Month: March 2023

Wellness is a brand of pet food founded in 1997 by veterinarians, animal nutrition experts, and food scientists. Its recipes are based on scientific research.

Its ingredients include real meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other whole foods to provide antioxidants for immune system health. It also avoids artificial colors and flavors, corn, wheat, and soy.

Manufacturing

Wellness is a pet food company that is owned by Wellpet LLC (owned by the Berwind Corporation). They are headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts and have a separate manufacturing facility in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The brand was founded in 1997 and is made up of a team of animal nutrition experts with veterinarian and scientist backgrounds. They use wholesome, natural ingredients to create recipes that promote good health and energy levels in pets.

They offer a variety of formulas for dogs of all ages and breeds. Some of them are gluten-free and others contain no grains or fillers.

The brand’s recipes feature premium proteins and wholesome grains with omega fatty acids, antioxidants, glucosamine, probiotics and taurine that most dogs love. They help encourage a strong immune system, optimize energy levels and support healthy skin and coat. This dry dog food helps your big buddy live a long, happy life. It’s also formulated without meat by-products or GMOs.

Ingredients

Wellness is a well-known pet food brand that markets itself as a high-quality, nutritious, and healthy alternative to commercially available dog foods. It is based in Tewksbury, Massachusetts and has manufacturing facilities throughout the US.

The company produces a variety of pet foods that are made from what they call natural, healthy ingredients without fillers or artificial additives. The main products include Wellness Complete Health, Wellness Simple, Wellness CORE, Wellness Trufood, and a number of snacks and treats.

The kibble and canned formulas are all grain free. The company also offers recipes for dogs with food allergies and sensitivities.

Cost

Wellness is a brand that you can find in nearly any store that sells pet food. They have a variety of formulas available for every stage, age, and dietary need.

Unlike many other brands, wellness does not use meat by-products or fillers in their formulas. They also do not use artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

This dry dog food is high in protein, providing your canine with the energy he needs to live a healthy life. It also includes healthy complex carbohydrates from peas and potatoes.

The food contains salmon oil, flaxseed oil, and chicken fat for omega-rich fatty acids. These nutrients help your pet maintain a healthy coat, skin, and joints.

The cost of Wellness dry and wet dog foods can vary depending on the size of the bag you purchase. You can calculate the average price per pound or per kilo by inputing your pet’s weight into our cost analyzer widget.

Recalls

Wellness is one of the most popular dog food brands. It offers a wide range of formulas, sizes, and dietary requirements for dogs of all life stages and needs.

The brand uses high-quality ingredients, including meats, fruits, and vegetables to produce wholesome meals for your dog. They also use strict manufacturing procedures and protocols to protect the quality of their food.

A few times in the past, Wellness has had to issue voluntary recalls due to contamination issues. The first was in May 2012.

In this case, the food was recalled because of the possibility that it might contain Salmonella bacteria. This recall did not affect the brand’s reputation.

Meditation is an effective way to improve your overall wellness. It can help lower blood pressure, relieve pain and stress and even boost your memory.

It can also increase your compassion for yourself and others. There are several different meditation types that can benefit your health, including body scan, loving-kindness, and equanimity.

Stress Management

Stress is one of the most common mental health concerns. It can affect you in many ways, from your daily life to the health of your relationships.

It can even affect your immune system and increase your risk of illness. So, it’s important to learn how to manage stress.

Some of the best ways to reduce stress include physical activity and healthy eating. Both help reduce cortisol and improve your immune system.

Meditation can also help you manage your stress and increase your overall well-being. Meditating for a few minutes each day can reduce your cortisol levels and calm your mind.

Identifying the source of stress is essential to managing it. For example, don’t spend your time trying to change situations that are out of your control.

Pain Management

Many people with pain live in a constant state of discomfort, which can impact their daily lives. It can be hard to get sleep, stay active or concentrate on work and hobbies.

A doctor can help you manage pain with medications, light stretches or massage therapy. He or she may also recommend other strategies for improving your health.

Another form of treatment is meditation. It is an ancient practice that helps you focus your attention on the present moment.

Research suggests that it can modify the way you think about and experience pain. It also changes the structure of your brain to make you less sensitive to it in the long run.

Meditating regularly can decrease pain perception, improve your quality of life and reduce stress. It can’t replace pain medications or physical therapies, but it can be a powerful complement.

Mental Health

Mental health is a general term for emotional, psychological and social well-being. It includes a person’s thoughts, feelings, actions and relationships with others.

There are a number of factors that can affect a person’s mental health, including a stressful job or home life, traumatic experiences and biochemical processes or brain circuits. Genetics, environment and lifestyle also play a role in how likely someone is to develop a mental health condition.

People with mental illness may need to take medication to help manage symptoms and improve their mental health. These medications can be effective for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other conditions that impact a person’s mood or thinking.

Meditation is another practice that helps with wellness and can be incorporated into mental health treatment plans. It can reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms, increase focus, and improve cognitive functioning.

Physical Health

Good physical health leaves you feeling more energetic and helps you avoid chronic diseases. It includes maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and abstaining from harmful habits like drug use and alcohol abuse.

A growing body of research has shown that meditation reduces stress and improves the immune system. Having a stronger immune response can help you fight off ailments, including inflammatory conditions like asthma and diabetes.

Another positive effect of meditation is that it decreases the perception of pain in your brain, which can help people with chronic pain manage their symptoms. In addition, meditation can reduce the impact of stress on your heart.

Combined with physical exercise, meditation can offer many benefits that enhance your overall well-being. In particular, meditation and physical activity can help control stress and anxiety, while also reducing blood pressure and improving heart health.

The who wellness questionnaire is a simple, self-reported measure of current mental wellbeing. It is used to screen for depression and for measuring outcomes in clinical trials.

It is a generic scale that has been translated into more than 30 languages and has been used worldwide for over 20 years. It has high clinimetric validity.

General health

General health measures can help assess a person’s general wellbeing, as well as their mental and emotional wellbeing. They can also provide insight into how health status varies across different segments of the population, which can be used to guide policies or interventions to improve health in communities where there are disparities in access to resources for good health.

WHO-5

The WHO-5 is a short generic global rating scale designed to assess subjective well-being. It consists of five questions, which include positively phrased items to avoid symptom-related language. It is a self-administered questionnaire and can be completed by one person in less than 10 minutes.

Social life

The social life of a person is a series of bonds that they have with different people. This includes the relationships they have with family, friends, members of their community and strangers.

Social life is an important factor in our mental and physical health. A healthy, active social life is associated with a happy and fulfilled life.

Sociologists have made many studies examining the link between social relationships and health outcomes. These studies have shown that social ties affect multiple health outcomes, including mental health, physical health, health behaviors and mortality risk.

In recent years, sociologists have played a major role in establishing these linkages and understanding how they vary by age, gender, race, and other social characteristics. These findings provide a scientific basis for policy makers to promote and protect Americans’ social ties. They have the potential to improve population health (McGinnis et al. 2002).

