Solo Caregiving Resources with Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan

Solo Caregiving Resources with Nancy Treaster and Sue Ryan

Author: Elizabeth Miller Featured on The Whole Care Network July 1, 2026 Duration: 33:20

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


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
Caregiver Reset with Tim Otis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:10
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…
Let Yourself Be Helped with Rosanne Corcoran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:29
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 vo…
Beyond Caregiving Survival with Betsy Hicks-Russ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:36
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…
Creative Therapy with Brendan Kelso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:10
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—e…
Autism Advocacy and Brain Donation with Kathy Stein [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:59
Kathy Stein spent decades as the legal guardian and devoted advocate for her younger autistic brother, Ed. After Ed’s passing in 2024, Kathy and her siblings chose to donate his brain to scientific research—a powerful ac…
Building Your New Normal with Dr. Maggie Kang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:31
As the navigator for her daughter’s rare disease and a Yale-trained physician, Dr. Maggie Kang, uses her personal and professional training to guide other parents through the healthcare system, helping them turn health c…
Guilt, Grief, and Goodness with Jeanette Yates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:45
Jeanette Yates spent decades caring for her mother — an experience that inspired her to write a book and host a podcast helping adult children caring for aging parents feel good, not guilty. In this episode of the Happy…
Healthy Aging and Caregiving with Eric Levitan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:12
When Eric Levitan saw his parents’ health decline from afar, he set out to better understand how to impact healthy aging for his family and others. He founded Vivo, a company dedicated to helping older adults stay active…
A Roadmap for Caregivers with Nancy Treaster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:29
Nancy Treaster, a retired software industry executive turned Certified Caregiving Consultant, co-founded The Caregiver’s Journey with longtime friend Sue Ryan after both personally faced the challenges of dementia caregi…
Collecting Moments of Joy with Brian Stifel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:58
Brian Stifel cared for his brother and continues to provide care and support for his mom. He is a corporate executive, husband, and proud father of three. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, we discus…