.
Um, they were very uh of theirtime.
You know my grandfather.
It was the seventies, eighties.
My grandfather still wore athree-piece suit every day.
Uh, my grandma had an updo andwore her outfit.
You know, always a dress outfit.
You know, always a dress.
And they taught me reallyrespect, respecting my elders,
(02:38):
respecting other people.
Pick up a penny if you find iton the street.
That was big.
They lived through thedepression, you know.
But you know I really, mygrandfather lost his vision and
had other health challenges.
He had cancer and I reallylearned a lot.
That was when I started tolearn about caregiving, even
though, of course, I didn't knowthat I was a caregiver at the
age of four or five or whateverit was.
(03:00):
But that was what was happeningand I did care about them and I
wanted to make their worldbetter and I engaged in that and
they.
That opportunity of being nearthem.
(03:21):
It did teach me that.
Beverley Glazer (03:24):
Sure, and your mom and you, though, didn't
always get along, which isnormal.
You know mothers and daughters,but did that change when she
was diagnosed with early onsetdementia?
Katrina Prescott (03:39):
Not really not at first.
It did, but not at first.
It love my mom so much.
Growing up, my mom was myperson and then I became a
teenager and an adult and thingschanged and we really couldn't
see eye to eye and my mom wasdiagnosed not long after my
(04:01):
grandmother died and I didn'treally know anything about
dementia.
I didn't know anything.
I thought my mom had visionproblems.
I didn't really know what wasgoing on and it, it, it took me
a while, like probably years,before I kind of chunked into
(04:24):
okay, I'm the only one who canchange here, she that has
control of how they can change.
She's changing and she has nocontrol over it.
I am, I can change and havecontrol over how I navigate that
change, how I navigate herchanging.
And I really was somehow, by thegrace of the powers that be,
(04:51):
was able to let that go.
A lot of things go, notprobably everything, but allow
for her to be her.
And once I could do that, thetension dissipated, the anger
started to melt away, thefeelings of I really love this
(05:14):
person and maybe now, instead ofpushing against that my whole
life, because I'm trying toteach you a lesson, I will,
which is what I was doing.
Um, I'll step into this and uh,or or, I'm right, you're wrong.
That's classic right lesson andI'm right.
(05:35):
But when I was able to let go,you know, that became such a
gift to us both.
It wasn't perfect.
Nothing is but the fact that Iallowed myself to love my mom
and let my mom feel that I lovedher.
Wow For me, that was verypowerful.
(05:57):
Wow For me, that was verypowerful.
Beverley Glazer (05:59):
What was the hardest part, Katrina, of being
a full-time caregiver?
Katrina Prescott (06:09):
I mean, you have to give up your life for
that.
That's a lot.
What was the hardest part?
The hardest, I would saythere's two hardest parts.
I don't think there's onehardest part, there's two
hardest parts.
So one of the hardest parts isno sleep, right, so that when
you're tired, everything's thatmuch harder.
Um, it's re.
(06:32):
You just can't function.
You know they use sleep as aform of torture or sorry, sleep
deprivation as a form of torture, right, so you become somebody
that you're not.
It's really hard, like at timesI thought I was totally losing
it.
Or you're angry, or you'reemotional, and would you be
(06:54):
those ways if you'd slept?
You be those ways if you'dslept?
I, now that I'm with me andmom's not here and I don't sleep
, I prove my own theory I'memotional because I didn't sleep
.
Um, so I would say that'sreally the hardest part, or one
of the hardest parts.
The real hardest part is thelack of help, the lack of
(07:18):
support, and if that was inplace I probably would have
slept.
But really not having help, whatdoes help look like?
It looks like many differentthings.
You know just the medicalsystem here in Canada.
(07:40):
It actually causes more stress.
Medical system here in Canada.
It actually causes more stress,and then that stress robs us of
precious moments that we couldbe having with the person that
we're caring for, and then theyhave to deal with our stress.
So it affects that.
You know it's really disruptiveto the relationship, the stress
.
So you know what else does help?
Look like it looks like beingjudged or misunderstood, hence
(08:04):
things not to say to a caregiver.
You know you should really takecare of yourself.
Well, I never intended to nottake care of myself.
The reality is is that thereisn't enough support from the
system available for me toachieve self-care.
So things like that, but thosethat that lack of support, and
(08:27):
that comes in multiple ways andlack of which can lead to lack
of sleep.
Beverley Glazer (08:32):
So Of course.
So what did you do?
How did you take a break?
Because this is 24-7.
Katrina Prescott (08:42):
Yeah, how did I take a break?
We started to get somegovernment support.
I live in BC, so it's perprovince, I think.
At first I was getting sixhours a week, which is you know
nothing.
What are you doing?
(09:04):
Okay, so I guess I'll takethree, two hour blocks.
That's what I did.
And then are you going to havea shower?
Are you going to lay there?
Will you even fall asleep?
Can you fall asleep?
There's so much on one's mind,how can one even fall asleep?
And then the guilt of not doingthe things that need to get
done, like maybe you didn't getyour taxes done, or maybe you
(09:27):
would have plus I was working,so I would work, or um, yeah, so
back to the question.