Physical health

Physical health is about how your body grows, feels and moves, as well as how you care for it. It is one dimension of total well-being and can improve your life by reducing your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

It can also improve your mood and reduce your risk of mental illness. It includes things like keeping a healthy weight, staying active and getting enough sleep.

You can use the who wellness questionnaire to assess your physical health. It asks about your diet, activity level and whether you go to the doctor regularly for screening tests.

The who wellness questionnaire is an assessment of wellbeing and is often used in research. It ranges between 0 and 100 points, with a score of 0 representing poor well-being and a score of 100 representing excellent wellbeing.

Mental health

Mental health is the emotional and psychological well-being that enables people to function normally. It includes emotional resilience, the capacity to relate and engage with others, and the ability to cope with daily demands.

Most mental illness is treatable, and recovery is usually possible. Treatment often involves a combination of medicines, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.

Getting help is also important to reduce stigma attached to mental illness. You can help by telling other people that it’s OK to ask for help if you feel like you might need it.

A mental illness is a serious condition that affects your thoughts, feelings, mood and ability to live a normal life. They include depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.

Wellness shots are a new trend that’s popping up at smoothie shops and fresh-pressed juice bars. They promise a variety of health benefits, like an immune boost or weight loss.

However, while wellness shots are a great way to get some extra nutrients into your diet, they can’t replace a balanced diet of whole foods.

Immune Booster

Your immune system is a barricade made of an array of cells, proteins, organs and chemicals that defend your body against disease-causing pathogens and viruses. However, sometimes the immune system fails to respond effectively and you get sick.

In order to strengthen your immunity and keep you healthy, it is important to consume a wide variety of nutritious foods. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts and spices are all known immune boosters.

Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins that your immune system needs to function properly. Getting enough vitamin C is the key to maintaining your health and preventing illness, but many people do not meet the recommended intake for this nutrient.

In order to ensure that you are getting the amount of vitamin C your immune system requires, it is a good idea to drink at least two wellness shots a day. Typically, these are made from fruit juices that contain very high amounts of Vitamin C and other nutrients.

Energy Booster

You can get a natural boost of energy from a variety of vitamins and supplements, but it’s important to make sure you’re getting the right amount. Eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep are the best ways to keep your energy level up.

You may also want to include some foods rich in iron, which will help your body to burn fat and stop you feeling tired. Starchy carbohydrates are also a great source of energy, so making sure that you have plenty of these in your diet is essential for feeling energetic and focused throughout the day.

If you’re looking for a quick fix to boost your energy levels, we have a range of energy shots in stock that may be just what you need. These contain a combination of caffeine and B-vitamins that are known to be effective in boosting energy and focus, but they do not contain sugar or alcohol.

Detoxifier

Detoxification is the process that removes toxins from the body. On a day-to-day basis, our liver, kidneys, intestines and lymphatic systems do this work for us automatically.

However, sometimes a person may have an underlying health condition that requires additional detoxification support. In these cases, a full-body detoxification program might be helpful.

Wellness shots (also known as juice shots) are usually one ounce of blended cold-pressed juice, with ingredients linked to specific health benefits. They can help reduce inflammation, prevent cellular oxidation, and provide direct support to your immune system.

Weight Loss

Wellness shots are a great way to boost your immunity and nourish your body. They’re packed with antimicrobial properties, antioxidants and Vitamin C to help fight off colds and flu!

They’re also a fantastic way to increase your energy levels and kick start your metabolism. The key to getting the most out of these drinks is ensuring you’re consuming them at the right time, and with the correct ingredients!

You can find these shots at a variety of stores and online. They cost between $3 and $12 a pop, depending on the brand.

Generally, they contain a combination of fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices. The companies that make them claim they can be used to lose weight, fight inflammation or improve your health in other ways.

Wellness is the conscious process of achieving physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It is a dynamic process of change and growth that helps people become the best version of themselves possible.

Wellness is a multidimensional concept that encompasses lifestyle, mental and spiritual wellbeing, and the environment. It includes six dimensions: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Environmental, Social and Spiritual.

Physical

Physical wellness is the ability to keep a healthy lifestyle. It includes regular physical activity, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep.

Developing these behaviors today can add years to your life and reduce your risk of health problems in the future.

In addition, your overall brain health improves along with your fitness level. This can help prevent conditions like Alzheimer’s.

It also allows you to perform better academically and focus your attention. It can help reduce stress, which is another key factor to a successful college experience.

Mental

The mental wellness of a person involves a healthy balance between emotions and behavior; a zest for living; a good sense of humor; the ability to deal with stress and bounce back from setbacks; and a strong connection to friends and family.

A healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition, adequate sleep, and a moderate amount of physical activity can help with your mental health. Feeling well also gives you the motivation to stick with your routines and prevent or improve depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.

The vertical axis of mental wellness measures from languishing (a lack of positive psychological functioning), to resilience (coping effectively with life’s challenges), to flourishing (happiness, life satisfaction, strong relationships). *Although many people do not suffer from diagnosed mental illness, they may still be “languishing” or “flourishing.” This is because they experience pervasive stress, worry, loneliness, and other problems that undermine their overall health and functional capacity.

Spiritual

Spiritual wellness is about seeking a meaningful connection with something bigger than yourself. It can result in feelings of peace, awe and contentment.

This can be done through meditation, yoga or simply spending time in nature. It doesn’t have to be every day, but even just a few minutes of quiet reflection can help boost your spiritual health.

Spiritual health is defined as having a set of guiding beliefs, principles and values that give you direction in life. It also includes a high level of faith, hope and commitment to your beliefs, which can provide you with a sense of purpose and meaning.

Social

Social wellness is a lifelong process of cultivating relationships that support you emotionally and physically. Similar to planting a flower garden, it takes intention, energy, time and effort.

Authenticity and trust are hallmarks of social well-being, as are treating others with respect and valuing diversity. Continually establishing friendships and maintaining a supportive social network can help you develop assertiveness skills, create boundaries that encourage communication, trust and conflict management, and build a strong emotional resilience.

In addition, having a supportive social network can decrease feelings of loneliness, which is often linked to many physical health conditions such as high blood pressure and depression. In fact, a meta-analysis of several studies found that people with high levels of social relationships have a lower mortality rate than those who do not have social connections.

Emotional

Emotional wellness means recognizing how you’re feeling in any given moment, honestly and without judgment, so that you can take appropriate action to address and change those feelings.

It also means embracing all the good in your life and seeing your glass as half-full rather than half-empty.

This holistic approach to wellness can help you bounce back from life’s challenges. It can improve your relationships, your work and school performance and your overall mental health.

The amount of dog food you feed your pet will vary based on their age, weight and lifestyle. Luckily, most foods come with a feeding guide on the back of the bag.

However, this feeding guide should only be a starting point. You must also be mindful of your dog’s diet and their daily activity levels.

