liveWELL 2020 Fall Employee Well-Being Newsletter

FALL 2020 VOLUME 16 ISSUE 4

IN THIS ISSUE Taking Care During a Time of Uncertainty, pt. 2 Are You Ready for Flu Season?

UI 2020 Virtual Health Fair How to Make a Budget Stick The Four Pillars of Planning for Retirement: Pillar Four

staff

UI WELLNESS

By now, you have heard many messages about the importance of getting your vaccine for influenza (flu) this season to keep yourself and those around you healthier. If you haven’t, there is still time to do an on-campus event, visit University Employee Health Clinic (1st Floor Boyd Tower, UIHC), or conveniently schedule your flu shot at a UI Health Care clinic. You can find more information on the UI employee flu vaccine campaign on page 10 of this newsletter.

UI Wellness is a unit of UI Human Resources.

Megan Hammes

Senior Director, UI Wellness megan-hammes@uiowa.edu 335-5424 • E119 CRWC

Ilona Lichty

Health Coach ilona-lichty@uiowa.edu 467-0192 • E119 CRWC

Carla Melby-Oetken

Health Coach carla-melby@uiowa.edu 353-2975 • E119 CRWC

Allison Hugo

Health Coach allison-hugo@uiowa.edu 353-2973 • E119 CRWC

Sandy Stewart

Well-Being Specialist sandra-stewart@uiowa.edu 353-2973 • E119 CRWC

Melanie Cuchna

Well-Being Specialist melanie-cuchna@uiowa.edu 353-2973 • E119 CRWC

Jean O’Donovan

Secretary jean-odonovan@uiowa.edu 353-2973 • E119 CRWC

Mary Heath

Secretary mary-heath@uiowa.edu 353-2973 • E119 CRWC

Diana Kremzar

Family Services Director diana-kremzar@uiowa.edu 335-3558 • 121 USB

In addition to getting the flu vaccine and while the COVID-19 virus continues to be present, the following actions can greatly protect you and aid in staying healthy: • Wear a face mask unless you are at home or alone in your office.

• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.

• Maintain a safe distance from others.

• Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Avoid touching your face.

These simple but effective measures help keep the viruses from spreading. In addition to practicing good public health recommendations, programs like the virtual UI Health Fair, 3-week Purpose program, and well-being advice from campus experts contained within this newsletter are designed to help you thrive in these challenging times. As the Campus Health Officer, I encourage you to practice good self-care for yourself and your fellow Hawkeyes.

Be well, Daniel S. Fick, MD Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Campus Health Officer | University of Iowa

Cover photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Layout and Design

by Student Life Marketing and Design Printed by UI Printing Services on recycled paper

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liveWELL inspires a culture of well-being and campus excellence, providing employees with the opportunity to thrive.

IN THIS ISSUE

4

10 ARE YOU READY FOR FLU SEASON?

TAKING CARE DURING A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, PART 2

13

14 UI VIRTUAL HEALTH FAIR

15

HOW TO MAKE A BUDGET STICK

16 FINANCIAL WELL-BEING PROGRAMS

THE FOUR PILLARS OF PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT: PILLAR FOUR

19 PHA WINNERS & WELLNESS HEROES

University Human Resources provides leadership in shaping an equitable and inclusive culture that drives diversity, excellence and innovation by supporting talent, engagement, and the employee work experience.

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Taking Care during a time of

UNCERTAINTY

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In our summer 2020 newsletter, Senior Director for UI Wellness/University Human Resources, Megan Hammes, interviewed campus experts on behalf of the liveWELL Program for their knowledge on how to cope, move forward, and optimize well-being during these turbulent times. liveWELL is back with part two of the campus expert series featuring more health and well-being tips and resources.

liveWELL: The University

is very fortunate to have its own internal Employee Assistance Program.

What types of things can UI employees use the EAP for that they may not know about?

Maggie Moore

Director, UI Employee Assistance Program, University Human Resources:

The UI EAP is available to faculty, staff, and their families. Our philosophy is that we want to be there when you need us.

Many people find that the short-term nature of our program is enough to address a variety of concerns, from struggling with mental health issues to how supervisors can help support employees who are struggling. We can assist in helping folks get connected to other campus or community resources all while being completely confidential. We know that the pandemic has challenged many of us by affecting our focus, family,

sleep, and security. We are here to help. Please call or email today to set up a teletherapy or face to face appointment. liveWELL: Some reports

suggest that in any given year, one in five or 20% of adults will experience a form of mental illness.

