After Caregiving
Caregivers set their own lives aside to care for someone else, but eventually their job comes to an end. After Caregiving shares the stories of former caregivers and explores the challenges they face as they transition out of this role and endeavor to find new purpose.
Produced with the participation of 
With support from 
Pilot Episode - Julie's Story
In this episode, we hear Julie’s story. A mother who is forced to confront her worst fears when her 21-year-old disabled daughter passes away. Grief stricken and without a clear path forward, Julie searches for new purpose. Having put her career on hold for over 20 years to be a full-time caregiver for her daughter, Julie now finds herself struggling to validate the importance of her life’s work and to be recognized for her extraordinary accomplishments.
Episode 2 - Michelle's Story
In 1982 Michelle met the love of her life in Grant. Through marriage and having kids, they always seemed in step with each other. But as Grant approached 50 Michelle began to notice changes in his personality. It wasn’t long before he received a dementia diagnosis. For the next 11 years Michelle cared for a version of Grant that was less and less the man she fell in love with. As Michelle sees it, she lost Grant soon after he was diagnosed but that didn’t make his death any less difficult – she would have been happy to care for him, as he was, until the day she died.
Episode 3 - Katherine's Story
Katherine’s world was turned upside down after an early morning phone call informed her that her boyfriend had been the victim of a horrific mugging. A carefree 26 year old at the time, she would spend the next four years of her life as the primary caregiver for her boyfriend as he recovered from a traumatic brain injury. Now, after his long awaited return home, Katherine must navigate her own healing journey and redefine their lives together, establishing a new normal.
Episode 4 - Daniel's Story
For Daniel, taking on the task of being his partner Richard’s caregiver as he battled AIDS was never a question. However, as a young caregiver, Daniel wasn’t prepared for the challenges that followed Richard’s passing. Daniel fell into a deep, consuming depression, struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Yet, through the power of communal grieving and healing within the Toronto gay community, Daniel discovered a way to navigate through his grief and find a way out of the darkness.
Episode 5 - Barb and Jim's Story
Barb and Jim were doing everything they could to care for their autistic son Harrison but as he got older the level of care required by Harrison became increasingly difficult to manage. Coupled with their concern about what would happen to Harrison after they died, they began to plan for his future. After a long wait they “hit the jackpot” when Harrison was placed in a group home. Relieved as they were, they initially struggled with feelings of guilt over transferring their son’s care. However, they finally had the support they needed and they quickly conceded that the move was what was best for them and Harrison.
Episode 6 - Aasa's Story
Aasa had built a life with her husband and children in Canada. However, when her father began exhibiting signs of dementia, she made the decision to return home to care for him. Driven by a strong sense of duty and obligation as a child and faced with her siblings unwillingness to acknowledge the dementia diagnosis, she knew she needed to be there. After several long months of caring for her farther, he finally passed. Upon arriving back to Canada, separated from the rest of her family, Aasa found solace in memories of her father to cope with the loneliness and grief.
Episode 7 - Mitch's Story
Mitch made the decision to form his COVID “”bubble” with his mom and dad, but not long after moving home his father received a terminal cancer diagnosis. With the caregiving roles reversed between father and son, Mitch longed to once again receive the care of the father who had supported him for years. However, having to shelter in place together 24/7 provided Mitch with an opportunity to get to know his dad on a more intimate level than he had previously experienced. So when his Dad passed, Mitch felt conflicting emotions that were difficult for him to reconcile. On the one hand he was happy he had the time with his dad, but devastated that their time together was cut so short.
Episode 8 - Paulina's Story
Paulina and Claude found love later in life, when Claude was already suffering from persistent heart problems. Despite Claude’s health problems, Paulina was determined to care for him and extend their time together for as long as possible. When that time was cut shorter than expected Paulina wrestled with feelings of self blame. However, she soon came to the realization that there was nothing she could or would have done differently.