Happy Healthy Caregiver

<p>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.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Today, Marilyn channels her caregiving experience into advocacy and creativity. She is the author of <i>Don’t Walk Away</i>, celebrates the creativity of people living with dementia through <i>The Art of Alzheimer’s</i>, and serves as Executive Director of Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>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.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Show notes with product and resource links:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPod227" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPod227</a></p> <p>Receive the podcast in your email here:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv</a></p> <p>Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/HHCjournal" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/HHCjournal</a></p> <p>For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:</p> <p><a href="https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/</a></p> <p>The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW</a></p>

<p>Tim Otis is a two-time family caregiver whose journey began in childhood when he helped care for his paralyzed mother and later became the primary caregiver for his father, living with Parkinson’s disease. Through these deeply personal experiences, Tim saw how long-term caregiving—though rooted in love—can quietly impact a caregiver’s health, identity, relationships, and career.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>In this episode, we discuss the emotional toll of supporting a loved one through serious illness, the ripple effects caregiving has on family dynamics and employment, and why caregivers must be seen as whole people—not just helpers. Tim also shares his desire to create systemic change in how we support caregivers, reflects on his mother’s end-of-life experience, and guides us through a short, restorative reset you can practice anytime.</p> <p><br /></p> <p><br /></p> <p>Show notes with product and resource links:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPod226" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPod226</a></p> <p>Receive the podcast in your email here:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv</a></p> <p>Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/HHCjournal" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/HHCjournal</a></p> <p>For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:</p> <p><a href="https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/</a></p> <p>The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW</a></p>

<p>After spending more than a decade as the primary caregiver for her mother, living with vascular dementia, Rosanne Corcoran dedicates her work to supporting and empowering family caregivers nationwide. She is a leading voice with Daughterhood, host of Daughterhood the Podcast, and was named a 2024 Advocate for Aging by Next Avenue and the American Society on Aging.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>In this episode, Rosanne shares practical wisdom on accepting help from community and support networks so that you can carve out time to be off the caregiving clock and learn that it’s ok to share uncomfortable feelings outside your family. We also talk about aging well, navigating in-home dementia care, seeking everyday joy, and what true self-care can look like when caregivers finally take time for themselves.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Show notes with product and resource links:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPod225" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPod225</a></p> <p>Receive the podcast in your email here:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv</a></p> <p>Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/HHCjournal" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/HHCjournal</a></p> <p>For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:</p> <p><a href="https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/</a></p> <p>The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW</a></p>

<p>Betsy Hicks-Russ, Director of the nonprofit Autism Odyssey, shares what it takes to navigate caregiving when your child has high support needs. Drawing on her over three decades of experience as a family caregiver, Betsy discusses overcoming significant obstacles, letting go of victimhood, and choosing to try new things—even when the path forward feels uncertain.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>In this episode, we explore the powerful gut-to-brain connection and why good nutrition matters for caregivers and care recipients alike. Betsy also reflects on how caregiving has changed over time, comparing today’s information overload with earlier days of lower-tech living and stronger local community connections. Plus, we explore the joy of discovering shared interests with our care recipients—such as a love of Grateful Dead music and nature—and how these shared joys can deepen connection and resilience in caregiving relationships.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Show notes with product and resource links:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPod224" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPod224</a></p> <p>Receive the podcast in your email here:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv</a></p> <p>Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/HHCjournal" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/HHCjournal</a></p> <p>For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:</p> <p><a href="https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/</a></p> <p>The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW</a></p>

<p>Meet sandwich generation caregiver Brendan Kelso, who shares his journey caring for his mom with Alzheimer’s while also supporting his son with ASD. Brendan discusses embracing vulnerability and how therapeutic writing—even just 15 minutes a day—helps him process the messy parts of life and the mental traffic that shows up at night when sleep feels impossible.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>You’ll learn how creativity weaves through Brendan’s caregiving life—from thrifting books with his son to run an eBay bookstore, to adapting extended plays into child-friendly experiences, to writing a debut mystery-thriller inspired by his mother’s Alzheimer’s journey, and even transforming her former tiny home into a brick-and-mortar bookstore. We also dive into the importance of saying no, accessing California caregiver support, and finding meaningful ways to adapt when life doesn’t go as planned.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Show notes with product and resource links:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPod223" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPod223</a></p> <p>Receive the podcast in your email here:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv</a></p> <p>Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:</p> <p><a href="http://bit.ly/HHCjournal" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/HHCjournal</a></p> <p>For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:</p> <p><a href="https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/</a></p> <p>The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW</a></p>