The Hart Of It All with Teri Hart

The hidden crisis in Canadian seniors' care: why so many wait in limbo and how for-profit chains profit at their expense

Imagine a system where 70% of long-term care homes are owned by private corporations, yet they profit from taxpayer dollars meant for vulnerable seniors. Meanwhile, over 50,000 Ontarians await a spot in these facilities, living in hospitals, transitional units, or at home, often in dangerous limbo. Is this the care Canada prides itself on?

Melissa Miller, an elder law expert and advocate for seniors, pulls back the curtain on systemic failures, including underfunded staffing, maintenance shortcuts, and the profit motive that jeopardizes quality of life. She reveals how COVID laid bare these vulnerabilities and explains the complex maze families are forced to navigate: the distinctions between retirement communities, long-term care, and nursing homes, and why the lines blur when escalating needs arise. With jaw-dropping insights, Melissa details how for-profit chains cut corners on infrastructure, how government inspections often fail, and why the entire funding model is broken.

Discover why choices matter, from the realities of aging in place to the risky waitlist for long-term care. You'll learn practical strategies to recognize quality care, including what to look for beyond fancy lobbies and luxe amenities. Melissa shares transparent resources to look up licensing and inspection reports, empowering families to advocate fiercely. And as demand for seniors’ care continues to grow, her insights are a wake-up call for policy change and community action.

Whether you're a caregiver, a concerned family member, or someone planning your future, this episode exposes the urgent need to rethink aging and elder care before more lives are caught in the cracks of a deeply flawed system. If you believe care should prioritize dignity over profit, this episode is essential listening.

Get ready to question everything you thought you knew about seniors’ care and discover how you can help push for transparency, accountability, and real reform.

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Resources:

Watch the Documentary "Stolen Time" featuring Melissa:
NFB Website: https://www.nfb.ca/film/stolen-time/
Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0QMXDD9IRP9J5KYAXT0S2GUUEO

Follow Melissa Miller:
Website: https://hshlawyers.com/team/melissa-miller
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millermelawyer/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-miller-16524320/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod
Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does meaningful support look like when someone’s life has changed overnight?

In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart sits down with Catherine Wreford, Broadway performer, Amazing Race Canada winner, brain cancer advocate, mother, and someone who knows what it means to both support others and receive support herself.

Catherine was diagnosed with brain cancer at 32, just weeks after giving birth to her second child. She was told she had two to six years to live. Thirteen years later, she is still performing, parenting, advocating, and helping change the conversation around brain cancer, serious illness, and what meaningful support actually looks like.

Catherine shares the moments that made the biggest difference during treatment, from friends who brought the food she actually loved, to a freezer full of donated breast milk, to the people who learned how to help without making her feel like a burden. She also talks about scan anxiety, self-advocacy in the healthcare system, what not to say to someone with cancer, and why emotional support can matter just as much as practical help.

This episode is for anyone supporting a loved one through illness, navigating a serious diagnosis, or wondering how to show up when words fall short. Catherine’s story is honest, funny, generous, and full of reminders that the best support often starts with listening.

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Resources:

Follow Catherine Wreford:
Website: https://catherine-wreford.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinewreford/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.ledlow/
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/catherine-wreford-09522ab

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod
Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

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.

__

🟡 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The housing crisis can feel especially frightening for senior women living alone. With rising rents, limited pension income, and few affordable options, the question of where and how to live can become urgent very quickly.

In this episode, Teri Hart speaks with Pat Dunn, founder of Senior Women Living Together, about her own experience facing housing insecurity and the community-based solution she created in response.

Teri and Pat discuss why so many senior women are financially vulnerable, how caregiving and the gender pension gap contribute to the problem, and why shared living can offer affordability, safety, friendship, and dignity.

This episode is for anyone worried about the cost of aging, supporting an older woman through housing decisions, or looking for hopeful alternatives to aging alone.