How can we be proactive at recognizing mental health concerns and take steps to help just like we do with our physical preventive health exams?

Maggie Moore, LISW: It is important to know oneself and variations in mood that can occur naturally or under stress. Recognize when those moods might be persistently high or persistently low or if you have intense anxiety that does not remit. Know that there is help available. Talk it over with your primary care doctor or chat with an EAP counselor. Also, build a support network to manage turbulent times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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liveWELL: Carla, you do a lot

of work with employees on building resilience through classes and your role as a Health Coach. With still so many unknowns and unplanned stressors for our employees, how do you advise people to navigate while remaining resilient?

Carla Melby

Health Coach/ Wellness Consultant, UI Wellness, University Human Resources:

Resilience is not a trait that you either have or don’t have. It’s a skill that can be developed intentionally by changing your thoughts and behaviors, so we can all work on developing a resilient mindset. Now is a good time to practice making intentional choices and using critical thinking skills.

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Ask yourself questions like: • Are there other ways to reassess and make thoughtful choices right now?

• What is most important?

• How can I take action to improve my situation?

• Can I find new ways to approach these challenges?

Take personal control over how you respond to change. Avoid getting stuck in negative thinking.

Take a deep breath, and purposefully shift your attention to things that you can be grateful for, things that are going well, and maybe even challenge yourself to identify some “silver linings.” We know that times of personal challenge can also provide opportunities for growth, learning, and personal development. Many people

who have experienced challenges have reported positive outcomes, such as improved relationships, a greater sense of strength even while allowing for vulnerability, increased sense of self-worth, increased spirituality, or more appreciation for life.

Part of having a resilient mindset is allowing for some hope that something good might possibly come out of the challenging situation. Resilience does not mean denying your feelings or avoiding seeking help. On the contrary, I would advise people to connect with others and to make use of the outstanding resources and benefits available to them. liveWELL: Dr. Carr, physical

activity has been shown to improve mood, brain functioning, help manage stress and anxiety, and even boost our immune system to help us fend off and

recover from illnesses. 60% of our employees report being physically active on a regular basis, but what can we do to stay motivated and inspired to be active?

Lucas Carr, PhD Associate Professor, Dept. of Health & Human Physiology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences:

Finding motivation can be tough, so we need to be creative. One thing I have been doing that keeps me active is sharing my daily exercise achievements with a small group of friends. This can include sharing a photo of a good hike, a screenshot of my Fitbit data, or even a simple text message.

Knowing that my activity might provide my friend the motivation he needs to be active is its own motivator. Plus, it helps me stay connected to my close friends which is also helpful. liveWELL: For those without

a physical activity routine or who don’t get enough movement, what do you recommend?

Dr. Carr: I would encourage people to view this pandemic as a unique opportunity to establish a new physical activity routine. Begin by identifying the barriers that are preventing you from being active and brainstorm some solutions for reducing that barrier. Then develop an action plan that describes when, where, and how you

will be active and who you will ask to support you.

Be sure to identify a time of day when you are most motivated and available to be active and choose activities that you most enjoy. Write this all down and keep track of your successes in a place that you will see it. Finally, if your action plan isn’t working, tweak it and try again. It can take weeks to months to establish an exercise habit, so focus on the long game!

Interested in nutrition and exercise habits?

There is a post on UI Health Care’s The Loop that was created with many tips to get back to the basics for healthy living. Read here. liveWELL: The pandemic

continues to be a challenge for many UI families. As Family Services Director, what advice do you have for parents with young and school-age children during the pandemic?

Diana Kremzar Director,

UI Family Services, University Human Resources:

A friend recently said to me, “I had to let go of trying to thrive in this pandemic.

Surviving is now my goal of the day.” As someone who likes all of my home and work boxes checked at the end of the day, I recognize it’s unrealistic to fill every minute without

taking the time to evaluate priorities, emotions, and overall bandwidth. Surviving is not a bad thing, and, in fact, I have come to believe that is how we make it to the end of this pandemic marathon with the physical and emotional well-being of ourselves and our family members still intact. Here are some of my survival techniques.

AT WORK

Take breaks throughout the day. Take a walk outside.

Meditate for 10 minutes.

Eat your lunch away from the screen. Taking short breaks throughout the day can actually help boost your productivity in the long-term.

Set boundaries. Even if

you are working remotely, it is important to consider what is designated as work time, home time, and now, teaching time.

Create boundaries and communicate them to your family and work.

For example, if your workday ends at 5:00 p.m., communicate to your boss and co-workers that you won’t be checking emails after 5, and if there is an emergency, they should call your cell phone.

AT HOME

Keep meals simple. Are your kids eating a rotation of pasta and chicken nuggets?

Now is not the time to be hard on yourself if that is what you can manage to handle. When I started working remotely, I had an liveWELL

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Note to readers: The University of Iowa is rich with campus experts on various health and well-being topics. Do you have a question for liveWELL that we can help answer in a future edition? Do you have research or information you need to share with the University community or a suggestion for a featured story? Let us know by emailing livewell@uiowa.edu.

Our mission is to “inspire a culture of well-being and campus excellence, providing employees with the opportunity to thrive.”

Any ideas to support our community and help Hawkeyes thrive is what we’re all about. We’d love to hear from you!

unrealistic expectation of what I could accomplish at home. No longer. I created a list of five meals we rotate each week that are things I know my kids will eat without a fight, fit in the time I have for cooking, and require zero brainpower on my end. I would much rather prefer my energy to be focused on checking in with my family at dinnertime than playing sous chef and trying to get them to eat their broccoli. They’re not off the hook forever, but for now, this is what I believe is best for the cumulative wellbeing of my family.

Don’t compare. No one is

in your unique life situation right now, so don’t spend any energy comparing yourself to someone who you think is doing A, B, or C better than you right now. I can almost guarantee that they are struggling, too.

Have your family help out where they can. Even the

smallest thing can make a big difference. Can big brother help little brother get ready for school each day? Can you and your partner switch off who is in charge of dinner and bed each night, so you each can take a breather? Even if you have always done something a certain way, now is a time to get creative and try something new!

liveWELL: What resources

are available to parents juggling childcare needs and or kids in-person, online, or both?

Diana Kremzar: This school year is unlike one that any of us have experienced. The ongoing debate of virtual vs. on-site schools has both advantages and concerns.

For parents, there is no right or wrong option. It is truly a matter of determining the scenario where an individual child and family can best thrive in the uncertain reality of today while taking into consideration everything from physical health and safety to emotional wellbeing, education, and economic resilience.

No matter what option a parent is faced with or chooses regarding their child(ren)’s learning model, it will require a new set of skills and present challenges. University Human Resources strives to provide resources and programs to support employees and their families during this time.

For resources on how to care for yourself while also caring for students and colleagues, visit:  MENTALHEALTH.UIOWA.EDU

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Just-in-Time Child Care

Employee Assistance Program

· Child Care Referral Resources · Back-up or Occasional Child Care Resources · Tutoring Resources · Volunteer Child Care · COVID-19 Child Care Considerations

The UI Employee Assistance Program is a confidential counseling and referral program for University of Iowa employees and their families.

Leave Options for Parents and Caregivers COVID-19 Leave Options Paid leave options available for parents to care for children during school closures, virtual learning, and illness related to the COVID-19 pandemic include: · Emergency Paid Sick Leave: Up to 80 hours (prorated for part-time employees) · Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act (EFMLA) leave: Up to 10 weeks · Board of Regents Paid Sick Leave: Up to 80 hours (prorated for part-time employees) · Family Caregiving Leave: Through exhaustion of Sick Leave · Vacation · Expansion of Catastrophic Leave (details below). No cap on donation hours that can be received.

Note: Some leaves may not apply for UI Health Care employees NEW Expansion of Catastrophic Leave New changes to the Catastrophic Leave Program provide additional support to employee parents of children ages 18 or younger who are impacted by: · COVID-19-related school or childcare closures · Hybrid or virtual learning as required by school district · Hybrid or virtual learning as opted by employee · Medical need to keep child(ren) at home from school or childcare

ONLINE RESOURCES There are a variety of programs designed to help support working parents in their quest to appropriately educate their child(ren) while maintaining the physical and emotional well-being of all family members. Here are a few of our favorites: Academic Support Programs · ABC Mouse · Khan Academy · Scholastic Learn at Home

Emotional Support for Kids and Parents · Calm Kids · Child Mind Institutes · CDC: Taking Care of Your Emotional Health · Calm: Take a Deep Breath

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In a year where much feels out of our control, getting a flu vaccine is one thing that you can do to make a difference in keeping yourself and others safe and healthy.

