Author Archive

Helping Hands for Parents

2022 April, Benefit Spotlight March 29, 2022

Having adequate childcare has been a struggle for many in the workforce even before the COVID-19 pandemic, with the greater toll often falling on women. Employers have taken note, and many are offering or expanding childcare and tutoring benefits to assist their employees. These benefits, which can help reduce your stress levels by providing care when you need it most, range from back-up care to after-school tutoring assistance.

Programs such as Bright Horizons offer multiple services, including on-site childcare and back-up care. This allows you to have a plan in place if your regularly planned childcare falls through. They also offer elder care services, so if you have adult dependents who need a little extra help, you don’t have to worry about them. Bright Horizons also features the Sittercity app, which provides an easy way to find thoroughly vetted, local child and elder care.

Companies such as Varsity Tutors provide a wide variety of services for K-12 students. This includes one-on-one tutoring on many specific subjects, small group classes, SAT preparation, and live online learning classes. Their tutors are highly qualified and vetted and are ready to help your child learn.

More employers than ever are offering and expanding their childcare benefits. Typically, your employer pays the cost of providing access to the service, but there will be a cost to you at time of use. Contact Human Resources to see what is available to you.

RESOURCES

Women in the Workplace | McKinsey
Employers sweeten child-care benefits to win over workers (cnbc.com)
Welcome to Bright Horizons | Bright Horizons®
Sittercity: Find Local Child Care, Senior Care, & Pet Care
Online Tutoring, Classes, and Test Prep – Varsity Tutors

Pocket Mental Health

2022 April, Lifestyle and Wellness March 29, 2022

Most of us need a little help with our mental health from time to time. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Thankfully, there are hundreds of mental health apps developed by professionals to help you address your specific concerns — everything from anxiety and PTSD to depression and ADHD — from the privacy of your own device.

Many of these apps can be used to improve your mental health on your own or to enhance regular therapist or psychiatrist visits; some can even help connect you to a therapist virtually. There are free and paid options, and some companies include access to an app as part of their total benefits package.

Apps like Calm and Headspace help you develop mindfulness, which can ease your anxiety. They can help you learn to meditate and sleep better, whether you have practiced meditation before or are brand-new to it.

If you’re looking for something a little more engaging, or need a quick pick-me-up, try Happify. The app uses a series of science-based short activities and games each day to help you develop positive thought patterns and overall happiness.

Having trouble tracking your mood and symptoms? Try Bearable. This app is a straightforward and user-friendly way to help you track your mood, medications, symptoms, and many other day-to-day variables. From this data, Bearable will create charts that you can use to identify patterns or as an aid in therapy.

This is just a small sample of the available apps. Check HERE for an expert-created resource to help you sort through them. Help is at your fingertips!

RESOURCES

10 Useful Mental Health Apps to Use in 2022 (healthline.com)
The Best Mental Health Apps of 2022 (verywellmind.com)

Living Sustainably

2022 April, Lifestyle and Wellness March 29, 2022

Single-use plastics, such as disposable water bottles and plastic bags, are an environmental problem. When thrown out, they clog up oceans and river and are harmful to both plants and animals. It may be difficult to avoid single-use plastic altogether, but there are a handful of simple ways you can do your part to help cut down waste.

Instead of purchasing disposable water bottles, consider using a reusable water bottle. Not only will this practice avoid plastic waste, it will save you money in short order. If the tap water in your area doesn’t taste great, you could consider investing in a water filter pitcher for your home as well. There are multiple affordable (and stylish) options for both reusable water bottles and filters.

Plastic bags are used every day and are recyclable, but only 1% of them are actually ever recycled. To help minimize waste, make the switch to reusable shopping bags. Cloth or canvas bags can be washed, and even sturdier reusable plastic totes are better for the environment than single-use bags. Most residential curbside recycling programs do not accept plastic bags, but some grocery stores do. You can also check HERE for a local collection site.
These swaps just scratch the surface of how you can reduce plastic use. Reusable sandwich bags, glass food storage containers, and beeswax food wraps are just a few more examples of easy at-home switches.

When you must use single-use plastics, make it a habit to recycle. If you don’t have curbside recycling or a receptacle in your apartment facility, check your city and county websites to find a recycling facility near you.

RESOURCES

Fact Sheet: Single Use Plastics – Earth Day
Find a Drop Off Location – Plastic Film Recycling
Single-Use Plastics 101 | NRDC

Seizure First Aid

2022 March, Lifestyle and Wellness February 9, 2022

The most commonly known seizure is the tonic-clonic seizure, which has the characteristic convulsions. There are several things to keep in mind when aiding someone experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure.

Do’s and Don’ts

 

DO stay with the person. Be calm and reassure them that they will be alright. Time the seizure. If it lasts more than four minutes, or you know or suspect this is the person’s first seizure, or the person injured themselves falling or convulsing, call 911. You can also check to see if the person has a rescue medicine on them – typically a nasal spray. DON’T panic, leave, or try to restrain the person.

