Caregiver Memories and Tips from CVS Health

As some of you know, I’ve taken a step back from my formal caregiver role following the passing of both my parents in 2021. And while it’s been a difficult year coping with loss and adjusting to this new stage of life post-caregiving, I’ve also been able to find joy through sharing my memories and advice with my colleagues, including those in our CVS Health Family & Caregivers Colleague Resource Group.

?Last week, I shared some tips for National Caregivers Day on my LinkedIn and encouraged my network to also share their favorite learnings. In the days following, I received an influx of messages from my fellow colleagues at CVS Health who were moved to share their memories and tips as well.

I feel so grateful that I’ve been able to share my stories and learnings over the years, but today I want to spotlight some of my colleagues’ favorite memories and pieces of advice from caring for their loved ones. Check out their stories below:

?Dr. Kyu Rhee, Senior Vice President and Aetna Chief Medical Officer at CVS Health

A FAVORITE MEMORY: I have so many special memories with my mom – especially this past Thanksgiving. After two years filled with many video calls (that we’re so grateful for!), my mom was able to join my wife, daughters, and me for Thanksgiving in Boston. While this was a normal occurrence pre-pandemic, we were lucky to be able to have loved ones gather at the same table and spend quality time together at the holidays. As a long-distance caregiver myself, it’s not always easy being far apart from my mom. However, I cherish the time we’re able to spend together and look forward to seeing her more in-person this year.

Sheryl Burke, Senior Vice President of Cross-Enterprise Strategic Innovation at Aetna, a CVS Health company

A PIECE OF ADVICE: As a co-caregiver with my sister to our parents, I've cherished the time we've had together as a family in our adult years. I've also learned some invaluable lessons along the way. Perhaps the most important of all, I've learned how to strike the right balance between caring for your loved ones and prioritizing your total well-being. Caregiving can be one of the most rewarding roles, but it's no secret that it's not without challenges and stressors. Too often, caregivers spend so much time worrying about their loved ones that they forget about their own needs and well-being. Taking time to assess your total health, schedule check-ups, and commit to a healthy routine will ultimately help you be a better caregiver.

When taking on the responsibility of caregiving, it is also important to remember that you are not alone. Reach out for help when necessary, from talking about how you've been feeling with friends or family to seeking professional help, such as through visiting?CVS Health HealthHUB? locations. For caregiver-specific support, Aetna's?Resources for Living program?offers Medicare Advantage members a number of resources to help you better manage you and your loved ones' needs — from care planning tools to support groups.??

Robin Rasco, Senior Scrum Master at CVS Health Enterprise Digital

A PIECE OF ADVICE: My 87-year-old mother moved in with me in 2019. It's the two of us (and her Chi dog Cookie) in a small house. I consider myself fortunate because my mother and I get along well, and she has a good attitude about the move.

When she first moved in, I borrowed a concept from work that has really helped us in our new living situation — and could help others as well. I'm a Scrum Master for two Aetna Digital teams and we follow the Scaled Agile Framework methodology, which includes team Retrospective meetings every two weeks — what went well, what didn't go so well, what can we improve, and kudos/shout outs.?My "home" version of the Retrospective?is every Saturday after breakfast I take out a notebook and we write down?what went well, what didn't go so well, what/who we're thankful for, and then go through a checklist of reminders and things we need to do?for the upcoming week. It’s helped our communication, is a chance to be proactive instead of reactive and has been a way to approach some of the more difficult topics, alongside the positive ones.?

Rosemarie Miller, Lead Director, Corporate Communications for Aetna Medicare at CVS Health

A FAVORITE MEMORY: After my mom passed away last September, my 92-year-old dad moved in with my family and me. It was a big adjustment for him, after being married for nearly 67 years. While we shared many wonderful times over the years, one of my new favorite memories happened just a few weeks ago. I saw him sitting with my children and telling them what it was like growing up in Italy during World War II. He was right around their ages during the time when German soldiers took up residence in his small town, so it was really eye-opening for my children to get a glimpse of how different his life was from theirs. I also saw the gleam in my dad’s eyes as he shared a bit of his past with them. My children now have a new-found appreciation for my dad and his life experiences before and after he emigrated to the United States.

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