Protein

Protein is a vital nutrient for dogs and cats because it provides the amino acids that they cannot produce on their own. It also gives them the energy they need to live long and healthy lives.

A balanced diet made with lean proteins and wholesome whole grains delivers the complete health your pet needs for lifelong wellbeing. Wellness dog food is crafted with antioxidants, probiotics, omega fatty acids and essential nutrients to promote strong immune systems and support optimal energy levels.

Optimal protein percentages vary from pet to pet and can be affected by age, size, activity level and breed. Feeding guidelines are intended as a starting point and should be adjusted to meet your pet’s unique needs.

Protein should account for a minimum of 18 to 25 percent of the total calories your dog consumes daily. High-protein foods are a great option for overweight and obese pets as they help maintain normal weight and reduce stress on the kidneys.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates give dogs the energy to go about their day, and it is important for them to have a balanced diet. A good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat is ideal to support your dog’s health.

Typically, carbohydrate amounts are higher in dry dog food than in canned or wet dog foods. Grains, legumes, and potatoes are all high in carbohydrates.

These grains are broken down by your dog’s body into glucose for energy. They are also an important source of fiber, which helps regulate bacteria in the colon and keeps your dog feeling full.

Wellness offers many dog foods with varying levels of carbohydrate. Optimal feeding amounts vary by breed, age, size, activity level, and environment.

This recipe is a good choice for active pups who may be on the move more than an hour each day. This recipe is also high in protein, at 24%, and low in fat, at 12%. It features oatmeal, ground barley, and brown rice as healthy whole grains, as well as peas for extra protein and fiber. It is also fortified with taurine, plus small amounts of joint-supporting nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin.

Fat

When it comes to fat in wellness dog food, the general rule is that you should keep it to less than 10% of the calories. This is because fat helps with hormone production, aids in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and provides the energy your dog needs for all her activities.

For dogs of large breed, a low-fat diet may be necessary to help control weight. It also helps prevent skeletal disease and improve joint health.

If your dog has a condition that requires a low-fat diet, such as pancreatitis or diabetes, you’ll need to work with a veterinarian to ensure your pet gets the appropriate amount of calories from fat. A low-fat diet can reduce your dog’s risk of developing a heart problem as well.

Fiber

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that absorbs water and helps prevent constipation and diarrhea, promotes regular bowel movements and helps dogs feel fuller for longer. It also aids weight loss and can help reduce the amount of calories your dog consumes.

Generally, fiber should be around 10% in wellness dog foods, although some are higher, particularly weight management formulas. The high fiber content in these products can be a benefit for dogs with diabetes or a sensitive stomach, as it will help regulate blood sugar levels and increase the feeling of fullness.

Another great source of fiber in wellness dog food is chia seeds, which are high in omega fatty acids and low in fat, making them an ideal choice for dogs with skin problems or a thin coat. These seeds also add a bit of protein to the recipe, which is an important component for weight management.

Wellness programs are a great way to promote healthy behavior and reduce the risk of developing health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease.

A good workplace wellness program will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of your employees and the business as a whole. Let’s take a look at 5 of the top reasons why you should consider starting one today!

1. Reduced Absenteeism

Absenteeism is one of the major problems that many companies have today. It costs the company a significant amount of money and can lead to a decline in morale.

However, there are ways to reduce absenteeism and make sure that your employees are able to come back on time. The key is to understand the types of absences that are happening in your workplace and figure out how to eliminate them.

Wellness programs can help to decrease absenteeism by promoting healthy habits, such as regular exercise, eating right, and getting enough sleep. These activities also foster bonding between coworkers, which can improve productivity and job satisfaction.

2. Increased Productivity

Employees who are healthy are more rested, energized and motivated to complete their tasks. They are also less likely to have long-term illness or injury.

Workplace wellness programs have been shown to significantly increase productivity, which can lead to more sales and profits for your company. In fact, a study from the University of California Riverside found that employees who participate in a wellness program improved their productivity by an average of one full day per month.

Another benefit of workplace wellness is that it can boost teamwork and improve communication among colleagues. When employees take part in physical fitness activities with their coworkers, they encourage one another to achieve their goals and hold each other accountable for their progress. This improves teamwork and increases morale, which can help your business succeed.

3. Reduced Health Care Costs

The cost of health care has become a major concern for many employers. It is essential to have a competitive employee wellness program that reduces health care costs while improving the overall wellness of your employees.

Employers can decrease monthly health insurance premiums by focusing on prevention and encouraging employees to adopt healthier lifestyle habits. This can significantly reduce the total amount that an employer must spend on healthcare.

Workplace wellness programs can also reduce employee absenteeism and boost morale. These benefits are worth the investment as they will help to attract and retain quality employees who can do their best work while enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

4. Increased Job Satisfaction

As the world moves into a more wellness-focused culture, employees are looking for employers who focus on their health. This is especially true for millennials and Gen Z workers who are increasingly seeking workplaces that cater to their holistic, health-focused lifestyles.

Employees who have a healthy work environment are more likely to stay with their companies for longer periods of time and perform better. They also tend to attract the best and most qualified candidates.

This is because wellness at work improves employee mental health and overall wellbeing. It is also associated with increased levels of work productivity, and it is known to reduce stress.

5. Increased Employee Engagement

Employee engagement is a critical part of the success of any wellness program. It requires frequent and consistent communication about the program and its goals, as well as a commitment to the overall messaging of the initiative.

Workplace wellness can create an environment where employees are excited to turn up to work and do their best for the company, which can improve financial results, retention rates and employee morale.

To help build an engaged culture, HR professionals should take feedback from employees on their needs and interests. This can be done through surveys, interviews or focus groups. It allows them to customize the programs that meet the unique needs of their employees. It also helps them tailor the incentives that will motivate employees to participate.

If you’ve ever tried to build a workplace wellness program, you know it can be a long, frustrating process. It involves wooing senior leadership, creating programming that gets employees excited, and sending what feels like a million communications.

Unfortunately, many of these programs fall flat despite all their efforts. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why.

Lack of Management Support

Wellness programs are a great way for companies to help employees make better health choices and stay healthier. They can also reduce the costs associated with insurance premiums and workers’ compensation.

In addition, wellness programs can create more productive employees and help build a healthier, happier workplace culture. However, they must be implemented correctly and ingrained into the company’s culture.

This means managers must take the time to understand their employees’ underlying wellness challenges and offer solutions that work for them. It also means recognizing that wellness is not a stand-alone issue, and employees have many different needs, struggles, and perspectives.

Lack of Communication

A lack of communication is one of the most common reasons why wellness programs fail. This is especially true when employees have a hard time interpreting or understanding the information that they receive from their managers.

A workplace wellness program needs a multipronged approach to communicate with its target audience. That involves an email campaign, digital fliers, and even in-person meetings.

This is important because wellness marketing has a big impact on employee behavior. Without it, people won’t take action towards their wellness goals.

It’s also important to have a team of individuals who are well-versed in communicating the goals of the wellness program and how it will help them achieve them. This will make it much easier to get the message across. This will also increase participation and create a more successful wellness program.