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This episode is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. This content is provided for general information only and is not intended to provide any advice nor endorsements/recommendations. All opinions and views expressed by the speaker(s) are not representative of views and opinions of RBC Wealth Management. All Information and opinions provided in this podcast are in good faith of the speaker(s), but without legal responsibility for RBC Wealth Management.

A longer life means planning for the longer run. And that requires more than just financial foresight. It takes a plan that encompasses health, wellness and finances. That’s why RBC Wealth Management partners with leading organizations to help Canadians maneuver each of life’s stages with peace of mind and confidence.

Learn more at:

RBC Wealth Management: http://rbcwm.com/

Aging Well Hub: http://rbcwm.com/agingwell

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Resources:

Follow Senior Women Living Together
Website: https://swlt.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576221544918
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swlt.ca/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/senior-women-living-together-swlt/

Single Seniors For Tax Fairness: https://www.singleseniorsfortaxfairness.com/

Seniors Social Action Ontario: https://www.seniorsactionontario.com/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod
Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

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.

__

🟡 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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The financial side of caregiving can feel overwhelming, especially when aging parents want to stay at home. But understanding the options early can bring clarity, relief, and a stronger sense of control.

In the last episode, personal finance expert Rob Carrick walked through a practical financial checklist to help caregivers start important money conversations with aging parents. In Part 2 of his conversation with Teri Hart, Rob goes deeper into the financial realities families may face as parents age, especially when they want to age in place.

Teri and Rob unpack the difference between a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a reverse mortgage, how care costs can reshape expectations around inheritance, and why the so-called “great wealth transfer” may not be as straightforward as many families think. They also discuss registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs), estate planning, and the often-misunderstood tax implications that can come later in life.

This episode is for anyone helping aging parents make financial decisions, trying to understand the cost of aging in place, or wondering how to have more honest conversations about money, care, and quality of life before a crisis hits. As Rob shares from both his professional expertise and his own caregiving experience, the “care years” are something many families enter with little preparation, but the right conversations can make those years easier to navigate.

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This episode is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. This content is provided for general information only and is not intended to provide any advice nor endorsements/recommendations. All opinions and views expressed by the speaker(s) are not representative of views and opinions of RBC Wealth Management. All Information and opinions provided in this podcast are in good faith of the speaker(s), but without legal responsibility for RBC Wealth Management.

A longer life means planning for the longer run. And that requires more than just financial foresight. It takes a plan that encompasses health, wellness and finances. That’s why RBC Wealth Management partners with leading organizations to help Canadians maneuver each of life’s stages with peace of mind and confidence.
Learn more at:
RBC Wealth Management: http://rbcwm.com/
Aging Well Hub: http://rbcwm.com/agingwell

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Resources:

Follow Rob Carrick:
Website: https://robcarrick.ca/
Substack: https://robcarrickpf.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-carrick-66a6a017/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod
Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

__

🟡 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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Money is one of the hardest parts of caregiving to talk about, but it is also one of the most important.

In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri Hart sits down with longtime personal finance expert Rob Carrick for part one of a two-part conversation about the financial realities of aging, caregiving, and planning for the future. From aging in place to retirement homes, long-term care, home equity, personal support workers, and the hidden costs families often do not see coming, Rob explains why the question is not just “What do we want?” but “What can we realistically afford?”

Rob also shares a practical financial checklist for adult children supporting aging parents, including what to know about joint bank accounts, monthly expenses, power of attorney, investments, taxes, beneficiaries, and current ID. It is a conversation about preparation, clarity, and having the money talks before a crisis forces your hand.

Whether you are caring for a parent now or trying to plan ahead, this episode will help you understand the financial decisions that can shape care, housing, and peace of mind. And because there is so much to cover, Rob will be back next week for part two, where he and Teri dive deeper into RRIFs, home equity lines of credit, reverse mortgages, and the tax implications families need to understand.

Resources:

Follow Rob Carrick:
Website: https://robcarrick.ca/
Substack: https://robcarrickpf.substack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-carrick-66a6a017/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod
Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

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.

-

🟡 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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.