My Place Home Care has launched our very own Podcast called Compassionate Conversations that is hosted by our very own Tanys Coughlan and Heidi Gagne. Our hosts talk with guests that are experts in their respective fields in topics related to seniors and their caregivers. Our hour long podcast goes live on the last Friday of each month and our thirty minute podcast is live the second Wednesday of the month. Visit our YouTube channel to get caught up on our latest content and don’t forget to subscribe so you can be notified when our new podcasts are released.
Episode 16: With special guest Michelle De Grandmont, Nurse Manager, patient advocate and Owner of Soft Soles. Michelle, Nurse Manager, patient advocate and Owner of Soft Soles approaches foot care through three key areas: delivering community-based lower-limb care, connecting individuals with trusted local organizations and resources, and supporting foot care nurses through employment opportunities, mentorship, and professional development. By offering foot care clinics throughout the Ottawa area, Soft Soles helps individuals maintain mobility, independence, and overall well-being.
Episode 15: with special guests Christina Ranieri, Founder and Executive Director, Cathy Aldrich, Executive Assistant and Alison O’Brien, Director of Events all with Ability First Ottawa
Christina has a strong background in working with the persons with disabilities community. She holds multiple degrees and certifications, including a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Carleton University and accreditation as a Social Service Worker and Developmental Service Worker from Algonquin College. Christina has been recognized for her academic excellence, earning a spot on the Dean’s Honors list and receiving several awards, such as the John Teuscher award and Giovanni Caboto Scholarship.
Alison has performed unpaid work for 8 years to fill the void left in the social support system. She has advocated for her child and Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Ontario and British Columbia, helping drive real change. She brings awareness of signed language into everyday life and works to create accessibility for those who do not rely on speech. Fluent in English, French, ASL and LSQ, she communicates in all official languages of Canada. Deep lived experience navigating health, education and social systems in Ontario Organizational, outreach and customer relations skills from housing and property sectors Committed to community service, teamwork and collaborative success
Cathy is a career Executive Assistant with over 30 years of experience. As the daughter of a Canadian diplomat, Cathy spent her youth traveling to different postings in London, England; Warsaw, Poland; Belgrade, former Yugoslavia; and Canberra, Australia. After returning to Canada, Cathy pursued a Secretarial Studies diploma at Algonquin College. Soon after, at the age of 17, she was hired as Assistant to the Assistant Director of Informatics at Statistics Canada. Cathy worked as the Executive Assistant at Skate Canada for 20 years, supporting two CEOs, the Board of Directors and engaging with multiple volunteers. She then served as an Executive Assistant at Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, continuing to work in a non-profit organization. Following that, Cathy founded her own Virtual Assistant business, Precision Executive Services, offering tailored support to a diverse range of clients.
Episode 14: With special guests Greg Hollander and Brad Nemes.
Greg, a dedicated Realtor® with Royal LePage Integrity, genuinely enjoys helping seniors in the Ottawa region embrace their next exciting chapter by simplifying their housing transitions. With over 16 years of experience, Greg has built a strong understanding of real estate, focusing on providing personalized support for those downsizing to a cozier, more manageable home.
As an Independent Mortgage Agent, Brad understands his clients’ needs and is committed to finding the best mortgage rates available. Unlike traditional institutions that focus on selling only their own products, Brad works with a wide range of lenders. This allows him to shop the entire market to identify the mortgage that best fits each client’s unique requirements, ensuring they receive the most competitive terms. He has access to an extensive selection of services and mortgage products tailored to meet diverse needs—whether for first-time homebuyers, investors, or those looking to refinance or renovate. Registered with the Ministry of Finance, Brad has completed an education program administered by Seneca College and continues to update his training annually to remain current and provide the best possible advice. Client confidentiality is his top priority, and he is dedicated to protecting privacy at all times.
Episode 13: With special guest Dr. Ellen Simone, Naturopathic Doctor. Dr. Simone strongly believes that the body, mind and spirit are connected to your overall health and wellness. As a primary health care provider, her practice provides ongoing support throughout your healing journey. Her role as your Naturopathic Doctor is to assist you in discovering your needs, support you in personal growth and help you reach your health and wellness goals. With the belief that happiness and balance is possible for everyone, Dr. Simone strives to help her patients live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Episode 12: With Special Guest Warren Bailie of Taskateers. Warren is the founder of The Tasketeers, a business dedicated to supporting seniors by taking care of the maintenance, upkeep, and odd jobs that allow them to remain independent. Acting as a trusted concierge for home care needs, The Tasketeers fills an important gap in the market by providing reliable, compassionate assistance that families can count on. Warren is also a certified Senior Home Safety Inspector. This designation allows him to walk through a home, identify potential risks, and offer practical suggestions to make it safer. His goal is not only to handle the small jobs that often get overlooked but also to give seniors and their families peace of mind. The inspiration behind The Tasketeers came from a personal place. Warren realized that if he or his brother weren’t available, his own mother wouldn’t know who to call for help with small but essential tasks. That realization sparked the idea to build a service that bridges that gap—reliable, trustworthy, and rooted in care. While business and community service are important to him, Warren is equally devoted to his family. Whether he’s swimming or playing ball with his sons, simply being present at home, or enjoying time with his wife, family is always at the heart of Warren’s life.
Episode 11: With special guest Caroline Inman. Caroline is a trusted industry expert with more than 15 years of experience in elder care and seniors housing. She owned and operated her own home care company for many years before serving as Executive Director of a well-respected seniors housing consultancy in Ottawa. Now, as Director of Residence Relations for All Seniors Care Living Centres in Ottawa, Caroline is a valued resource for seniors and their families—offering expert guidance delivered with clarity, compassion, and deep understanding. She is passionate about education and empowering others with the information they need to confidently navigate the often complex world of seniors housing and care supports.
Episode 10: With special guest Etic Heiden of NeuroGymFit. Eric Heiden, Director of NeuroGym® FIT, has worked in fitness and rehabilitation for over 25 years. He has worked directly with a wide range of clients toward goals that range from improving fitness, to recovering function after a major injury, to maintaining physical independence. Eric has published research on balance training and fall prevention and presented results from ongoing NeuroGym® FIT programs at numerous conferences, including the 2013 and 2019 World Stroke Congress. In addition to his work with NeuroGym, Eric has been a sessional lecturer in the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Health Sciences.
Episode 9: With special guest Sue Liko. Sue is the Director of Operations and proud owner of Moving Forward Matters, a company dedicated to supporting seniors through life transitions with compassion, clarity, and care. With a background that spans graphic design, marketing, home renovations, and the senior service industry, Sue brings a unique blend of creativity, empathy, and hands-on expertise to every client interaction.
Episode 8: With special guests Lita Mae Button and Gigi Van Den Hoef. Gigi is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Self Employed Regulated Nurses and a Nurse Prescriber in Independent Practice in Ottawa, Ontario. During the past 10 years and while doing her Masters, Gigi focused on Parkinson disease. Gigi has involved in Parkinson Disease research and as a Nurse Care Manager with Nurse On Board seeing clients living with Parkinson disease in the Ottawa area and elsewhere.
Episode 7: With special guest Doug Smith. Doug Smith is a father, husband, and retired NHL hockey player from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Since a career-ending spinal injury stopped him in his tracks, Doug has dedicated his life and story to helping other people to quickly learn about the process of recovery and high performance. Doug coaches senior executives and business leaders who are aware they need personal and professional improvement and/or senior executives & leaders who are flying MACH 5 into the ground and need to turn it around fast.
Episode 6: With Special Guest Anita Comfort. Anita works as a Nursing Consulting in areas of Palliative Care, Long Term Care, and Home Care. Anita also works as a program coordinator and indigenous cultural safety facilitator at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health. Anita has taught PSWs, and international students going through the RPN course as well as does in-services and workshops that cover many aspects of healthcare to ensure continued standards of care and best practice guidelines are being met. She is, and will always be, a very big advocate for Indigenous patients to ensure they receive the care, and compassion they deserve.
Episode 5: With Special Guests Kerry Durant, Karen Tyrell, and Kumar Saha. Karen Tyrell is a Canadian Dementia Consultant & Educator with 28 years of experience and a profound passion for supporting older adults living with dementia and their families through all stages of the journey. Kerry Durant has been a medical and training consultant with My Place Home Care since 2020. Her main responsibilities include teaching and training its staff the complete spectrum of Dementia care.
Episode 4: With Special Guest Dr. Samoon Tasmin. Samoon is a mental health professional with a comprehensive education, research and community mental health background. He is a part-time professor at Saint Paul University and Queens University. Samoon is also the co-founder Hosa Counselling and research, an organization focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion, combatting islamophobia, gender studies, and decolonial studies to shape positive societal change.
Episode #3: With Special Guests Meg Stickl and Catherine Bennett. Meg Stickl, the CEO of AIM Fitness, has been working with seniors since she was 12 and began her company in 2013 with the intention of helping more retirees improve their strength and mobility. Catherine Bennet works with BuildAble, a local company dedicated to helping seniors stay at home with accessible renovations and designs. In her role, she helps educate participants how thoughtful home adaptations can empower individuals, supporting aging in place and enhancing the quality of life for those with diverse needs.
Episode #2: With Special Guests Alison Braun and Jacqueline Richards. Alison is a dedicated retirement and senior wellness coach and Jacqueline is a Financial wellness coach. This podcast includes insightful discussions that combine practical advice with uplifting stories that will inspire you to embrace the possibilities in your retirement years and discover how to unlock your full potential for living a fulfilling, vibrant life!
Episode #1: With Special Guest, My Place Home Care Owner, Kumar Saha. My Place Home Care was started because a son watched his mother, a retired nurse, struggle with an illness that took her sight, hearing, balance, ability to speak, and overall willingness to live a happy life. My Place Home Care exists to improve our client’s quality of living. We challenge the status quo on how home care is delivered by operating with an open mind, compassion, integrity and responsibility. The attention we pay to the needs of our clients helps them achieve independence, improved health and vitality – while living at home.
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