May 03, 2023

Caring for the One You Love: The Multifaceted Role of Spousal Caregivers with Natalie Elliott Handy, MSW, Healthcare Executive & Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver

1 hour

Resilience, hope, and transformation. For almost a year, Natalie Elliott Handy's husband, Jason, had been experiencing swollen lymph nodes in his neck, and after numerous doctor visits and biopsies, he was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma P16+.

Natalie shares how the caregiving journey changed her relationship with her husband and how she transitioned from a wife to a caregiver. She learned that being a caregiver is not just about performing tasks, but rather comprised of almost 40 different roles. She shares how the journey also pushed her to reprioritize her life.

We explore the importance of being present and an advocate during caregiving, including the need for continuity of care and updates to loved ones. We also discuss the often overlooked side effect of caregiving - how it changes relationships and leads to complicated emotions and grief. Natalie shares her experience of transitioning from being a wife to a caregiver and taking on different roles. This experience led her and her sisters to create a podcast based on their caregiving journey.

Thank you, Natalie, for sharing so honestly your story of resilience and hope - encouraging us to embrace the journey, find the good moments in every day, and live a joy-filled life.

Learn more at www.confessionsofareluctantcaregiver.com

*This episode is brought to you by Gigi Betty co. A boutique gift shop raising awareness and funds for caregivers and care partners. Show now at www.gigibettyco.com. Use the special code WILLGATHER20 for 20% off your order- Just for our podcast listeners!

We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.

Please follow for updates, rate & review!

For more information about our guest, podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com

Instagram: @willgather

Facebook: WillGather

Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.

...more

View all episodes

By willGather, Nicole Will

4141 ratings