 

DO move away any sharp or hard objects the person could bump into while seizing.

 

DON’T try to hold the person down or place anything in their mouths (it is a myth that people can swallow their tongues during seizures).

 

DO gently roll the person onto their side to help them breathe, and place something soft and flat like a folded jacket under their head. DON’T try to perform CPR or give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

 

When the seizure has ended, DO stay with the person until they are alert and know where they are and what has happened. Offer reassurance that you will be there until they are alright. Ask questions such as “What is today’s date?” to make sure they are no longer confused. You may check to see whether seizures are a known condition and if they need further medical care.

 

DON’T immediately leave or try to give them water or food until they are fully alert. They may seem alright but still be disoriented.

Seizures can be scary, but the most important things you can do are remain calm and make the environment as safe as possible until the person has fully recovered.

RESOURCES:

Seizure First Aid – Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (epilepsyfoundationmn.org)
First Aid for Tonic-Clonic Seizures | Epilepsy Foundation
Seizure First Aid | Epilepsy | CDC

Sleep Tight

2022 March, Lifestyle and Wellness February 9, 2022

Melatonin is a hormone that our brains produce when it gets dark, helping us regulate our internal clocks and circadian rhythms. Sometimes our brains don’t make quite enough, and many of us simply need a little extra help to get to sleep at one point or another.

Melatonin supplements can be helpful for insomnia by simply helping your body be ready to go to sleep. Similarly, it can be helpful for people with delayed sleep phase syndrome, who fall asleep and wake up on an internal schedule much later than most people. It has also shown to be helpful for jet lag and helping you adjust to a time zone very different from your own.

Some doctors encourage not just using melatonin as a cheat code to sleep. Making sure you are exposed to sunshine during the day helps your body know when to make its own melatonin. Turning down the lights a couple hours before bed and limiting screen time at night will also help your brain’s melatonin production. You may find after a few days of taking melatonin that you are able to fall asleep easily on your own again.

Like many supplements, melatonin is not for everyone. It is not recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a seizure disorder, or high blood pressure. Before you start taking melatonin, make sure you are not taking any medications that interact with melatonin. If you are having trouble sleeping, it is safest to talk to your doctor to make sure melatonin is a good choice for you.

RESOURCES:

Melatonin for Sleep: Does It Work? | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Melatonin: What You Need To Know | NCCIH (nih.gov)
Melatonin – Mayo Clinic

Easy Medical Answers

2022 March, Benefit Spotlight February 9, 2022

Sometimes we need a little bit of quick, basic medical advice to guide us rather than hopping into the car and driving to the doctor.

A nurseline is one such service. Available through many medical plans, a nurseline provides 24/7 access to trained healthcare professionals (often nurses and sometimes doctors) who help address basic healthcare questions and help you figure out what your next steps should be — whether you can safely manage your condition at home or whether you need to go to the doctor or emergency room. These can be questions about symptoms you are experiencing, medication side effects, and what you should do to care for yourself after basic injury or illness. You can also ask about medications you are currently taking and side effects you may be experiencing. Some nurselines can also help you find care nearby. Exact services may vary based on your insurance provider, so be sure to check your provider’s website to see what nurseline services are available to you.

RESOURCES:

Call the nurse line for expert advice – Mayo Clinic Health System
24 hour nurse line: Your access to healthcare information | Blue Cross Blue Shield (bcbs.com)
CareLine: 24/7 nurse line for members and patients | HealthPartners

Managing Anger

2022 March, Lifestyle and Wellness February 9, 2022

Everyone gets angry sometimes. It’s a natural part of being human, and anger has a place in a healthy emotional spectrum.

Sometimes, however, anger can get out of hand. It can show up too often, hang around for too long, or happen too easily. Unmanageable anger can be incredibly harmful both to the person experiencing it and those they interact with, psychologically and physically. It can strain family and working relationships and place physical stress on the angry person, manifesting in high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.

It may be difficult to recognize if you need help managing your anger. If you recognize any of the following, you might consider counseling:

  • Family or friends have told you that you may have an anger problem
  • People have distanced themselves from you because of your behavior
  • You feel angry often
  • You have trouble getting along with family and coworkers
  • You think about being aggressive or violent when angry, or have been aggressive or violent when angry

If any of these sound familiar, you may need counseling. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most-researched type of therapy for anger management. It helps people recognize harmful thought patterns and change the way that they think. For anger management, this can involve identifying anger triggers, becoming aware of one’s emotions throughout the process of being angry, and even uncovering whether there are other mental health issues related to anger, such as depression or anxiety.

Managing your anger is healthy for you and those around you. Check with your insurance provider to find a licensed counselor or psychologist near you. Constant anger is hard on you and your friends and family, and there is no shame in getting help.

RESOURCES:

Understanding anger: How psychologists help with anger problems (apa.org)
Anger Management (goodtherapy.org)

Is An HMO Right For You?

