MorseLife Excels In Workplace Health

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MorseLife, a premier provider of senior services in Palm Beach County, reached a huge milestone in workplace wellness when 90 percent of employees completed their health assessments. This far exceeds the average rate of 46 percent for companies with wellness programs, according to a recent study by RAND Corporation.

MorseLife's 90 percent health assessment participation for its nearly 2,000 employees is attributed in part to MorseLife's adoption of the HumanaVitality program. Known for its top quality senior care, MorseLife also surpasses the norm when it comes to caring for employees.

MorseLife CEO Keith Myers said, "The demands on a caregiver workforce are intense and many of our staff face challenges balancing these demands. Providing the support they need to be productive, engaged caregivers and clinicians has become increasingly important."

According to RAND, just 21 percent of employers with wellness programs have fitness programs; 7 percent have anti-smoking initiatives, and only 16 percent have disease management programs. MorseLife has all three.

MorseLife, a nonprofit founded in 1983, offers programming that addresses diseases like diabetes, aids weight control, teaches healthy eating habits and inspires employees to move more with simple activities such as walking around the lake at lunchtime. MorseLife also offers healthy choice vending machines, has a full-time staff member who assists employees in their wellness goals, provides discounts at pharmacies for blood pressure medication, and is a smoke-free workplace.

What separates MorseLife from the pack beyond its programming, according to Stuart Slutzky, HumanaVitality's chief of product innovation, is support from executive leaders, like Myers.

"Strong leadership support and continuous efforts to engage and reward employees, their spouses and dependents for lifestyle improvements are factors in MorseLife becoming our first employer in Palm Beach County to achieve 90 percent health assessment participation," Slutzky said. "Health assessments are key to wellness success because they provide both the starting point and the map as people pursue their personal pathway to health."               

Completing health assessments in such high numbers is no small feat. MorseLife, with the help of Humana, holds a variety of events and provides a monthly newsletter encouraging health assessments. Health assessments help employees understand health issues to better prevent disease and enjoy more productive, happy lifestyles.

"We apply our principles of patient-centered care to wellness in the workplace.  It starts with a health assessment. That way, each individual's wellness is customized to his or her specific issues," Kristofer Cooper, VP of human resources for MorseLife, said. "Awareness is the biggest factor in creating healthy behaviors."

MorseLife, with HumanaVitality, provides employees with fitness devices making headlines such as FitBit, UP by Jawbone and Nike+ FuelBand. Employees can earn points using the devices, and by engaging in other components of the HumanaVitality program.

Apart from the health benefits, HumanaVitality and MorseLife provide rewards for participation in the wellness program. Employees can receive gift cards, workout gear or wellness gadgets by visiting the Vitality Mall and using their Vitality Points.  

"We are creating an environment of competition and peer-related challenge. Our employees love the idea of reaching new goals and continuing to improve with their health," Cooper said. "We believe that there is strength in numbers."

MorseLife, a nationally recognized health care provider, plans to host future events to foster their fitness culture. In October, employees are participating in, and earning points for, the 2014 "Walk to Win Alzheimer's" and have already raised more than $12,000.

"Nobody takes the time to care for the caregivers," Myers said. "We think it's important to care for those who care for our seniors."

For more information about this topic, please contact Kelsey Meany at 561-820-9196 or email at [email protected].

SOURCE MorseLife