RESILIENT PEOPLE

How to build resilience: Essentials that every caregiver needs with author and advocate Donna Thomson

Episode Summary

A caregiver almost her entire life, Donna Thomson calls herself a "serial family caregiver". She helped to care for her ailing father who passed away when she was a teenager; has been caring for her 34 year old son who was born with severe cerebral palsy; as well as for her mother for ten years until she passed away at 96 years old. Through these different experiences in caregiving, Donna found a purpose in advocacy work, writing and research with the goal to help caregivers everywhere. In this episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE, we spoke about her purpose, where she gets her resilience from, how caregivers can care better as well as how their support systems can care back for them; and the value in having a good laugh.

Episode Notes

In this episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE, I welcome caregiving expert Donna Thomson.

Through years of being a family caregiver to turning to advocacy work and research in the area, Donna shares a wealth of knowledge and personal experience. 

We spoke about: 

• her essentials for being a better caregiver
• how to avoid failure within the healthcare system
• ways that she maintains her positive mindset and resilience
• avoiding caregiver burnout
• finding a community that you can really laugh with
• learning to say no but also the power in saying yes 

LINKS:

www.donnathomson.com

Facebook: @thecaregiverslivingroom

Twitter: @thomsod

McMaster University - Caregiving Essentials 

RESILIENT PEOPLE is hosted by Janet Fanaki and features conversations with EXTRAordinary people from around the world who are admired for their resilience. They have overcome a major challenge, created a purpose from it and now help others to be resilient too. 

The  aim is to show that your negative experience does not need to define you. It can also be a platform to help you find new meaning.  And build a positive and resilient mindset.

If you are someone with a story to tell, or know someone who does, please record a voice memo or type a message and send it to: info@resilientpeople.ca. 

Find all interviews from the podcast, information about Janet Fanaki, hiring her for speaking opportunities and order a RESILIENT t-shirt as well as other merchandise at www.resilientpeople.ca.

The RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast is available everywhere you listen including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

FOLLOW RESILIENT PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram www.instagram.com/resilientpeopleca & Twitter www.twitter.com/resilientpeopl

PROMOTIONAL PARTNER:

Leanne Townsend - www.leannetownsend.ca