Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Wellness Programs and Brain Health

Changing Our Perspective On Wellness Programs

I have been reading a great deal about company wellness programs since the beginning of the year.  There is so much back and forth printed about the success, or lack of it, and effectiveness of wellness programs in the workplace.  It is disturbing to read that the only way some companies can get employees to participate is with the threat of fines and penalties.

The world of healthcare and health insurance has changed so dramatically since we started our careers.  I worked in a hospital lab and received my health insurance for free.  It also covered my husband.  He too received health insurance through his employer.  So we had double coverage and paid very little for healthcare.  Now we pay a lot for coverage and pay more for care.  Companies are in the crosshairs because they assume the financial risk of our health. 

We were never told that we must take better care of ourselves.  That was our private life and our employer didn’t need to be in it.  If we got sick we simply went to the doctor and received whatever we needed to get better.  We were never counseled on lifestyle practices that might be the cause of our illnesses.  Now, the cost of care is so incredibly high that when we get sick it costs everyone dearly.  So companies believe that in demanding that employees partake in wellness programs, they are saving their bottom line.

How does all of this pertain to our brains?  Inactivity is the leading cause of Alzheimer’s disease.  Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol not only put you at risk for heart disease and diabetes but also increases your risk of dementia.  As much as we don’t want to be told to stop smoking, eat right and exercise, these very actions will save our lives and keep our brains functioning at a quality level. 


Wellness programs may indeed benefit the company, but by changing our perspective they can actually save our lives and save our brains for the future.


Pat Faust, Gerontologist
Director Corporate Brain Health
Brain Health Center
www.brainhealthctr.com

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