Happy Healthy Caregiver

<p>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.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>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.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>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.</p> <p><br /></p> <p><br /></p> <p>Show notes with product and resource links:</p> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/HHCPod228" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/HHCPod228</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>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>