Lack of Motivation

There are many reasons why wellness programs fail, but one of the most common is a lack of motivation. The idea of a wellness program is to help employees adopt healthy behaviors, such as eating right and getting regular exercise.

Those behaviors can lead to lower medical spending, better job performance, and improved clinical outcomes. In a University of Illinois study, workers who took part in a wellness program saw their health risks improve six weeks after starting the program.

A successful workplace wellness program is based on a combination of incentives and targeted education that help employees adopt healthier behaviors. It helps them reduce their risk for chronic disease, which in turn lowers their health insurance costs and healthcare expenditures.

Lack of Incentives

One of the biggest reasons that wellness programs fail is a lack of incentives. If employees aren’t able to find ways to earn cash prizes, rewards or bonuses for completing wellness challenges, they’re not going to be engaged with the program.

Incentives should be based on employee health outcomes and not just on financial benefits or other non-health goals. For example, if someone has been trying to quit smoking for years and has only achieved small success, an incentive of $50 or $100 won’t likely be enough to encourage them to break that habit.

Incentives can be used to promote a healthier work environment and save companies money in the long run. But they also need to be carefully weighed against other costs, such as lost productivity and employee turnover.

Lack of Technology

Technology is an essential part of any workplace wellness program. It can help employees track their progress on wellness activities, communicate with other participants and receive rewards for healthy behaviors.

A lack of technology is one of the reasons that wellness programs fail to get high participation rates. With busy schedules, long work hours and family obligations, employees don’t have the time to devote to their health.

However, the right corporate wellness technology can help you overcome these barriers and make your wellness program more effective. These technologies can help you achieve your goals, improve employee engagement and increase retention. They can also provide you with data that will help you identify the best ways to streamline your program and get better results. It will also give you a clearer picture of your workforce and their needs.

Are wellness visits mandatory?

Medicare covers two visit types: the “Welcome to Medicare” preventive exam and an annual wellness visit.

Both are not required, but they can help you maintain health and reduce your risk of certain diseases. They are free and usually include a talk with your doctor, physical exam and screenings.

Why are they important?

Wellness visits are a part of preventive health care and help patients stay in good health. They also build relationships with physicians and allow patients to have open, honest conversations about their personal health and lifestyle.

The doctor may ask questions about your family history and discuss any changes in your life that could affect your health. This can include new medications or a change in your diet.

Your doctor can use this information to better diagnose and treat diseases and other health concerns. Taking steps to maintain good physical and mental health is the key to a long, healthy life.

Many health problems start early, when they are easier and less costly to treat. Getting annual screenings and checking blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels is an important way to catch them before they become serious.

What is a wellness visit?

A wellness visit is a health assessment that usually takes place annually. It includes a review of your medical history, family and other health information, screenings and other preventative services that promote health.

During a wellness exam, your doctor will ask you about your weight, height and blood pressure. They will also check your blood for high cholesterol, diabetes and other conditions that may need screening.

If you have a problem that needs attention, your doctor may schedule another appointment. During this visit, your doctor will discuss symptoms and treatment options with you.

You can help your doctor give you the best care by being honest and bringing all the important information to your visit. Make sure to bring your completed Health Risk Assessment and any medication, vitamins or supplements you take (both prescription and over-the-counter).

How often should I get a wellness visit?

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends adults get a wellness visit at least once a year. This is because regular checkups are critical in preventing illness and identifying disease before it becomes a problem.

During the exam, your doctor will take your blood pressure and weight and perform other tests to screen for common health problems like diabetes or heart disease. They may also talk to you about your risk factors and any symptoms you have.

You should have a list of questions for your doctor to answer during the visit. It’s also helpful to bring a copy of immunization records and any other forms you might need to fill out for school, camps, or sports.

Getting annual wellness exams is important for establishing a strong relationship with your primary care physician and providing you with individualized care that focuses on your lifestyle, risk factors, and pertinent family history. With honest communication, you and your doctor can develop a plan to maintain good health for the future.

What are the benefits of a wellness visit?

A wellness visit can help you and your doctor get a clearer picture of your health. It also can help you make lifestyle changes that promote better health and avoid illness.

During your wellness exam, you will be asked about your health history, physical activity and other factors that may impact your overall health. You will also be given screening tests to determine your risk of certain diseases, like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Your doctor will also ask about your family history and current medications. This information can help your doctor make recommendations to prevent problems before they start or treat any that do arise.

Medicare and many insurance companies provide yearly wellness visits at no cost. This benefit can be a great way to build a strong relationship with your healthcare provider and keep your medical care costs down.

Weight Watchers (now called WW) is a weight loss and lifestyle program. It combines food tracking, activity tracking and mindfulness into one holistic system.

It uses a points budget that’s based on your starting weight, goals, and activity levels. It encourages you to eat a variety of healthy foods and limit unhealthy ones.

Weight Tracking

Weight watchers has recently launched a new rewards program called Wellness Wins. This rewards system is designed to encourage members to make small but crucial steps towards healthy habits.

It rewards members for tracking food, exercise, logging their weight and attending Wellness Workshops within the app. These actions will earn them “Wins,” which can be redeemed for a range of prizes and experiences.

Unlike other calorie counting apps, this app is developed by registered dietitians to help you track your food, find recipes and create an overall diet plan that suits your goals. It offers a variety of meal plans, a restaurant and recipe database, on-demand workouts and a 24-hour live chat with a coach.

The WW app also features an 8000 strong catalog of recipes to keep your food interesting. There is a smartphone barcode scanner to make shopping easier, and it even allows you to create your own customized food plans. It also offers an ad-free subscription service and 24/7 live chat with a personal coach.

Meal Tracking

Whether you’re eating healthier, tracking your weight, or just making better choices for yourself, meal trackers can do wonders. They can also help you stay on track with your goals and keep you accountable.

According to Brigitte Zeitlin, MPH, RD, founder of BZ Nutrition in New York, it’s a good idea to log your meals and snacks. This helps you identify how much food you’ve eaten in between, as well as when you might have been eating too much or too little.

Another benefit of food tracking is that it increases awareness about your habits around food. For example, if you find yourself snacking on a candy bar while watching TV or while cooking dinner, it might be time to change your routine.

However, if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your current bodyweight, it’s not recommended to track every single thing you eat. Instead, focusing on small, sustainable changes will help you reach your health and fitness goals.

Activity Tracking

If you’re looking to keep track of your activity levels, an activity tracker is an excellent option. They’re free and easy to use, and they automatically measure steps, calories burned, distance, active time, and flights of stairs climbed.

Having an activity tracker also helps you to set goals for yourself, which can be a great way to keep on track with your health. It’s important to set a goal, such as walking a certain number of steps per day, and then work toward it.

In addition to tracking your daily activities, a fitness tracker can also be a useful tool for keeping tabs on your mood. A fitness tracker can help you stay on top of stress levels, which can impact your sleep quality and overall health.

