
Show Notes
Dan Contreras is a U.S. Army veteran, proud husband, and devoted caregiver to his wife, Teresa. After years of service and leadership with DAV (Disabled American Veterans)—including his role as National Commander—Dan has become a strong advocate for both caregivers and care receivers.
Like many military spouses and family members, Dan didn’t initially see himself as a “caregiver.” That changed when, as a DAV leader, he sought to better understand the DAV’s Caregiver Support Program by completing the onboarding process. Now, he’s on a mission to raise awareness and provide resources for the 70% of veterans who are caring for loved ones.
In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Dan shares:
The resources DAV offers to support veterans who are also caregivers How his perspective on self-care has shifted as Teresa’s cancer journey has progressed The creative outlets he and Teresa enjoy together, including Legos, crafts, and hobbies that bring them joy How something as simple as a karaoke app helps him relieve stress and recharge
Show notes with product and resource links:
Receive the podcast in your email here:
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
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:
More from Happy Healthy Caregiver
Michael Bankowski began his caregiving journey at 11 years old, caring for his grandmother through cancer, and later spent more than a year and a half caring for his mother through stomach cancer. Altogether, he spent more than a decade as a family caregiver — experiences that ultimately shaped his life's work as a nursing home administrator, home care agency founder, and today as the CEO of Prosperous Robotics, where he is developing ROSE, a caregiver robot designed to protect and empower — not replace — the people who care for our loved ones.
Travis Long — known to most as Trap Gambino — is a husband, father, entrepreneur, media personality, and motivational speaker whose caregiving journey is as powerful as it is personal.
Marti Wymer is a family caregiver, entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Spoonful of Comfort — a company inspired by her own experience caring for her mother through cancer while raising two young children and navigating the distance that made it all even harder.
Christy Byrne Yates is a sandwich generation caregiver, author, and retired school psychologist who worked with young adults with disabilities.
Susanna Peace Lovell is a single mother, advocate, and certified professional life coach who has spent over 20 years raising her daughter Arizona, who lives with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and multiple food allergies. She is also a support caregiver for her father, who has undergone several brain procedures — making her caregiving journey multilayered.