Happy Healthy Caregiver

Elizabeth Miller Featured on The Whole Care Network

Caring for aging parents or other loved ones while working, raising children, and trying to live your own life? Wondering how to find the time for your personal health & happiness? Welcome to the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast. The show where real family caregivers share how to be happy and healthy while caring for others. Host and Certified Caregiving Consultant, Elizabeth Miller shares her stories and content and also talks with others who are either current or former family caregivers. Real people who are figuring out how to integrate caregiving with their lives and ready to share what they have learned with you.

  1. Aug 12

    Uncovering Your Roots with Tamara Adams

    Tamara Buzyna Adams knows the sandwich generation experience. She spent years caregiving for her father through dementia while continuing to support her aging mother — all while raising two children and navigating a midlife career pivot. In this episode, Tamara shares how exploring family history with a loved one living with dementia can be a powerful tool for connection — sparking moments of clarity, preserving identity, and bringing peace to both the person with dementia and the caregivers. We also get into the deeply relatable emotions around role reversal with aging parents and what it really feels like when the child becomes the caregiver. Tamara shares her experience transitioning a parent to community living, how her family used regular Zoom calls to keep remote family members connected and involved, and the hard-won wisdom she's gained around saying no and setting boundaries as a caregiver. She shares how her passion for genealogy turned into a profession, and the unexpected self-discovery journey that unfolded through translating her grandma’s handwritten journals and her additional research, which led her to write her book, Last Ship to Freedom. And for anyone curious about digging into their own family history, Tamara shares practical advice on how to get started — no experience needed. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod234 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

    Uncovering Your Roots with Tamara Adams
  2. Jul 29

    Do It Now: Living Fully While Caregiving with Heather Butchen

    Heather Butchen is a care partner for her husband Jeff, who was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease at 51 years old. Over the past decade-plus, Heather has navigated the evolving challenges that come with a progressive disease — and a few years ago, she and Jeff reached a major milestone when he underwent Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, known as DBS. In this episode, Heather shares practical wisdom from her caregiving journey. We talk about how she keeps a dedicated medical journal to stay organized across doctor's appointments and support group meetings, and how those notes proved invaluable when they were ready to explore DBS surgery. Heather also shares how she and Jeff co-founded a Parkinson's support group back in 2014 that is still going strong today. She shares her "do it now" philosophy when it comes to travel, including smart tips for navigating airports with a hidden disability using the Sunflower Lanyard program. She talks candidly about the creativity it takes to keep a care partner engaged in physical activity — and why boxing has been an ideal activity for Jeff. We also get into the tender aspects of their partnership — how they've simplified family gatherings to reduce stress, how they use conversation cards at dinner to reconnect and go deeper after 31 years of marriage, and what it has looked like to rediscover each other as their kids have grown and moved out. And we absolutely talk about Heather's own self-care routines, which include walking catch-ups with friends, Pilates, Mahjong, and her favorite snacks. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod233 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

    Do It Now: Living Fully While Caregiving with Heather Butchen
  3. Jul 1

    Solo Caregiving Resources with Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan

    Solo caregiving is tough, and we want to help by sharing four key resource areas for solo caregivers. This episode is extra special Happy Healthy Caregiver episode because I got to collaborate with two women I genuinely admire — Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan of The Caregiver's Journey. You may recognize their names because both have been guests here on the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, and I've loved staying connected with them ever since. We even got on a cruise together on the Self-Care at Sea cruise last year. Nancy and Sue have been friends for over 35 years, and they came together out of their own frustration with the lack of practical, candid guidance for dementia caregivers. Between them, they've navigated caregiving for multiple family members — all while managing demanding careers — and they've turned those hard-won lessons into a nonprofit called The Caregiver’s Journey dedicated to helping other caregivers feel less overwhelmed and more equipped. One of the tools they offer that keeps getting better and better is their Caregiving Roadmap, which was created with dementia caregivers in mind.  In this episode, we are joining forces to share four resource areas to better support the Solo Caregiver. Whether you are caring for someone with dementia or not, this episode has much to offer. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod231 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

    Solo Caregiving Resources with Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan
  4. Jun 3

    Strengthening 1M Caregiving Men with Kyle Woody

    What does it really look like when men step into the caregiving role — and why are they so often invisible in the conversation? Kyle Woody knows firsthand. He cared for his wife through Stage 4 Colon Cancer, even after she asked for a divorce four years into their caregiving journey. Now, he cares for his two sons while working full-time. Drawing on his care experiences, Kyle founded Jack's Caregiver Coalition — an organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening male caregivers. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Kyle shares: Why men are the most overlooked non-professional caregivers — and what needs to changeHis organization's bold mission to strengthen 1 million caregiving men by 2035What it was like to meet Oprah and share his story as part of her book clubHow he navigates the unique experience of co-parenting with his late ex-wife's boyfriendHis go-to self-care strategies: working with a coach, writing letters to himself, asking four morning questions, and rucking Whether you're a male caregiver who's been going it alone or someone who loves one, this episode is full of honest insight and practical encouragement. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod229 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

    Strengthening 1M Caregiving Men with Kyle Woody
  5. May 20

    Calm the Chaos with Dori Martin

    Dori Martin knows firsthand what true burnout and midlife mayhem feel like. At the busiest time of her life, she was a divorced single mom while caregiving for a parent through end-of-life. Then she started navigating a terminal diagnosis with her second husband — and that's when her body began to shut down. What she discovered changed everything: what many women are told is "just stress, aging, or hormones" is often something much deeper. In this episode, Dori talks about the invisible weight caregivers carry, why so many are stuck in a state of chronic stress and fight-or-flight, and why not feeling safe in your own body is at the root of so much burnout. She shares small but powerful ways to nurture and reset your nervous system. She even credits a future pacing exercise with leading her and her family (including her husband) to take up scuba diving as a joyful, soul-filling practice — proof that healing can open doors you never expected. If you're a caregiver who's been running on empty and putting everyone else first, this episode is your permission slip to finally put yourself back on the list. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod228 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

    Calm the Chaos with Dori Martin
  6. May 6

    From a Reluctant to Joyful Dementia Caregiver with Marilyn Raichle

    Marilyn Raichle grew up surrounded by Alzheimer’s disease, watching many relatives on both sides of her family develop dementia. Her career in the performing arts took an unexpected turn when she became the primary caregiver for both of her parents living with dementia. What began as a reluctant role became a deeply meaningful journey. Today, Marilyn channels her caregiving experience into advocacy and creativity. She is the author of Don’t Walk Away, celebrates the creativity of people living with dementia through The Art of Alzheimer’s, and serves as Executive Director of Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care. In this episode, Marilyn shares insights from her caregiving journey, the power of creativity in dementia care, and how her view of living life changed drastically from an attitude of winning to a new perspective of living in the moment. And, learn why Marilyn baked 2000 cookies in one year and why she says that her mom’s Assisted Living Community became a place where she could relax. Show notes with product and resource links: https://bit.ly/HHCPod227 Receive the podcast in your email here: http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal: http://bit.ly/HHCjournal For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/ The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast: https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

    From a Reluctant to Joyful Dementia Caregiver with Marilyn Raichle
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About

Caring for aging parents or other loved ones while working, raising children, and trying to live your own life? Wondering how to find the time for your personal health & happiness? Welcome to the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast. The show where real family caregivers share how to be happy and healthy while caring for others. Host and Certified Caregiving Consultant, Elizabeth Miller shares her stories and content and also talks with others who are either current or former family caregivers. Real people who are figuring out how to integrate caregiving with their lives and ready to share what they have learned with you.

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