Wellness Wins, a new program for weight watchers, recognizes members for small behaviors that are proven to lead to healthier habits. They’ll be rewarded with credits, which can then be redeemed for exclusive products and experiences that will inspire them on their wellness journeys.

Mindset Tracking

Mindset is an important part of weight loss and wellness. It’s where you set your goals, deal with setbacks and build self-awareness, self-compassion, gratitude and more – all of which are essential to maintaining long-term healthy weight loss.

In addition to tracking weight, activity and food, WeightWatchers offers mindset tools to help members shift to a more helpful mindset anytime, anywhere. These techniques are grounded in cognitive behavioural, acceptance-based psychology sciences and proven to make the journey easier.

To explore how mindset affects self-tracking, users were asked to answer a series of questions about their mindset. The results showed that mindset was related to the way self-tracking data was interpreted and shared by users.

Wellness programs offer a variety of benefits for both employees and their employers. This includes lowering health care costs, increasing productivity and improving morale among employees.

Research shows that for every dollar spent on a workplace wellness program, it saves $3.27 in healthcare costs. So, it makes sense to have a wellness program in your workplace.

1. Lowers health care costs

A wellness program in the workplace is an important tool that helps to promote and maintain health of the employees. It helps to increase their overall mental, physical, and emotional well-being, which in turn improves the productivity of the company.

It is essential for a business to create a culture of wellness, as it is believed that it can reduce job turnover, manage stress, decrease absenteeism, and save a lot of money in the long run.

Creating a wellness program in the workplace requires a team of professionals. A good team is able to research and collect information from employees about what they need and what activities they are interested in.

In addition to surveys, other ways to gather information include interviews and focus groups. Using these methods to create a wellness program allows the employer to tailor offerings to meet the needs of employees and to build a healthier, happier workplace environment.

2. Increases productivity

Employee wellness programs have been shown to improve the health of a company’s employees, and it has a positive impact on their productivity.

A successful wellness program shows that a company cares about its employees’ well-being, and this makes them feel more loyal to the company. In addition, a good wellness program helps to decrease turnover rates, and therefore makes it easier to hire new employees.

It also has a positive impact on the bottom line. Research suggests that productivity losses due to illness and stress cost companies billions of dollars each year.

3. Reduces absenteeism

A wellness program is important in a workplace because it reduces absenteeism and lowers costs. This is because employees are less likely to miss work due to illness or injury when they have a wellness program in place.

This decreases the company’s health care costs and helps the business save money on workers’ compensation and disability benefits.

These programs are a great way to attract and retain top talent, and they can also help improve the company culture.

The best wellness programs are tailored to each individual and address their specific health and wellness issues. They include a range of different activities, including a healthy diet, exercise, and stress management.

4. Increases morale

If your company has a strong wellness program, it will have a positive impact on morale. It can help increase team comradery, build trust, and encourage employees to support one another in the workplace.

In addition, wellness programs are a great way to show employees that their hard work is valued. When they see that their peers and leadership care, they’ll feel more motivated to continue working toward a common goal.

Employees who are physically and psychologically healthy feel more confident and inspired to tackle big projects or meet difficult deadlines. This boosts productivity, and reduces stress, which also improves morale.

5. Reduces stress

When employees have a wellness program they tend to do better at work, and have higher morale. This is why companies with successful programs have high employee retention and attract top talent.

A well-designed wellness program will not only encourage healthier behavior amongst the staff, but will also help reduce health risks and prevent chronic diseases. This will decrease the cost of healthcare for the company and increase the overall profitability.

However, the ability of a wellness program to impact healthcare costs depends on how effective it is. There are hundreds of research papers that have evaluated the impact of wellness programs on health risk factors.

If you’re looking to improve your mental health, a wellness app is a great way to track progress and stay motivated. But it’s important to remember that you should be the driving force behind your wellness journey.

According to a new report from Sensor Tower, there are more than 200 million wellness apps in the world. These programs can address physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual aspects of wellness.

Obe Fitness

Obe Fitness is a premium wellness app with live and on-demand classes that can be streamed on your smartphone, smart TV or desktop computer. It has 15 different types of workouts, ranging from dance-based sessions to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), Pilates, strength, and stretching.

The best part about Obe is that the classes are accessible for all ages, fitness levels, and even kids. They also have a wide variety of class lengths, from five minutes to 60 minutes, so you can always find something to fit into your schedule.

They also have a great community aspect to their program, so you can get motivation from the obe fam when you need it most.

The workouts themselves aren’t too intense, but the coaches’ on-camera personalities make them fun to watch and participate in. You’ll occasionally hear the coach address you directly and give you personalized encouragement.

Mooda

Mooda is a mood tracker that texts users questions throughout the day to see how they feel. The app uses this information to generate happiness reports, which can help you focus on specific activities that can improve your mood and make you happier.

It also provides a social support community that can help you get support when you need it most. Its basic version is free, but you can upgrade to its premium version for access to more features.

The app helps you track eight different activities that promote well-being, including sleep, exercise, meditation, goal setting, gratitude, kindness, and social connection. It also teaches you how to recognize patterns in your mood and behaviors, so you can set realistic goals and meet them.

Mental health apps can be a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about their mood and improve their mental health. However, not all apps are created equal, so it’s important to find the right one for you.

All Trails

All Trails is a community of outdoor people who share their experiences of hiking, running, and other activities. The app allows you to search for trails near your location or browse curated lists of hikes across the world.

It’s a great way to find new routes and see what other people have done before you. Plus, you can save your favourites to a list and share them with friends.

The app also features a map of the trail with details, like distance, elevation gain, and directions to get there. You can also rate the trail with stars from 1 to 5 and add photos you took along the way if you choose to.

You can share your trail experience and photos with other members of All Trails, but you can adjust the privacy settings for this content. You can choose ‘Public’, ‘Followers only’, or ‘Only me’.

Fitbit

Fitbit makes a wide variety of devices that are geared towards helping people track their daily activities and fitness goals. They range in price and function, but all of them have the ability to connect to a smartphone or computer via Bluetooth.

They can track steps, distance, calories burned and sleep activity. Many also have a heart rate monitor and GPS.

Some models even offer yoga and meditation videos. The Charge 4 includes a two-minute breathing exercise, while the Sense has an electrodermal sensor that measures sweat response to stress.

A monthly subscription unlocks more features in the Fitbit app. Premium members have access to more workouts and challenges, new health and wellness reports, and extra sleep features, plus guided programs for nutrition and stress reduction.

With all the juggling and stress of the busy lives we lead, it can be easy to put off seeing your doctor until serious symptoms appear.

However, many medical problems start with subtle changes and can be caught early if you have regular checkups. That’s why it’s so important to visit your doctor at least once a year for wellness exams.

1. Annually

An annual wellness check is an important step in maintaining your health. They can help you detect any issues in their initial stages, so you can take preventative measures and treat them before they progress.

During an annual wellness exam, your doctor will review your health history and check your vital signs, such as your blood pressure and heart rate. They may also test your body for cancer and other potential diseases.