I did start to get more homesupport.
We ended up getting, I think itwas 27 hours a week.
Five times five is 25.
Yeah, it was 27 hours a week.
(09:48):
So I would take that in chunks.
Uh, five hour, four hour blocks, and I would really just work
then.
And then eventually, um, I did,um, get private help.
Um, you know, we got reallythis is crazy, but we got in a
car accident, my mom and I.
(10:10):
We got in a car accident andthe insurance company actually
started to give us private helpand I needed it so bad and it
was such a blessing, you know.
And then from there I startedto figure out okay, budget wise,
how can I do this?
(10:31):
Mom had a small amount ofsavings.
I didn't know how long my momwas going to live, so it's like
do you or what's happening?
Like.
So I eventually used her smallsavings to provide her with what
I felt was excellent care.
That's what her money's for.
So that eventually happenedmore towards the last couple of
(10:56):
years of her life.
Beverley Glazer (10:58):
So let me ask you when did you start to
realize that caregiving wasreshaping you?
Katrina Prescott (11:07):
Not just giving.
Oh, that's such a good question.
Good question, beverly.
Good question.
I wonder if I could.
I always call myself anaccidental advocate because I
didn't, I wasn't trying to be anadvocate way which is a little
(11:45):
more, um, maybe nuanced than a,than a protesting way, so to
speak.
Uh, and both.
Both are needed, um, but Iwould say, you know, little
things started to happen, likeat first it was realizing what I
spoke to earlier.
I have to change me.
She's changing.
She can't control it.
I need to control.
Am I reacting or responding?
It was kind of like little,little snip slivers of things.
(12:09):
Um, and we have a senior'sadvocate here in BC and they
asked me to review our homesupport survey and I think at
that point that's really when Iwas like, okay, I'm doing
something, my lived experienceand sharing it could have a
(12:31):
positive impact, it could impactothers.
That was really interesting tome.
So there were kind of two thingsgoing on.
There was like the activist, me, and then the self-coaching.
Right, how am I going to getthrough this?
I need to use my tools tomentally do this.
I had counselors, but none ofthem understood caregiving, so I
(12:56):
felt further judged by them,which made things really hard.
It made me feel worse, so Irealized I had to use my tools.
Okay, what are my tools?
Conscious breathing, that's abreak.
It might just be 30 seconds,but when we're consciously
breathing, that's the only timewe can't think, and not thinking
(13:18):
for 10, 15, 30 seconds.
In that kind of environment,the overwhelm and chaos that's a
break.
It might not seem like a break,but you do that 20 times a day.
It adds up.
So I guess those little thingsdid lead me to the next thing.
(13:42):
Okay, my awareness would shift.
When I started taking thesebreathing breaks, I could
respond.
Instead of react, I could catchmyself, I could have awareness.
Did that really?
Is that triggering me on theinside, or am I supposed to be
triggered right now and I'm justreacting?
Those little shifts, I think,were continuous.
Beverley Glazer (14:12):
Right.
Does that make sense?
Oh, it absolutely does.
You have to shift yourperception and just small little
micro ways, but they do add up.
But then mom passed and aftercaregiving 24 7, there's a big
gap.
How did you find yourself afterthat katrina?
Katrina Prescott (14:38):
yeah, it was so it's.
Maybe I still am.
No, I mean maybe it it, it itwas bizarre.
It was bizarre.
You know where'd she go, and ofcourse, then the things with
death happen and that can takeover your life.
You know she had her ownapartment, um, that had to be
(15:01):
navigated.
I basically I was living there,um, but that had to be handled
the paperwork, the all thethings right, and that can take
months and and I was exhaustedso really for, and I was
exhausted so really for, I wouldsay, the first year and a half.
(15:34):
I was really tuckered out still,but I guess what I would say
really kind of helped me wasbeing able to do the show things
, not to say to a caregiver, yes, I would say that having that
opportunity that I'm so gratefulfor, um, really, and and using
my lived experience and voice totouch other people and be like
(15:57):
I see you, um, and also in a wayto honor my mom, like my mom's
suffering um, is potentiallysupporting other people, um,
this is such a gift and and I'mgrateful that I did that it is I
(16:18):
still think about it.
It's been three years Like soweird, my mom's gone, um, you
know you have all this time.
You have all this and everyonewants to.
What are you going to do now?
Okay, Well, I'm gonna.
I don't know, I need a minute,um, and then you know, I let
myself breathe, I I really didlet myself grieve fully and that
(16:43):
I feel like, opened the channelfor other opportunities to come
in.
Beverley Glazer (16:52):
Let's talk about that series.
Things not to say to acaregiver.
It had over a million views, soyou're touching someone else's
heart, a lot of someone's.
Yes.
What inspired you to evencreate it Because this was not
just a lecture series, and a lotof them are this was actors.
(17:17):
This is in snippets and Iwatched it and it's fun and it
points dead on.
So, as a producer, you pulledtogether those actors and you
made this happen.
Tell us about that.
