A lot of people dealing with dementia caregiving quietly wonder: Is it supposed to feel this overwhelming?
Troy McCallum understands the kind of exhaustion that comes from constantly being “on” for someone you love.
As his mother’s dementia progressed, Troy found himself trying to manage everything at once: the confusion, the wandering, the emotional volatility, the constant fear that something could go wrong. He was exhausted, anxious, and running on adrenaline for so long that his own health began to suffer.
In this episode of The Hart of It All, Troy opens up about the reality so many caregivers live behind closed doors. The guilt of setting boundaries. The pressure to always be available. The feeling that your own life is slowly disappearing while you try to hold someone else’s together.
From using smart home devices, cameras, and AirTags to help his mom stay safe, to learning when he needed to step back and protect his own well-being, Troy shares the practical strategies that made caregiving feel more manageable.
Troy speaks candidly about navigating long-term care, managing the emotional toll of dementia, and the importance of recognizing your own limits before burnout takes over.
If you’ve ever felt isolated, burnt out, resentful, scared, or like you’re failing at caregiving because you can’t do it all perfectly, this episode will feel deeply familiar. More importantly, it may help you feel a little less alone.
Troy is a media professional and the creator/host of DEMENCHATS, an Instagram account documenting the everyday realities of dementia caregiving with honesty, humour, and compassion.
Resources:
VON Home and Community Care:
https://www.von.ca/en
Follow Troy McCallum & DEMENCHATS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/demenchats
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Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/
I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.
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🟡 About The Hart of it All
A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.
No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.
From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.
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