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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