Free flu vaccinations for faculty and staff UI regular full-time and part-time (50% or greater) faculty and staff are eligible for a free vaccine. All UI Health Care employees and volunteers—regardless of percentage time worked—are eligible and encouraged to obtain a free flu vaccine. Not eligible for the free vaccine? If you don’t qualify for the free flu vaccine through the employee health program, you have other options for getting a flu shot. The cost may be covered by your insurance.

Campus Flu Shot Clinics for Employees Early flu vaccination is recommended this year due to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Download a schedule of on-campus vaccine clinics for UI faculty and staff (PDF).

Faculty and Staff who are unable to attend a scheduled flu vaccination clinic can use an online scheduling tool for several UI Health Care locations and times or use MyChart to schedule.

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DATE

TIME

Friday, October 16

12:00 p.m.

– 3:30 p.m.

Monday, October 19

10:30 a.m.

– 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 22

11:00 a.m.

– 1:00 p.m.

Friday, October 23

1:00 p.m.

– 3:00 p.m.

Monday, October 26

11:00 a.m.

– 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27

11:00 a.m.

– 1:00 p.m.

LOCATION University Capitol Centre (UCC) 2520 UCC/UCC Conference Center 201 S Clinton Street, Iowa City

Campus Recreation and Wellness Center (CRWC) 309 S Madison Street, Iowa City

Medical Education Research Facility (MERF) Lobby of MERF

BioVentures Center Multi-purpose Room 2500 Crosspark Road Coralville, IA 52241

Health Care Support Services Building (HSSB) 3281 Ridgeway Dr. Coralville, IA 52241

Health Care Support Services Building (HSSB) 3281 Ridgeway Dr. Coralville, IA 52241

Maurine Neiman Associate Professor University of Iowa Department of Biology and Department of Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies

Maurine Neiman, Association Professor at the University of Iowa, knows first-hand the impact of the flu virus and how it can alter your world in a matter of hours. Getting the vaccine may seem like a simple choice – something easy to complete if convenient but also easy to put off.

However, it could mean saving a life. Receiving a flu shot protects you from illness, and it helps protect your family, friends, and neighbors – especially if they are members of vulnerable populations or those with underlying health conditions.

Our beloved son JJ NeimanBrown was a healthy twoyear-old who suddenly and unexpectedly lost his life on February 2, 2020. He was a sweet, kind, and inquisitive child who loved gymnastics, dancing, animals, and music by the artist Prince (whom he called “my friend”). JJ was his usual energetic self until late afternoon that day.

It was an unusually warm and lovely winter Sunday filled with bike rides, ice cream, puzzles and friends at the wonderful Iowa City Public library.

on my lap. We took him up to his crib and kissed him goodnight. He was sleepy but awake, and as usual, asking to hold hands until he fell back asleep.

By about 4:00 p.m., it was clear that JJ was feeling a bit under the weather. He seemed a little tired, his cheeks were flushed, and he felt warm. We left the library and headed back home to take his temperature, which measured at 101.5°F. Like the several previous occasions where JJ had run a fever, we gave him children’s acetaminophen and then a bath. His temperature returned to normal, and he perked up and even ate a huge dinner. There was nothing about JJ’s symptoms that suggested that he was suffering from anything unusual.

Instead, I found him lifeless in his crib, where he had died peacefully in his sleep perhaps an hour or two before. An autopsy later revealed that JJ had been infected with H1N1 influenza and that he also had undiagnosed and asymptomatic asthma. Even though JJ had received his annual flu vaccine, children with asthma are much more likely to be infected by and killed by influenza.

We had a monitor in his bedroom, and we did not hear or see anything out of the ordinary. Around midnight, I went to check on him. He had been motionless since perhaps 11:00 p.m., but I assumed he was just sleeping deeply. I certainly did not imagine that anything was seriously wrong.

The three of us decided to make the evening a special occasion and watched Moana together on the couch. JJ was happy and content and soon fell asleep liveWELL

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Facts About Flu and Flu Vaccination • Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. We lost JJ within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms, and he never appeared seriously ill.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual vaccination for everyone six months and older.

• You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.

Emergency Warning Signs of Influenza in Children You know your child better than anyone, and your intuition as a parent is a meaningful tool to know if your child is sick. Be alert for any of the following critical symptoms, which signal that the child might need immediate medical attention.