It’s also a great opportunity for you and your doctor to discuss any symptoms or concerns you might have. This can help your doctor understand what’s going on and get you the care you need as soon as possible.

Medicare offers a free annual wellness visit for people with Part B (Medical Insurance). This preventive service is a good way to stay healthy and reduce your risk of illness or disease.

You can find out if this free service is available to you by calling your health care provider. You should also review your insurance plan’s summary of benefits before you make an appointment.

2. Biannually

The frequency of wellness checks will depend on a variety of factors including your pet’s age, lifestyle habits, and risk for developing diseases. Typically, a yearly wellness visit is recommended for animals in good health.

However, pets that have a history of illness or are at higher risk for disease will require additional annual screenings. These could include testing for heart conditions, diabetes, fungal infections, or cancer.

Because of this, it is important to avoid confusing biannual and biennial in writing or speaking. This can lead to confusion among readers or listeners and may even result in misunderstandings. The best way to avoid this is to use semiannual when you need something that happens twice a year.

3. Monthly

A wellness check is a visit to your doctor that includes a physical exam, medical history, and other screenings. It also gives you the chance to talk with your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have.

Your provider can recommend vaccinations and screenings that help prevent illnesses like pneumonia, diabetes, and high blood pressure. They can also tell you about your risk factors and provide advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Performing wellness checks monthly is an important way to keep track of your health. It also helps you avoid the cost of emergency room visits, which can be costly and time-consuming.

4. Weekly

Having a wellness check each year helps ensure your immune system has the tools it needs to fight off serious and even life-threatening diseases. It also allows you to identify any health risks you may have that could lead to a future illness, and take steps to prevent it before it happens.

According to the CDC, having regular wellness exams can help you and your doctor identify early-stage disease and treat it before it becomes life-threatening. It can also lower healthcare costs.

As a result, the ACA required that most Americans get preventive care, including screenings for chronic diseases and other health conditions. This helped more people than ever before to keep track of their health and catch disease before it was too late.

Despite being a standard part of medical practice, there are some cases where wellness checks can be dangerous and even deadly. These include non-emergency calls made to police about mental health crises, especially in Black and Indigenous communities.

Wellness is a conscious process that involves the adoption of a series of key principles in varied life domains to lead to high levels of well-being and life satisfaction.

A holistic approach focuses on six dimensions of wellness including physical, intellectual, emotional, environmental, social and spiritual. Increasing your wellness can help you to feel your best day after day and add years to your life.

Spiritual

Spiritual wellness is a state of awareness and development that expands your sense of purpose and meaning. It can be rooted in many different forms, including religion, moral philosophy and an inherent sense of connectedness with something greater than oneself.

A spiritually well person focuses on their values and beliefs, and acts compassionately in accordance with those. They are aware that their values may shift over time, and they take care to re-adjust them as necessary.

Emotional

Emotional wellness is the ability to effectively handle your emotions. This includes dealing with change and overcoming difficulties.

It is a lifelong process that involves managing your reactions to your world.

Keeping yourself in the present moment, and looking ahead rather than backwards are important techniques for emotional wellness. They help you distance yourself from negativity and allow you to feel better.

Physical

Physical wellness is a state of being well-rested, eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and visiting health care providers for annual check-ups.

People who prioritize physical wellness are less likely to develop chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.

Exercise helps boost blood flow throughout the body, which improves how your organs function. This increases your energy levels and keeps you alert and focused throughout the day.

Intellectual

Intellectual wellness is a way of living that promotes the ability to think critically and creatively. It consists of a devotion to lifelong learning and a desire to expand knowledge.

It is not limited to academic performance or IQ scores, but also includes social skills, personal interests and hobbies, community involvement, and cultural knowledge.

Being open to new ideas and experiences can expand your intellectual wellness by sparking curiosity and exploration. This leads to better mindfulness and a more well-rounded person.

Environmental

The environment in which we live plays a major role in our emotional and mental health. It also impacts our productivity.

Environmental wellness is the ability to maintain a safe, comfortable and connected relationship with our physical surroundings. This includes our immediate surroundings, larger communities, geographic areas and the planet.

It’s easy to improve environmental wellness through simple changes. These include increasing our awareness of how we use resources and the effect we have on nature.

Financial

Financial wellness is the state of feeling secure about money and having a plan to reach your goals. It includes having an emergency fund, no high-interest credit card debt, retirement savings and adequate insurance.

Studies show that people who feel financially stressed have higher rates of mental health disorders. These can include depression, anxiety and stress.

Occupational

Occupational wellness involves the ability to find a balance between work and leisure activities that promotes health, personal satisfaction, and financial reward. It also reflects a person’s values, interests, and beliefs.

It’s important for all of us to pursue a career that we enjoy and feel fulfilled with. When we settle for a job that doesn’t suit our interests or goals, it can lead to dissatisfaction and stress.

Social

Social wellness is about developing healthy relationships, a sense of belonging and a strong support network. It involves building communication skills, active listening, empathy and kindness.

It also includes understanding and accepting others – regardless of their background, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, life experience or socioeconomic status.

It’s important to build and maintain relationships because they help improve mental health, reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and other emotional problems, and boost physical wellness. They can even reduce the risk of dementia later in life.

A good wellness program will have an impact on your employees’ health, as well as their productivity. In addition, it will reduce your company’s healthcare costs and make a positive impact on your bottom line.

A good wellness program should be holistic and address all aspects of health, including emotional, occupational, environmental, and physical well-being. It should also be based on the needs of your team.

Improved Health

Wellness programs are an excellent way to promote healthy behaviors among employees and save money on healthcare costs. They are also a great way to improve employee morale and productivity.

According to research, workers who participate in a wellness program are more likely to stay with their employer. This is because employees feel better about themselves and are more committed to their work.

In addition to increasing health, these programs also help employees deal with stress. Getting a good night’s sleep, eating healthy foods and participating in regular exercise can all reduce stress levels.

These benefits are why employers should implement a wellness program in their workplaces. These programs are not only beneficial to employees, but they can also be a major factor in attracting and retaining the best talent.

Reduced Health Care Costs

Employee wellness programs are one of the best ways to reduce health care costs. For every dollar invested in a wellness program, employers save $1 to $3 on healthcare costs.

The majority of the savings are due to disease management, although lifestyle management can also help lower long-term costs by mitigating chronic conditions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, inadequate physical activity is responsible for almost $333 billion of the total US healthcare costs.

Getting employees involved in wellness programs helps them develop healthy behaviors that will benefit their lives. This can include eating healthier, exercising more, and managing stress better.

These habits can lower health risks like obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol. They can also help employees alleviate symptoms of depression, which leads to better overall health and productivity.

Increased Productivity

Employees are generally more productive and motivated when they feel their well-being is a priority. Studies have shown that wellness programs can improve productivity by an average of 10 hours per year.

