Do It Now: Living Fully While Caregiving with Heather Butchen

Do It Now: Living Fully While Caregiving with Heather Butchen

Author: Elizabeth Miller Featured on The Whole Care Network July 29, 2026 Duration: 54:30

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


Juggling the needs of aging parents or other family members with your career, your children, and your own aspirations can feel like an endless, solitary marathon. Happy Healthy Caregiver is a space dedicated to those navigating this complex reality, offering genuine conversation and practical strategies for sustaining your own well-being alongside your caregiving duties. Host Elizabeth Miller, a Certified Caregiving Consultant featured on The Whole Care Network, brings both personal experience and professional insight to each episode. She doesn’t just share her own stories; she creates dialogues with other family caregivers, exploring how they carve out moments for fitness, mental clarity, and personal joy amidst their responsibilities. Tuning into this podcast, you’ll hear honest discussions about setting boundaries, managing stress, and redefining what health and happiness look like during a demanding chapter of life. It’s a resource that acknowledges the weight of your role while providing tangible ideas to help you carry it, reminding you that caring for yourself isn’t a distraction from your duties-it’s what makes them sustainable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Happy Healthy Caregiver
Podcast Episodes
Forever Caregiving with Kelley Coleman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:49
Kelley Coleman is a California mom to two amazing boys and full-time caregiver for her son with multiple disabilities. She is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and indi…
Helping Hands for Caregivers with Paige Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:19
After struggling with the demands of caring for her aging mother, Paige Wilson made a bold move, leaving her corporate career and becoming an entrepreneur with a big idea to help family caregivers. In this episode of the…
Improvised Care with Jennifer Cain Birkmose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:45
Jennifer Cain Birkmose is a sandwich generation caregiver, juggling the responsibilities of caring for loved ones in two different countries and life stages, while employing two distinct caregiving styles. She is also an…
Employee Resource Groups with Gene Lanzoni [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:41
Gene Lanzoni's life centers around caregiving, both at home and at work. As an only child, Gene and his wife of over 30 years, Elizabeth, took on the responsibility of caring for his aging parents. Professionally, Gene l…
Supporting Caregiving Mothers with Jessica Patay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:14
Jessica Patay, a reformed perfectionist and dedicated caregiving mother, provides compassionate support and resources to other moms caring for children with disabilities or unique needs. In this episode of the Happy Heal…
My Caregiving Mission with Mark Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:23
In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, meet Mark Wilson, a former senior leader at Taco Bell with a focus on organization and people development. After retiring early to care for his mom, who lived with…
Caregiver Recovery with Christina Keys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:11
Christina Keys was living the American dream until one day in March of 2013, her mom had a life-changing stroke. Within 3 years of caregiving for her mom Pat, Christina was financially, emotionally, and mentally bankrupt…
Stop Judging with Sabrina Ortolano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:03
Sabrina Ortolano has been a caregiver for her wife, Cyndi, since 2014 when she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Sabrina and I talk about her identity…
Music Changes People with Anthony Cirillo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:15
Anthony Cirillo cared for several family member and these experiences prompted him to focus his professional career on helping older adults and advocating for seniors and their caregivers through singing, speaking, consu…