I'm so sorry about your husband OP ,that must be incredibly hard.
Stew and dumplings is what I do in the slow cooker for when im back late and that way everyone can just help themselves.
Easy peasy-
Diced beef - no need to brown first ,I've tried and compared and makes no difference.
A knorr beef stock gel pot
Squirt of garlic paste
Big squirt of tomatoes puree
Put the gel stock,puree and garlic in a mug and dissolve in boiling water and add to the slow cooker and also more boiling water ,just enough to cover the meat.
Turn it on high and leave it all day, the meat will melt like butter and you'll get a delicious gravy.
Add Aunt Bessie's frozen dumplings on top and hour or so before you eat.
Sounds like it'll be awful but it's lovely and so easy. We have it with veg or just peas on the side.