Caregiver
©2024 Humana
11/09/2023
Caring for Those Who Care
Caregiving takes many forms—from taking care of a family member and their changing needs to lending a helping hand to a friend or supporting members of our communities. Each experience of caregiving is unique, and each story shared helps to bring awareness and broaden our understanding of the ways Humana can support employees who provide care and support to others.
“Becoming a caregiver for my mother has been a deeply compassionate and selfless choice that reflects the strong bond and love we share,” said Derrick Carr, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lead. “As her caregiver, I provide not only physical support but also emotional and mental strength, offering a sense of security and trust that only a family member can provide. I dedicate my time and energy to ensure her quality of life remains high, and to honor the person who has given me so much throughout my life.”
Humana’s Caregivers network resource group (CNRG) is a voluntary, employee-led group focused on fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that serves as a voice to guide and shape company efforts related to the health of employees and members who are caregivers. The group’s mission is to provide education and bring awareness of the caregiving experience to all employees and to support the diverse needs of those who are navigating a caregiving journey while balancing other responsibilities of everyday life. Most importantly, the CNRG brings together employees who can provide each other support and guidance, like Derrick, who says that “being a part of the CNRG is like being part of a family.”
Reframing our understanding of caregiving
While most individuals will act as a caregiver at some point in their life, the dedication and sacrifice it requires is not always acknowledged or openly discussed. The Caregivers NRG works to create awareness of the caregiver experience by breaking down stigma and stereotypes of "what caregiving looks like." They address this topic through monthly support group meetings dedicated to caregiving experiences, lunch and learns, podcasts, features on Humana Radio ads and an ongoing Ask the Expert series. By understanding the caregiver journey more fully, CNRG believes that we will be better equipped to support one another and the many members and patients Humana serves that are also caregivers.
Caregiving leadership fueling career growth
CNRG provides opportunities for its members to serve in leadership positions, be it through the support group program, committee leadership or the ambassador program or as an event facilitator. Members of the group have expressed that these leadership opportunities have greatly impacted their career growth and development, helping them to learn and foster new skills and to deepen their understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion and cultural competency.
“Speaking as an associate that recognizes incredible growth and professional development through my own experiences with the CNRG, I am an advocate and I think we all are,” said Amber Cavaness, Senior Quality Assurance Clinical Professional and former Vice President of CNRG. “At each and every opportunity, I am speaking to my mentees and my aligned groups and platforms about the professional growth that happens through NRGs.”
Prioritizing self-care and lifting each other up
While immensely important, providing care for a loved one can be simultaneously meaningful and challenging work, leaving little time for individuals to unwind and take care of their own needs. Recognizing the toll that caregiving can have, the Caregivers NRG creates spaces for self-care and sharing to help individuals sustain this type of work over the long haul.
During National Caregivers Month this November, the CNRG is providing resources, support and education to caregivers to help support them in their crucial role with a special emphasis on personal health and wellbeing. A speaker series is part of the group’s planned events, with sessions on:
- Time management
- Growing and sustaining energy for caring and healing
- Staying emotionally well as a caregiver
- Legal considerations for caregivers
- Multi-cultural perspectives on self-care, cosponsored by the Native American and Indigenous NRG and the Asian and Pacific Islander NRG
Throughout the year, the CNRG offers eight monthly support groups, each focused on a specific experience of caregiving, including:
- Alzheimer's and Other Dementias
- Mental Health Conditions
- Substance Use Disorders
- Special Needs
- Grief Support
- Cancer-related Caregiving
- Long Distance Caregiving
- General Caregiving Support
Reinforcing the importance of events like these, Derrick shared, “It's easy to get so wrapped up in the needs of your loved one that you forget to take care of yourself. You can't be a source of strength for others if you're not taking care of your own physical and emotional well-being.”
Learn more about our efforts, goals and
Share this Post:
