Committee Reports / Benefits / Johnson

COMMITTEE REPORTS / Benefits / Johnson

THE EVOlUTION Of CONTINUING CARE

The following 4 articles written by Johnson Insurance have been approved by the RTAM Benefits Committee.

The Elder Care Plan mentioned in the first article applies only to RTAM members who are covered by the Extended Health Benefit Plan during the 15 month Pilot Study that will conclude in April, 2015.

What is Continuing Care?

Continuing care is defined as the provision of health and social services over an extended time related to disability, accident or illness, to meet both physical and mental health needs.

Complex continuing care can take many forms, and can rapidly evolve to deeper levels of caregiving complexity within very short periods of time. Confounding the situation is that many recipients of continuing care suffer from multiple comorbidities, or disease states, that makes the management of their needs complex and difficult to manage. Patients enter the continuing care spectrum from different parts of the care continuum including the acute sector, emergency rooms, LTC facilities and the community. Continuing care is often confused with Long Term Care.

Long term care emphasizes residential care within a social model; today’s continuing care sector typically reflects goal orientated in-patient services with a focus on the regaining of functional levels with often the goal of discharge of the individual to the community or to long term care.

The Need for Continuing Care & Caregiving is Increasing

Canadians are acutely aware of many of the challenges facing our Health Care System. Not more than a few days go by without seeing new stories on procedure wait times, the aging demographics of the Canadian population or the overburdened health care system. High levels of interest surround these topics across every province in Canada for good reason. For the first time ever, sometime between 2015-2021, there will be more Canadians over the age of 65 than children 15 and under in Canada (Statistics Canada 2013). With the population aging, more and more individuals are being tasked with managing the health of a loved one, whether it is a parent, a spouse or even themselves. Over one-quarter (28%), or an estimated 8.1 million Canadians provided care to a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member or friend in the last 12 months (Statistics Canada – Portrait of Caregivers 2012). With increasing frequency, employees are going to be finding themselves suddenly launched into a caregiving or continuing care scenario with loved ones. Employers need to be prepared to deal with these situations as they arise.

The Impact to Organizations

Caregiving for a loved one, particularly in the context of continuing care can be overwhelmingly complex for employees dealing with this challenge. It is well documented that employees with high levels of caregiver strain are more likely to miss more days of work. It was found that men and women missed 13.4 and 19.4 days of work, respectively, compared with 7.0 and 10.6 days for men and women without dependent care (Carleton University - Balancing Work, Childcare and Eldercare: A view from the Trenches. Oct. 2012). Employees dealing with caregiving are also more likely to turn down a promotion due to caregiving responsibilities or quit their job altogether (Fast et al. 2012).

What can Organizations Do?

Continuing care and caregiving are complex challenges that require the right expertise to help employees manage through their unique situation. Johnson Inc. has partnered with First Health Care to make available the Eldercare Select service to RTAM Extended Health Care Members. Eldercare Select provides customized support and guidance by Registered Nurses for members facing any caregiving or continuing care challenge anywhere in Canada. Each member has a dedicated RN Care Specialist assigned to their case, and a personalized caregiving report is provided with customized guidance and assistance incorporating factors such as: geographic location, health condition, caregiving needs and caregiver wishes. Speak to your Johnson representative or call the Eldercare Select helpline at 1-888-327-1500 to get more information on the Eldercare Select program today! n

Johnson Inc. 2014 Scholarship Program

Building on our History of Supporting Customers and Communities

ALL RTAM CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN CAN APPLY TO THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY UNTIL OCTOBER 15, 2014!

For many Canadian students, the jump from high school to post-secondary education signals a thrilling transition into adulthood. Along with the excitement and independence, however, come new responsibilities like paying for tuition, textbooks and basic daily essentials.

At Johnson, we understand the challenges faced by students during their pursuit of higher education, and we are proud to offer scholarships to help them achieve their dreams. Since 1998, Johnson has awarded over 1500 scholarships valued at more than $1 million to support young Canadians coast to coast in pursuing their post-secondary education.

This year, we are pleased to offer 50 scholarships worth $1000 each to children and grandchildren of Johnson’s affinity group members and home and auto insurance clients.

Students must have completed high school in 2014 and beginning post-secondary education this fall.

Applications for the Scholarship Program will be accepted as of July 1, 2014. Completed application forms must be submitted by October 15, 2014 and must contain an official school transcript of final year credits.

For more information, or to apply for a Johnson Inc. scholarship, please visit our scholarships page: www.johnson.ca or call 1.866.544.2673. n

RTAM 2014 VOlUNTARY bENEfIT PlAN MEMbER SURVEY

INTRODUCTION

Since its inception, the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) has been a strong voice for retired teachers throughout the province, working to serve approximately 8500 retired teachers across Manitoba and Canada, and continues to be concerned with the welfare and interests of retired teachers. This includes canvassing members about their insurance needs. In December 2013, RTAM’s Benefits Committee asked for your feedback on how the Voluntary Group Insurance Benefit Plan meets your needs, how it can be improved and how it can adapt to the current public health care environment. Most respondents identified the need for improvements in one or more categories of health and dental benefits.

This 2014 survey focuses on the question:

What approximate additional monthly premium would you be willing to pay for new and improved benefits beyond the level currently provided by the RTAM Insurance Plans?

