The Empathy Exchange: Navigating the Senior Care Maze: Hard Lessons, Insights, and Tips from a Resilient Family Member

In this episode I chat with Sandra Boyd about her experience navigating Retirement and Assisted Living with her parents and in-laws. We dive into the ups and downs of her family’s journey, with Sandra bringing in both personal and business perspectives. Sandra shares practical insights based on her experience. She talks about what went well, what could have been better, and how care providers can learn from it all – the challenges, the missed chances for building relationships, and the positive impacts they can make.

For family members dealing with similar situations, Sandra offers straightforward advice to help you navigate your caregiving journey more successfully.

Join us for a down-to-earth conversation about the realities of seniors’ care, packed with valuable takeaways from a family who’s been through it.

About Sandra Boyd
Sandra is the Managing Director of Organizational and Talent Development at B. Riley Farber. She brings over 25 years in the leadership & talent development space, spending the last 15 years in leadership roles for nationally recognized human capital firms.

Sandra is the published author of 2 books, research papers, articles and columns in national and international magazines and newspapers. Her key passion is helping leaders and employees elevate performance through connection.

Currently, Sandra is a Board Member of the East Wellington Family Health Team. She is also a former Board Member of Career Star Group, a global leader in career transition, leadership and coaching.

You can find out more about me and the work I do at DeborahBakti.com or email me at [e-mail]. I’d love to hear from you.

What is The Relational Approach: In Seniors' Care?

Let’s face it – Senior's Care is a complex business that provides a much-needed service to residents and families during a tough chapter in their lives. The beginning of this key relationship can be filled with anxiety, stress and worry and yet, there is a better way to bring residents, families and staff together.

Staff and leadership of Senior Care Facilities need an incredible amount of support when it comes to managing residents/seniors and their family relationships. This podcast will provide a framework and open up discussions around The Relational Approach™.

The Relational Approach™ System is a practical and easy-to-use framework for leaders and staff in Senior Care Homes to build stronger connections with families. It’s based on three guiding principles that focus on trust, respect, and working together as partners in care. The system also helps raise awareness of six common relational roadblocks that can cause tension. Once these roadblocks are identified, simple strategies can be used to close the gaps.

This process guides staff from learning and understanding to fully integrating and transforming their relationships with families. As a result, it reduces friction, frustration, and stress, allowing teams to avoid problems before they escalate. The goal is to move away from a transactional approach and create a more relational, empathetic, and human connection between staff and families.

Join host Deborah Bakti – a former executive in seniors care for 11 years, and a family member three times over, with her dad, mom, and husband all having lived as residents. She’s seen what it’s like on both sides.

In each episode, we'll explore both the family and staff perspectives, shedding light on the emotions, expectations, and sometimes the disappointments that arise from the friction in these relationships. Through heartfelt conversations, personal anecdotes, and expert insights, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the diverse perspectives that shape senior care environments.

Tune in to gain valuable insights, and cultivate a better approach. Together, let's create a community where understanding thrives and where the journey of aging is met with compassion and empathy.