2022 February, Benefit Spotlight January 24, 2022

Picking an insurance plan from year to year can feel like sorting through a full alphabet soup of acronyms. After a while, it can be hard to tell the difference between your HDHPs and your PPOs.

A plan that’s been out of the spotlight for some time is the HMO, which stands for Health Maintenance Organization. Like any health plan, it has its advantages and disadvantages. Knowing those can help you make a more informed decision regarding whether an HMO is the best plan for you and your family.

HMOs operate on a network system, which means an HMO gives you access to a group of providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.) that has agreed on certain pricing for members. This is one of the HMO’s greatest advantages: it is generally an inexpensive plan with low monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs that focuses on preventive health, like annual checkups.

However, most HMOs will only cover visits to in-network providers, with the exception of emergency care. This means that if you already have a primary care physician (PCP) or other doctor who is not in the network, your visits will not be covered at all and you will be responsible for the entire cost. Similarly, many HMOs require you to select an in-network PCP to coordinate all your other care through. For instance, if you need see a specialist, your PCP will likely have to provide you with a referral to another in-network provider. There are also often other restrictions on coverage – the plan may only cover a certain number of visits or tests.

While HMOs are generally inexpensive plans, they contain many restrictions on care. If you are healthy, only see the doctor once or twice a year, and don’t foresee any major health complications, this may be a good choice for you. If you have any chronic health conditions, need specialist care, or see a doctor regularly, you may be better off choosing a plan that offers more flexibility.

RESOURCES:

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) – HealthCare.gov Glossary | HealthCare.gov
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) « Welcome to the Home of CT Health Channel
PPO vs. HMO Insurance: What’s the Difference? | Medical Mutual (medmutual.com)

Anxiety vs. Depression

2022 February, Lifestyle and Wellness January 24, 2022

While it is not uncommon to hear people use the terms “anxiety” and “depression” interchangeably, these are actually two different conditions.

The two have overlapping symptoms and the unfortunate reality is they are often comorbid, meaning they often show up together. The National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 60% of people who have an anxiety disorder will also experience depression. Another study reported that nearly half of people with major depressive disorder also had histories of one or more anxiety disorders.

This side-by-side comparison may help illuminate some of the differences between anxiety and depression.

Depression

  • Ongoing sadness or hopelessness — more than just “the blues”
  • Reduced or increased appetite
  • Irregular sleep, either too much or too little
  • Seemingly constant lack of energy
  • Recurring suicidal thoughts or attempts
  • Mental fog, including difficulty thinking or concentrating

Anxiety

  • Worrying excessively or feeling anxious out of proportion to actual events
  • Inability to stop worrying
  • Feeling constantly jittery or on edge
  • Feeling overwhelmed by making choices
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
  • Nervousness
  • Irritability

Between different kinds of therapy and medication, there are many ways to treat anxiety and depression. If you have been experiencing some of these symptoms for more than two weeks, and they have caused a change in your level of functioning or are interfering with your life, you should speak to your doctor. If at any time you experience suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org to chat with someone who can help you immediately.

RESOURCES:

What Is Depression? (psychiatry.org)
Depression (major depressive disorder) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
The Critical Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression | American Journal of Psychiatry (psychiatryonline.org)
The Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depression | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Snap, Crackle, And Pop

2022 February, Lifestyle and Wellness January 24, 2022

If you’ve never been to a chiropractor, it may seem like a bit of a mystery what they actually do. Chiropractors are trained specialists who use their hands or sometimes small instruments to manipulate the spine and other joints through quick, controlled movements that lead to the characteristic popping sound.

What are the benefits? Chiropractic care may effectively relieve neck or low back pain by improving the motion of one’s spine. A recent study reported that a large group of people who received chiropractic care reported less pain, better mobility, and a reduced need for pain medication. However, not enough studies have been done to prove that chiropractic adjustment is necessarily more effective than other treatments like rest, stretching, and pain relievers. Adjustment is also not for everyone. People with severe osteoporosis, spinal cancer, or numbness in any limbs should avoid chiropractic treatment.

It is best to consult with your doctor to see if they think chiropractic care is right for you, taking into consideration your personal health and medical history. If you and your doctor agree that this is the right choice, the good news is that most insurance policies cover chiropractic care, though the amount covered varies greatly between plans. Check with your insurer to find out what your coverage is and ask the chiropractor’s office how much an appointment would cost without insurance. Depending on your benefits, it may be cheaper to avoid using insurance and pay cash to the practitioner directly. If you take this route, however, that cash payment will not count toward your deductible.

RESOURCES:

Should you see a chiropractor for low back pain? – Harvard Health
Chiropractic adjustment – Mayo Clinic
Effect of Usual Medical Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs Usual Medical Care Alone on Pain and Disability Among US Service Members With Low Back Pain: A Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial | Complementary and Alternative Medicine | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

‹  Older posts Newer posts  ›