Regence joins American Heart Association of Oregon to share tips and resources for helping caregivers improve their mental well-being

By Regence
November 23, 2021
AHA webinar with Regence_Caregivers it's time to take care of yourself

If you are caring for a loved one or know someone who is, keep reading.

The role of caregiver is overlooked by many, but especially caregivers themselves. Moody’s recently reported that the demands of caregiving have an economic impact in the U.S. economy of $264 billion annually. The cost of caregiving also takes a toll on mental well-being. A Blue Cross Blue Shield Association study found that caregivers on average have 26% poorer health with a 60% increase in anxiety and major depression.

Regence’s Peggy Maguire, senior vice president,  and Andree Miceli, clinical director behavioral health, recently joined a panel of experts for the American Heart Association of Oregon’s webinar Caregivers: It’s time to take care of yourself! Participants discussed how caregivers can find ways to stay healthy and ask for help—and how we all can support the caregivers we know.

AHA webinar with Regence experts
Regence's Andree Miceli (left) and Peggy Maguire (right)

One helpful tip shared during the conversation is to be specific when offering help to a caregiver. Instead of asking if they need anything, offer specific help like mowing the lawn or picking up items from a particular store. Sometimes caregivers may feel overwhelmed so it’s important to make it easy for them to ask and accept help from others. You can watch the full panel discussion below:

At Regence, we’re passionate about improving the health of caregivers so we feel honored to partner with the American Heart Association to offer this important information and resources. Earlier this year, Regence also pledged a three-year commitment to support the American Heart Association’s signature Go Red for Women campaign.

Angela Dowling, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, was also recently announced as the chair of the 2022 Go Red for Women campaign for Oregon & SW Washington. United by a common goal, supporters of the AHA and its Go Red for Women movement envision a world free from heart disease. Angela shares her personal passion for the organization (both her mother and daughter have heart disease) in this LinkedIn article.

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