Caregiver stories: How to be a caregiver for others, and still care for yourself

Caring for others starts with caring for yourself. After all, the best version of you provides the best care. Few stories prove this quite like that of Sarah and Mickey Solomon.* They have been caring for each other for over five decades. This is how they use their Aetna Medicare Advantage plan to make health the centerpiece of their marriage.

When Sarah and Mickey Solomon got married 57 years ago, they took the phrase “in sickness and in health” to heart.

Over the course of their marriage, the pair of 78-year-olds from Roswell, GA, have taken turns caring for each other through various illnesses. That’s why they’ve always prioritized their health.

“Being a good caregiver means that we have to take care of ourselves,” says Sarah. “We're great believers in preventive care.”

How Sarah and Mickey take care of their health as caregivers

To help them stay on top of their health, Sarah and Mickey make good use of their Aetna Medicare Advantage plan coverage and benefits. They schedule annual doctor and dentist visits, as well as other routine exams, like mammograms and colonoscopies.

No one knows better than Sarah how a routine checkup can save your life. During an annual body scan with her dermatologist several years ago, Sarah pointed out what she thought was a bee sting on her leg from working in the garden a few days earlier.

“He said, ‘No, that's not a bee sting. It might be cancer,’” Sarah recalls.

More testing confirmed his diagnosis. During Sarah’s lengthy treatment and recovery from the surgery to remove the cancer, Mickey remained by her side. “He cooked for me. He brought me my breakfast, lunch and dinner. He really did everything around the house that I normally do because I wasn't able to walk on that leg,” she remembers.

How Sarah stayed active before and after her diagnosis

Before her cancer diagnosis, Sarah had been a fixture in water aerobics class at a gym in the city. Medicare Advantage’s SilverSneakers® program covered her class fees. But by the time she’d recovered, Sarah didn’t want to travel 20 minutes to the gym anymore. Still, she needed to stay fit — for herself and for Mickey. Now, she walks three to four miles in the park with her son and granddaughter a few times a week.

“It gives me the energy to do all of the things that I like to do,” she says of the regular exercise. “It keeps me strong and healthy.”

Take a total approach to your health with a Medicare Advantage plan.

Sarah needs that strength now that it’s her turn to give Mickey a hand. He had back surgery six months ago and is still recovering. Sarah takes him to the doctor, picks up his medicine, cooks and handles anything else that comes up.

With her help, Mickey will be back to his old routine soon, puttering around in the garden when he’s not working in the home office they share. “We’re a team,” says Mickey. “Keeping healthy lets us do all the good things in life.”

Explore resources and self-care tips for caregivers

Sometimes, it’s caregivers who need care the most. Visit the caregiver resources page for useful information on supporting your loved one, plus tips on self-care for caregivers.

About the author

Christina Joseph Robinson is a veteran editor and writer from New Jersey who still loves to read the old-fashioned newspaper. She’s raising two fruit-and-veggie loving daughters to balance all the treats Grandma sends their way. Christina’s health goal is to resume her workout routine after being sidelined by injuries.