Katrina Prescott (17:35):
Happy to do so and thanks for asking.
Well, the idea had been floated.
So my producing partner,jessica Fraser, and thanks for
asking.
Well, the idea had been floated.
So my producing partner,jessica Fraser, and I.
She was also caring for her mom, who was living with
Alzheimer's, and a caregiver toher father.
But we would talk about thesethings that people said for
(17:57):
years and other people had inour world had said that are that
are going through other healthissues.
Oh my gosh, you know this personsaid, you know we just it
became in our, in our awareness.
It became just very somethingthat was there and we talked
about doing it and when mompassed, pretty much right after,
(18:23):
people would say, oh, you mustbe so relieved, you must be so
relieved that your mom died andother things, right, well,
you've got your life ahead ofyou.
I'm talking like a day, likeright, right.
Then people that I don't evenknow that well, or people and
(18:46):
jess and our other friend, uhliba, and I were sitting in my
living room right after mompassed, probably the next day or
something like that, and and Iwas like, if one more person
tells me how relieved I must be,I'm going to lose it, and in
that conversation it was likeokay, it's time to see if we can
(19:07):
pull this show together and doit, and some people might feel
relief.
That's fine, but assuming thatsomeone feels some way and
speaking for them is the thingnot to do, right?
Um, there's other things thatcan be said.
(19:30):
Like you know, I'm, I'm, I'msorry that that.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Beverley Glazer (19:36):
That's it.
Katrina Prescott (19:36):
That's all you need it can just be very simple
Um, that's it.
That's all you need.
It can just be very simple andwe don't know what to say often.
So this show we're using a bitof humor.
Hopefully it gives people agiggle to maybe think in a
different way and know somethings to say or give an
(19:58):
opportunity of.
This is how you could say it.
You know it's, it's not, it's atool.
You know, hearing things to say, as I mentioned earlier,
hearing things not to say, as Imentioned earlier is exhausting
when you're caregiving, becausethen you feel like you have to
justify yourself and yourchoices and and it creates more
(20:18):
work for us when we hear thesethings that that are can be
painful.
So writing when we wrote this,it's okay.
How do we lay this out and helppeople circumnavigate this
situation?
Just eradicate it.
Beverley Glazer (20:38):
Right.
So what would you want someoneto know?
Who's caring for a loved oneright now?
One thing what would you tellthem?
Katrina Prescott (20:48):
You're doing the best you can in the
circumstances that you're in,with the tools and resources
that you have in this moment,right now.
And resources that you have inthis moment right now, it's
moment to moment.
It's very hard and you mightnot feel like you're doing the
(21:09):
best you can, but you are.
That's the best you could doright then.
Beverley Glazer (21:22):
And allowing for that is very important.
Thank you, Thank you.
Katrina Prescott is acaregiving activist, a coach, a
speaker and an award-winningadvocate who empowers others
with tools to manage stress,find strength and reconnect with
themselves in the caregivingrole.
A viral series Things Not toSay to a Caregiver is breaking
(21:45):
the stigma and openingconversations about the
caregiving role.
There are a few takeaways fromthis episode.
Even the hardest moments incaregiving hold valuable lessons
.
Reach out for the tools to helpyou.
They can become lifelines, andsharing your journey can help
(22:06):
break the stigma and help otherstoo.
If you've been relating to thisepisode, here are a few actions
that you could take right now.
Write down one little thing youneed for yourself today and do
it.
Ask for help, Even if it's asmall little thing.
You need a short break and findone tiny joy in a day, Perhaps
(22:31):
a little music or some food.
Savor it For a joyfulcaregiving story that's inspired
millions of others.
Check out episode 139 of Agingwith Purpose and Passion.
And if you love podcasts forolder women, the Late Bloomer
Living podcast is where YvonneMarches chats with inspiring
(22:55):
guests who share practical,real-world tips for navigating
midlife and far beyond.
That link is in the show notesbelow.
And so, Katrina, where canpeople reach out to you and find
out more about your services?
What are your links?
Katrina Prescott (23:12):
I have a link I try to keep everything in one
place for people.
It's katrinalovelprescott.
com and the show is on there.
I'm on there.
There's lots on there.
This can even be on there.
Beverley Glazer (23:32):
Terrific, and all Katrina's links are in the
show notes and they'll be on mysite too.
That's reinventedimpossible.
com.
And so, my friends, what's nextfor you?
Are you just going through themotions or are you living the
life that you truly love?
Get my free guide to go fromstuck to unstoppable, and that's
(23:53):
also in the show notes, too.
You can connect with me,beverly Glazer, on all social
media platforms and in mypositive group of women on
Facebook, women Over 50 Rock,and thank you for listening.
Have you enjoyed thisconversation?
Please subscribe and help usspread the word by dropping a
review and sending this to afriend.
(24:15):
And remember you only have onelife, so live it with purpose
and passion.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Thank you for joining us.
You can connect with Bev on herwebsite, reinventimpossiblecom
and, while you're there, joinour newsletter Subscribe so you
don't miss an episode.
Until next time, keep agingwith purpose and passion and
celebrate life.
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