Finding Balance in Dementia Care: Mindfulness and the Power of Resourcing

Caregivers hear “self-care” all the time—but what if the more helpful word is resourcing? In this conversation, Laura and Stacy Scheel-Hirsch unpack resourcing as a practical, trauma-informed approach to building capacity (not burnout). You’ll learn simple, doable mindfulness practices, how to spot internal and external resources, and ways to navigate fatigue, isolation, boundaries, and the emotional rollercoaster of dementia care—without adding more to your to-do list.

👤 Meet Stacy Scheel-Hirsch:

Stacy is a trauma-informed mindfulness teacher, resilience coach, and organizational wellness consultant. She founded More Voices, LLC and Life Takes Practice™, and co-founded Cultivate Retreats, a writing & meditation retreat for women. Stacy also facilitates nervous-system retraining groups and leads Pilgrimage Inside, a free weekly online meditation group. Clients describe her as “deeply rooted,” empathetic, and remarkably insightful.

📌 Topics Discussed:

- What “resourcing” really means vs. traditional “self-care”

- Capacity: why it shrinks (sleep, stress, dehydration) and how to replenish it

- Internal vs. external resources (skills, boundaries, friendships, support groups)

- Mindfulness you can do while doing laundry (really!)

- Navigating isolation and changing relationships in caregiving

- Trauma-informed care: developmental trauma, triggers, and the nervous system

- Reframing hard days: gratitude, choice, and “what’s the opportunity here?”

- Fatigue and chronic fatigue in caregiving—why “slow creep” happens

- Practical first steps: micro-mindfulness, lists, resource catalogs

⏱️ Timestamps (Approximate):

00:00 – Welcome & why “resourcing” matters for caregivers

04:10 – Self-care vs. resourcing: the capacity lens

10:25 – Internal & external resources (boundaries, communication, community)

16:40 – Connection losses in caregiving (loved one, friends, self)

22:30 – Choice, mindset, and mindfulness in the moment

28:15 – Trauma-informed basics & nervous system “remembering”

35:40 – Fatigue, over-adapting, and rebuilding capacity

42:50 – Micro-practices: mindful laundry, write-it-down lists

49:00 – Tackling isolation with compassion + resource catalogs

55:10 – Gratitude, reframing, and spotting opportunities

59:30 – Stacy’s free Saturday meditation & how to join

💡 Key Takeaways:

- Resourcing = capacity building. It’s a practical alternative to “self-care” that meets caregivers where they are.

- Mindfulness can be tiny. Bring awareness to everyday tasks to reclaim energy and presence.

- You have resources. Map your internal strengths and external supports—and note the gaps as opportunities.

- Your nervous system remembers. Trauma-informed tools help you notice triggers and re-choose your response.

- Reframe hard moments. Ask, What went well? What’s the opportunity here? Small shifts compound.

📚 Resources Mentioned:

Life Takes Practice™ – Stacy’s hub for mindfulness & resilience: https://www.lifetakespractice.com/home

Pilgrimage Inside – Free weekly online meditation (recordings available): https://www.lifetakespractice.com/pilgrimageinside?r_done=1

Cultivate Retreats – Writing & meditation retreat for women

🤝 Connect with Stacy Scheel-Hirsch:

Website: https://www.lifetakespractice.com/home

Meditation Group: https://www.lifetakespractice.com/pilgrimageinside?r_done=1

🌿 Connect with Laura Vaillancourt & the Life on Repeat Podcast:

Website: https://lifeonrepeatpodcast.com

Instagram: @lifeonrepeatpodcast

Facebook: Life on Repeat Podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LifeonRepeatPodcast

If this episode gave you a breath of space, please like, subscribe, and share with a caregiver who could use some gentle support today. You’re not alone. 💛