This can make a huge difference for companies with large staffs and can help to reduce overall costs related to stress and absenteeism. This also helps to keep morale high, which further increases productivity.

Workplace wellness programs that focus on holistic dimensions of well-being also tend to improve employee satisfaction and loyalty. In particular, these programs address values and beliefs that provide purpose in life.

These can include a belief in being able to positively impact others and maintaining open-mindedness to other beliefs. They can be promoted by workplace programs or in individual initiatives.

Reduced Stress

Employees who participate in a workplace wellness program have been shown to be more physically active, drink less alcohol, eat healthier foods and are better at managing stress.

Getting involved in a wellness program can make employees feel valued and appreciated at work, which boosts morale. It also helps them achieve their goals and aspirations, and makes them more productive and happy.

As a result, wellness programs can reduce stress, which in turn can help your employees manage their workloads more effectively and increase productivity.

A wellness program should be holistic, meaning it should address each of the five dimensions of health – emotional, social, occupational, environmental and spiritual. A well-rounded wellness program should include these aspects, as they can all have a direct impact on each other.

Wellness programs are being marketed to employers as ways to help employees reduce their health insurance costs. However, many of these programs offer rewards and incentives that are not tax-free under the Internal Revenue Code.

The IRS issued a recent memorandum and information letter that addresses these issues. The memo outlines three fact scenarios, including one where the employee contributes through salary reduction through a cafeteria plan.

How do I know if a wellness benefit is taxable?

Wellness programs are an employer-sponsored program designed to improve and promote health and fitness. They typically involve premium discounts, cash rewards, gym memberships and other incentives to participate.

While many of these benefits are tax-free to employees, a recent IRS memo (IRS Memorandum 201622031; December 16, 2016, cited in this article) concluded that cash rewards and non-cash benefits received through a wellness program are subject to taxable income.

The gist of this IRS memo is that cash and non-cash rewards and incentives are included as income to recipients under Code section 213(d) and under Code section 132(e). That means the fair market value of these items must be imputable to recipients for taxable purposes.

On the other hand, health screenings and other medical care provided under a wellness program are generally excluded from recipients’ income under Code section 106(b) or under Sec. 104(3(3)). In this way, fixed-indemnity payments under wellness benefit plans are tax-free to recipients.

What is a wellness benefit?

Wellness benefits are a way for companies to encourage employees to improve their health by offering financial assistance for healthy lifestyle activities. These programs help boost employee morale, increase productivity and reduce turnover.

Wellness programs are also offered by local and state governments, as well as insurance companies. They provide a range of health related services, such as smoking cessation programs, weight loss education and fitness challenges.

There are many different types of wellness programs, but they all focus on promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors. These habits are rooted in nutrition, physical activity and stress management.

Generally, the ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with health status as long as they participate in voluntary workplace wellness programs. However, two new federal laws limit the use of financial incentives to promote workplace wellness.

What are the tax implications of a wellness benefit?

As health care costs continue to rise, employers are finding creative ways to help their employees manage their health and wellness. In response, insurance promoters have created a number of wellness benefits that are often touted as tax-free benefits that will save employers money.

The tax implications of these wellness benefits vary depending on the type of program offered. Some wellness programs provide health screenings and other benefits that qualify as medical care under Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Other wellness programs may include cash rewards, such as gym memberships or gift cards, that are not medically necessary. These amounts are included in a employee’s income for FIT, FITW, FICA and FUTA purposes unless the amount is excludable as an exempt fringe benefit under IRC Section 132.

The IRS has issued several memoranda clarifying which wellness benefits are taxable and which are excluded from a taxable wage base. It is important for employers to closely examine these benefits and ensure that they are not triggering employment tax reporting and payment requirements (see, e.g., Cumings, “IRS Continues to Play Whack-a-Mole With Wellness Plans,” 155 Tax Notes 1394 (June 5, 2017)).

How do I design a wellness benefit?

Wellness programs are gaining popularity, not only as a means of motivating employees but also as a cost-effective means of controlling healthcare costs. They typically include an array of wellness activities, a wide range of prizes (think healthy snacks and water bottles) and even some perks for employees’ family members.

When it comes to the nitty gritty of implementing your company’s wellness program, the best strategy is to make it as easy on employees as possible while still complying with IRS rules and regulations. A good way to achieve this is through a well-designed and administered WIMPER – wellness incentive medical reimbursement program. This type of benefits program allows you to give your employees a cash bonus in exchange for participating in your company’s wellness activities, resulting in lower health insurance premiums and a happier workforce. The best part is that you can do it all in one go, making it the best way to reward your employees for their efforts and get the most bang for your buck.

Dedicated to improving the wellness of all LHSC employees, Where Wellness Works supports an organizational culture of health and resiliency. The team provides programs, supports and resources.

Where Wellness Works aims to promote physical, mental/emotional, social, spiritual/mindfulness and intellectual wellbeing.

Nicole Yawney, Indigenous Youth Wellness Consultant at Children’s Hospital, recently received a Canadian Impact Award from Children’s Hospitals Week. She is being recognized for connecting her patients and their families with traditional healing.

Health Promotion

The workplace environment and job structure have a role to play in the health of workers. The psychosocial stressors of job strain, shift work, and excessive physical work load are associated with a variety of behaviors that lead to poor health such as smoking and lack of physical activity [5, 6].

Creating a workplace culture where healthy choices are supported is one of the core goals for where wellness works lhsc. To address this challenge, we are integrating health promotion as part of our work to advance our organizational culture and support our staff in achieving their optimal wellbeing.

To assist us in promoting and encouraging healthy behavior, we are partnering with the ExerCYse Is Medicine team to provide opportunities for students to become certified health coaches. We are also testing an innovative app called CARROT Wellness that rewards individuals for achieving their personal health goals.

Education & Training

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is proud to offer a variety of education and training opportunities for employees. These programs are designed to enhance the professional development of our staff and physicians and provide them with skills in a wide range of topics related to their work.

For example, LHSC has developed a pilot program called CYdekicks, whereby trained health coaching students from ISU help participants achieve their physical activity goals. Using principles of motivational interviewing, CYdekicks offers individuals a way to establish and sustain regular habits of physical activity.

Another education and training initiative is the Kenkwite’:ne Healing Space, which provides a culturally informed environment for Indigenous patients and families at LHSC. This space allows for a variety of traditional Indigenous practices and healing methods such as sharing circles, smudging, drumming circles and teachings from Elders/Knowledge Keepers.

Prevention & Screening

Getting screened is one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being. This is because screenings can identify conditions before they become serious and treat them early.

Some preventive screenings can help you find problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes so that you can have them treated before they cause serious disease or even death. Your doctor may also recommend screenings for some cancers.

A good way to make sure you get recommended screenings is by talking to your provider about what tests are right for you. They can tell you the most effective screenings for your age and risk. They also can talk to you about how frequent screenings should be. For example, your doctor may want to have you screened for colorectal cancer every year or two years. Your doctor might also recommend vaccinations to prevent certain types of cancer.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is the process of working with the community to build relationships and foster trust. It is vital to creating positive, lasting relationships and it can help you develop a socially responsible organisation.

