Building A Community that CARES for Caregivers

About one in three adults is an informal or family caregiver, and more than two-thirds of family caregivers report difficulty balancing their jobs with duties such as assistance with daily living, medical tasks, and appointments.¹ Whether it involves caring for children, supporting aging parents, or managing loves ones’ complex health situations, caregiving can be incredibly demanding.

That’s why the Interwell Health CARES employee resource group (ERG) was founded. “When Interwell first introduced ERGs, I looked at the available options and thought, ‘I could be an ally to all of these, but none seem like the perfect fit for me,’” said Breanna Parisher, a registered nurse (RN) care manager at Interwell who co-founded CARES and serves as membership co-chair. “Someone else mentioned a group for parenting and another suggested caregiving, so we lumped it all together to form CARES.”

The challenges and triumphs of caregiving while working

For CARES members, hearing others share their stories can be eye-opening, comforting, and sometimes even cathartic. Members connect daily through a designated Slack channel where they ask for advice, share personal wins, and support each other in real time.

Breanna is a busy mom caring for two young children and recently supported her extended family through a loved one’s cancer diagnosis and eventual passing. She says CARES gives her a community where she can feel connected and heard.

“You feel guilty about missing work for things like doctor’s appointments or staying home with sick kids, but other parents in the group remind you that you're not alone, and it’s okay to take that time,” said Breanna. “People often hesitate to bring up their caregiving challenges at work, in fear of being seen as incapable. CARES helps break down that taboo. It’s about showing employees that their personal lives don’t have to be kept separate from their professional identity.”

The group’s quarterly meetings focus on meaningful topics, ranging from autism support in schools and advanced care planning for aging parents to broader policy needs such as caregiver tax credits. During the meetings, members often exchange advice such as how to navigate school disability support resources and advocate for medical tests.

The meaning of a supportive workplace

Having a space for conversations is invaluable, but it must be paired with meaningful workplace policies—such as flexible remote work options and paid caregiver leave—to truly empower caregivers.

CARES has co-hosted sessions with Interwell’s people team to educate employees on relevant policies and how available benefits may be used to meet individual employees’ needs. For instance, CARES members were pleasantly surprised to learn the caregiver leave benefit doesn’t need to be used all at once; it can cover intermittent days for needs such as doctor visits or emergencies.

"Caregiver leave is a phenomenal benefit that allows us to take the time needed for our loved ones without depleting vacation days,” said Tanya Greer, one of the co-founding leaders of the ERG. Tanya balances caring for her mother and her adult son with special needs with her role as a full-time RN care manager at Interwell.

Tanya also noted the value of Interwell mental health benefits such as Spring Health, which offers free therapy sessions, and the Calm app, which includes mindfulness exercises and relaxation techniques. “Caregiver burnout is a big thing,” said Tanya. “You’re burning the candle at both ends trying to keep up with work and caregiving responsibilities.”

The importance of workplace flexibility

Flexibility is another important benefit for caregivers. Nattalie Burns, CARES membership co-chair and an RN care manager at Interwell, learned her son had a rare metabolic condition at a young age after extensive doctor visits and testing. “There was a time when hospital visits were happening almost every month,” shared Nattalie. “Trying to balance home and work when you have a kid with special needs is really hard.”

Nattalie’s previous job in interventional radiology offered little flexibility for handling her son’s medical needs. “If I had to call out and there was no one available to cover for me, they would have to cancel patient procedures,” said Nattalie. “I reached a point where I needed to find a way to balance my career with being available for my family. For me, a remote position at Interwell was life changing."

Building a community of advocacy and solidarity 

CARES is not just about building a sense of community; it’s also about changing workplace culture. “By supporting people holistically, Interwell is investing in its employees' well-being,” said Tanya. “We’re not just great team members; we’re parents, children, spouses, and individuals who bring value to every role we play. Caregiving is a unique kind of juggling act, and you can’t do it all alone. CARES reminds us that help is always within reach.”

“Serving as executive sponsor for the CARES ERG has exceeded my expectations,” said Dr. Terry Ketchersid, senior vice president at Interwell. “Not only is it a wonderful opportunity to give back to our company, but it has truly been a privilege to get to know the members. Everyone in our ERG essentially has two full time jobs—one with Interwell, and one providing care and support to people in their lives outside of work.”

If you're interested in joining the CARES community, the ERG welcomes new members. For more information, visit the employee DEI Hub on The Well. 

References 

¹ AARP: New U.S. Workforce Report: Nearly 70% of Family Caregivers Report Difficulty Balancing Career and Caregiving Responsibilities, Spurring Long-Term Impacts to U.S. Economy. https://press.aarp.org/2024-5-16-US-Workforce-Report-70-Caregivers-Difficulty-Balancing-Career-Caregiving-Responsibilities