The Hidden Violence Some Alzheimer’s Caregivers Face | Hon. Lisa Raitt

Most people avoid thinking about Alzheimer’s until it touches their own lives. Former Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition of the Conservative Party of Canada, Hon. Lisa Raitt understands that fear because she once felt it herself. But when her husband, Bruce Wood, was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s at just 56, she was forced to confront the disease, the limitations of Canada’s dementia care system, and the realities faced by families who are often left to navigate it alone. In this candid conversation with Teri Hart, Lisa shares the difficult path from Bruce’s diagnosis to becoming one of Canada’s most outspoken advocates for people living with dementia and those who care for them. She opens up about seeking a second medical opinion, managing escalating symptoms, and facing a reality that is rarely discussed openly: the violence some caregivers experience when dementia alters the behaviour of someone they love. Lisa recounts the moment she realized that she and her teenage sons were no longer safe, the struggle to get Bruce appropriate medical support, and the painful acceptance that he could no longer live at home. She also explains why she chose to publicly share videos from some of the most frightening moments of their lives. What began as a need for someone to understand what was happening became a way to challenge stigma, reach other isolated caregivers, and reveal the realities too often kept behind closed doors. Together, Lisa and Teri explore why caregivers need support that is separate from the medical care provided to their loved ones, and how grief, guilt, anger, exhaustion, fear, and love can exist all at once. Lisa reflects on what she wishes she had done sooner to protect her own mental health, why friends should continue showing up even when a caregiver pulls away, and how families can better prepare for the challenges ahead. Now a member of the Ontario Dementia Task Force, Lisa is helping push for a more coordinated approach to dementia care. She discusses the need for a clearer path from diagnosis through treatment, community support, crisis care, and long-term care so families are no longer left to piece the system together themselves. This episode of The Hart of It All is essential listening for anyone caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia, supporting a caregiver, or working to improve the systems families depend on. It is an honest look at what caregiving can demand, what families need, and why meaningful change begins by seeing the realities caregivers are often afraid to share. Resources: Learn more about The Ontario Dementia Task Force: https://alzheimer.ca/on/sites/on/file... Learn more about the Vulnerable Persons Registry (also available in areas outside of Toronto): https://www.tps.ca/services/vulnerabl... Follow Hon. Lisa Raitt: Instagram:   / lisaraittmp   Facebook:   / lisaraitt2019   LinkedIn:   / lisa-raitt   To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel:    / @thehartofitallpod   Follow The Hart Of It All: Instagram:   / thehartofitallpod   Facebook:   / thehartofitallpod   TikTok:   / thehartofitallpod   Website: https://www.thehartofitall.ca/ Follow Teri Hart: Instagram:   / terihart   Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital Instagram:   / 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.