Communities that engage in multiple forms of community engagement have higher levels of health, wealth, resiliency, and capacity to confront crises. They also have stronger social networks and lower rates of structural racism, socioeconomic disparity, and unequal opportunity.

Whether you are planning a national project or a smaller service, engaging with the wider community can be an essential part of your process. By getting the right people involved in your plans, you will save time and avoid unforeseen roadblocks along the way that could set you back months or even years.

Government agencies are often interested in obtaining public input on specific decisions, analyses, or sets of alternatives before they go forward with a project. They may use comments periods at public meetings, feedback sections on their website, or brief surveys housed on the agency’s home page to solicit input.

A wellness exam, or preventive physical examination, is a great way to keep your health in check. It can help spot issues early and may lead to more effective treatment.

During your annual wellness visit, your doctor will review your health history and medications. They can also offer advice for improving your health.

Ages 13 to 15

The ages 13 to 15 are a good time for your child’s first wellness exam. These visits may involve a talk with your doctor or nurse about her height, weight and blood pressure, plus a physical exam.

During this visit, your teen’s health care provider will check her heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, breath, lungs and head. Testicular and hernia exams are also part of this exam.

Ages 18 to 39

A wellness exam is a visit with your doctor that may include standard tests like blood pressure and cholesterol measurements. It’s also a chance for your doctor to talk about your health history and current lifestyle habits.

These visits are important because they help detect diseases before they become severe. They are often recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force, a group that sets guidelines for screenings.

Ages 40 to 49

A wellness exam is a chance to get more one-on-one time with your doctor and discuss any health questions or concerns you may have. These conversations can help your doctor get to know you and your lifestyle, so they can provide more personalized care in the future.

Screenings include blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, mammograms, pap tests, osteoporosis, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) screenings. The frequency of these screenings varies depending on age, gender and risk factors.

Ages 50 to 59

Wellness visits are annual health checks, usually with a doctor. They focus on preventive care and are a great way to keep your body healthy.

A typical visit includes a physical exam, height, weight and blood pressure measurements. Your doctor may also talk about your current diet, exercise and stress level.

During a wellness exam, your doctor will also review your family history and risk factors for certain conditions, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. They may recommend screenings such as a mammogram, pap test or osteoporosis testing.

Ages 60 to 69

During an annual wellness exam, a doctor will use a variety of examination procedures to check your body for physical changes that may point to health problems. Some of the tests that doctors perform include checking blood pressure, listening to your heart and lungs using a stethoscope, and examining your arms and legs.

A wellness exam also gives you an opportunity to build a relationship with your primary care provider. This allows you to be a more active participant in your own healthcare and helps prevent health problems from cropping up down the road.

Ages 70 to 79

Generally, wellness exams occur once a year for people age 70 to 79. They can be helpful for catching emerging health issues, and they may help your doctor create a personalized plan to improve your overall health.

In addition to physical exams, wellness visits usually include a talk about your lifestyle choices and ways you can make healthier decisions. You should also bring a list of any questions you have with you to the visit, so you can fully discuss your health and receive all the answers you need.

Ages 80 to 89

The ages 80 to 89 are among the fastest-growing age groups in the United States. They comprise 4.7 percent of the older population today and are projected to grow to 10 percent by 2050.

During an annual wellness exam, you and your doctor can discuss your lifestyle and any health challenges you may be facing. You can also discuss any new medications or treatments you have been prescribed. Often, these visits can be the first step in developing a long-lasting relationship between you and your doctor.

Ages 90 to 99

A wellness exam is a way for your doctor to get to know you and your health history. The doctor can then provide you with more personalized care when medical issues arise in the future.

A wellness visit may also include screenings for certain conditions, like breast cancer or pap smears. These screenings can save lives by detecting problems early on and helping you avoid serious illnesses.

Medicare is a big part of President Barack Obama’s plan to provide Americans with quality health care, and it’s promoting a new perk: free preventive services.

These preventive visits – called annual wellness visits – may not include a physical exam, but they can be a valuable tool in managing your health and preventing medical problems from happening. Often, the benefits far outweigh any inconvenience.

What is a wellness visit?

A wellness visit is a preventive health assessment that helps you and your doctor identify risk factors, assess current and future needs, and make recommendations for improving your health. These visits are free and cover preventive services focusing on your overall health, such as screenings for cholesterol or blood pressure, mammograms, osteoporosis tests, STDs testing and more.

These yearly check-ups also help you develop relationships with your primary care physician and create a plan to maintain good health. Your physician will talk to you about your lifestyle habits and offer advice on healthy eating, exercise and stress management.

Before your appointment, you’ll be asked to fill out a health risk assessment questionnaire. The information you provide will help your provider create a personalized healthcare plan to improve your health and reduce your medical costs.

What is covered by Medicare’s annual wellness visit?

Medicare fully covers your annual wellness visit if you have Medicare Part B for longer than a year. During your visit, you and your primary care physician create or update a personalized prevention plan that includes screenings and other preventive services.

Your doctor also reviews your medical and family history, current providers, prescriptions, and other health-related information. They will check your height, weight, blood pressure and other routine measurements, and may take bloodwork or other tests if needed.

The AWV also includes a health risk assessment and discussion of your personal and social needs. This is a great way to catch potentially serious issues before they turn into full-blown diseases.

Despite Medicare’s full coverage of these visits, fewer than 20% of eligible patients are getting them. This is partly due to confusion over what a wellness visit is and what it does not cover.

Is Medicare’s annual wellness visit mandatory?

Getting your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is a great way to keep yourself in good health. You’ll receive personalized advice about your health and risk factors that can help prevent disability, illness or chronic disease.

You’ll also learn how to maintain healthy habits. This may include avoiding smoking and other harmful behaviors, eating right and exercise.

To prepare for your Medicare Wellness Visit, make sure you have a list of all medications and vitamins that you take. You should also keep a notepad and pen handy to write down any questions you might have.

If you are enrolled in original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or a Medicare Advantage plan, your annual wellness visit is free of deductibles and copayments if the doctor accepts assignment. You’ll also have no out-of-pocket expenses if the doctor performs additional tests or services during the appointment that aren’t covered by Medicare.

Can I get a Medicare annual wellness visit at Rush Copley Medical Group?

If you have Medicare Part B, you can receive a Medicare annual wellness visit (AWV) free of charge if you have not already received a preventive physical exam within the first 12 months of receiving your Medicare benefits. This is also called the “Welcome to Medicare” exam and can be scheduled by calling your primary care provider.

During your AWV, you and your health professional will identify your health risks and create or update a personalized prevention plan. This visit can help you avoid injury, illness and disease and stay healthy throughout your life.

During this visit, you’ll discuss your medical history, risk factors, medications and other information to better understand your current health and your overall health goals. You’ll also develop a plan for screenings and other preventive services based on your specific health needs.