Wellness Seminars.

Wellness Seminars are learning sessions planned and organized by you to meet specific objectives. Decide on a topic and pick a speaker. Choose a site for the “Lunch and Learn” session, generally a lunchroom or break room.

Depending on your budget and objectives, workers can brown bag the lunch or you might provide the meal. Meetings can be mandatory or elective, your option.

Experience tells us the most success will be achieved when these Wellness Workshops are elective and when the company provides lunch.

Goals for Wellness Seminars

Education on a specific medical problem. You could want to choose one of your group’s top diagnoses. Examples are -

• Diabetes - diabetes prevention and care by a qualified diabetic educator

• Heart disease - cardiovascular health (individual counseling sessions with a nutritionist)

• High blood pressure

• High cholesterol

• Flu and pneumonia

• Breast cancer - breast health or breast self-exam sessions may be taught by a trained instructor

Education on health insurance benefits -

• Diabetes - what are the covered benefits, where to purchase diabetic supplies, support groups for employees with diabetes.

• Wellness Program Benefits

• Well baby/child care.

Education on the importance of enrolling in your health plan or local health department’s health education programs or disease management (DM) programs. Example programs -

• Diabetes

• Respiratory

• Low-Back Pain

• Cardiovascular

• Tobacco use

Community Resource Speakers for Wellness Seminars

• Local health plan office

• Local heart association

• Local cancer society

• Pharmacies - many pharmacists are available to speak on pharmacy-related issues.

• Pharmaceutical Corporations - many corporations have standard presentations developed for companys that are provided free of charge to use at your own direction. Some examples are -

• Know Your Numbers (high cholesterol) - Pfizer

• Respiratory Wellness (flu and pneumonia) - Pfizer

• Men’s and Women’s Health - Pfizer

• Local gyms/fitness trainers/YMCA - can discuss walking safety, advantages of walking, swimming and aerobics.

• Yoga and/or Pilates instructors

• Running, cycling club representatives

• Local hospital nutritionists

• Stamp Out Tobacco use - Tobacco Coalition representatives

Topics for Wellness Seminars

• Biking - benefits and opportunities for cycling

• Nutrition and health (Heart Healthful lunch for all attendees)

• Cardiovascular health

• Women’s health issues

• How to recognize the signs and symptoms of heart attack and stroke

• National Worker Fitness Day within the office setting - Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness representatives can promote event

• Exercise tolerance and healthful heart issues

• Beginning a fitness program- include the importance of seeing the physician before the starting of any new exercise program

• Self-defense

• Domestic abuse

• Safety in general

• Exercise safety

• Walking/running benefits and safety tips Tobacco dangers and avoidance