The current RTAM Voluntary Group Insurance Benefit Plan details are available: www.johnson.ca/rtam The survey analysis will be completed by Johnson Inc. and presented to the RTAM Benefits Committee for review and decision making on Plan design changes effective April, 2015.

If you complete the survey, you will be entered to win a $200 gift card of your choice. It will take about 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete. Please complete this survey at

any time between now and Novem-

ber 30, 2014. We encourage all RTAM members to participate so that the broadest cross section of input is received, even if you do not participate in the RTAM Benefit Plan.

This survey can be accessed at the following URL:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/rtam-members

You may complete this survey from any computer with internet access

by typing the above URL into the web browser. You can also visit the RTAM website http://www.rtam.mb.ca where a survey link will be posted. Note: The links included in this survey require you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

Leave yourself enough time to complete the survey all at once, as the survey does not allow you to save your answers for completion at a later date. No personal information that can identify you is required for this survey. All responses will be kept confidential.

For increased efficiency in compiling the survey results for analysis, it is preferred that the survey be completed online. If you require a paper survey, please contact Johnson Inc. at 1-877-989-2600 or via email at pbservicewest@johnson.ca to request a paper copy, which can be completed and mailed to Johnson Inc. at: Johnson Inc. Plan Benefits Department – Service 11120 – 178 Street Edmonton, AB T5S 1P2 n

WEllNESS TIPS fOR TRAVEllERS

The risk of sickness or injury while travelling depends on many factors: age, sex, immunization status, current state of health and pre-existing medical conditions, destination, length of stay, climate and season, type of accommodation, itinerary and activities, and local conditions. Investing in your health before during and after travel is therefore critical to trip planning. Tips on how to do this are plentiful. For example, the Government of Canada has published a booklet that is free of charge called “Well on Your Way,” A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad, also found on the website: travel.gc.ca/health Some of the tips are outlined below:

BEFORE YOU GO

• Get a pre-travel individual health assessment from a travel health clinic or your health care provider to help prevent illness and injury through vaccination, preventive medication and general precautions. • Make sure you have full private travel health insurance for both illness and injury. Provincial /

Territorial government plans may only cover a small part of

the bill and do not pay up front. • See the travel health kit checklist below and posted on the website: http://travel.gc.ca/

travelling/health-safety/kit/ checklist

WHILE YOU TRAVEL

• Follow all known precautions to avoid disease, accidents and injuries and violent crimes. As the most common traveller’s

complaint is diarrhea, take precautions with food and water.

Drink plenty of safe liquids to prevent dehydration. Wash your hands often, and before eating or drinking. • If you become ill and require medical assistance, contact your travel health insurance company to assist you in accessing the appropriate treatment. If you are unable to communicate and there is no designated family member or friend to take responsibility, the nearest

Canadian embassy or consulate can contact your insurance company.

risk of bringing diseases back into Canada. • If you develop symptoms while travelling or after returning to

Canada, see a health care provider. • If you become ill with fever within a year of your return to

Canada from an area known to have malaria, see your health care provider immediately.

TRAVEL HEALTH KIT CHECKLIST

A travel health kit is important to pack before you go. Make sure you have the basic medical supplies, medication for pre-existing conditions, and contact information in the case of an emergency, such as the items listed below on the Government of Canada website:

http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/ health-safety/kit/checklist

BASIC FIRST AID ITEMS:

• Adhesive bandages • Adhesive tape • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer • Antiseptic wound cleanser

• Blister pads or moleskin • Disposable latex or vinyl gloves • Gauze • Packets of oral rehydration salts • Safety pins and scissors • Tensor bandages • Thermometer

• Tweezers

OTHER ITEMS:

• Sunscreen • Insect repellent (containing

DEET or Icaridin) • Aloe gel • Condoms • Ear plugs • Extra pair of glasses or contacts (or copy of prescription) • Mosquito net • Saline eye drops • Water purification filter or tablets

MEDICATIONS:

• If recommended: destination-specific medication • Any prescription or over-thecounter drugs normally used at home • 1% hydrocortisone cream • Allergy medication • Antacids • Antibacterial and antifungal spray/cream • Anti-diarrheal medication • Anti-motion sickness medication • Cold and flu medication

• Laxatives • Pain and fever medication • Syringes or needles for medical use (if needed)

CONTACT CARD:

• Name, address and phone number of a family member or friend in

Canada • Name and phone number of your health care provider in

Canada • Address and phone number of your accommodations at your destination(s) • Address and phone number of hospitals or clinics at your destination(s) • Address and phone number of the

Canadian Embassy, Consulate or

High Commission office in your destination country/countries (and Emergency Contact Card) • Emergency contact phone number from your travel health insurance provider • Proof of your insurance coverage • Copy of your immunization record • International Certificate of

Vaccination or Prophylaxis, if required. n

Registration of Canadians Abroad: A free service that could save your life

If you’re travelling or living abroad, sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Registration enables us to reach you in case of an emergency abroad, such as an earthquake or civil unrest, or inform you about an emergency at home.

Sign up online or register by mail, fax, or in person.

For more information, call 1-800-267-6788 (in Canada and the U.S.) or 613-944-6788 or visit http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/ publications/roca. n