• Changes in mental condition, such as not waking up or not interacting; being so moody that the child does not want to be held; or seizures • High and prolonged fever (104F degrees) • Bluish or gray skin color, difficulty breathing, or drop in body temperature • Not able to take in the usual amount of fluids • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return later with fever or worsening cough JJ had none of these symptoms, which demonstrates the danger of flu in the context of other common conditions like asthma. What happened to JJ demonstrates the critical importance of annual flu vaccination both to minimize your chance of infection and to protect people like JJ who are unknowingly vulnerable to the flu.

In collaboration with the UI Foundation, Maurine has established an endowment in JJ’s memory. UI faculty with care-taking responsibilities are eligible to receive financial support to continue investing in career-building opportunities.

Please contact Maurine (maurine-neiman@uiowa.edu) for more information if you’d like to consider a contribution.

For more information on the flu virus, visit The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4

THURSDAY, NOV. 5

FRIDAY, NOV. 6

9:00-9:45 a.m.

9:00-9:45 a.m.

9:00-9:45 a.m.

12:00-1:00 p.m.

12:00-1:00 p.m.

12:00-1:00 p.m.

Rise and Shine: Chair Yoga

Rise and Shine: Restorative Yoga

One-Step Finances: A Guide TIAA Gold Series: Market to Budgeting and Prioritizing Proof Your Retirement Financial Stability

2:00-2:30 p.m.

Optical Ergonomics for Health Care, Research, and On-the-Go Jobs

LivWell Seniors: Caregiving and Resources

2:00-3:00 p.m.

Easy Ergonomics for Desk/Home Office Work

3:00-3:30 p.m.

Rise and Shine: Gentle Yoga

What’s Essential?

A Mindful Meditation

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Make it OK: It’s Time to Start Talking About Mental Illness

For full details, please visit:

HR.UIOWA.EDU/LIVEWELL/HEALTH-FAIR

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With the ongoing change and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, there has never been a better time to create a budget and make it stick.

A budget is a useful tool that can help you make smart decisions with your hard-earned cash and help you save money for when you need it most. Use these tips and tricks for creating a simple budget.

1. Determine where you are spending your money by making a list of your monthly expenses.

6. Preserve the items you can’t live without. Determine your essentials and necessities and whittle down your other expenses to accommodate them.

2. Tally up your monthly net income (what you earn after taxes).

3. To help you create a realistic budget, track your monthly expenses and income for at least two months.

4. Group your expenses based on like categories. For example, expenses such as rent or mortgage, utilities, or internet service might all be grouped under the “Home” category. See the table for more examples on how to categorize your expenses.

5. Reduce the amount you spend in each category. If your expenses are greater than your income, look for categories where you can make small and comfortable reductions.

7. Review your budget and adjust.

If you consistently overspend in one area, increase your max for that category and trim the money from another category.

8. As you adjust your budget, give careful thought to your priorities.

Think about what you value and be honest with yourself.

9. Be realistic. You may have to decrease spending on a few things that feel important to you in order to stay within your budget but avoid cutting out everything. If you take away everything but the essentials, your budget won’t stick!

CATEGORIES OF EXPENSES Home

Education

Health Care

Rent/mortgage Gas and electric Water and sewer/garbage Cable/internet service

Tuition/fees Student loans Books Equipment

Doctor’s visits Medications Procedures Insurance

Transportation

Entertainment

Food

Car payment Registration Insurance Maintenance and repairs

Movies and TV subscriptions Music and concerts Club dues or membership Sporting events

Groceries Coffee/tea out Restaurants Snacks

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Article from PHA and Healthy Living Center, Quality Health Solutions

The University of Iowa offers several Financial well-being programs to help support employees with their financial goals. These are offered in collaboration between University Benefits, UI Family Services, and liveWELL.

Horizons Financial Health and Wellness Horizons Financial Health and Wellness is excited to offer customized financial coaching to all UI employees, regardless of financial concern.

This anonymous, free program provides access for up to three one-on-one financial coaching sessions with a certified Financial Counselor.

These coaching sessions can cover: • Basic household budgeting • Student loan debt repayment • Debt management and credit card use • Savings plans • Homebuyer or renter education These sessions are led by an unbiased, compassionate, and well-trained Financial Coach who can help you determine your financial goals and make plans to reach them. Contact fhw@horizonsfamily.org or 319-653-3123 to learn more or schedule an appointment.

Horizons has also created an email support program to help you navigate your financial situation throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. A financial counselor will respond to your questions within 24 hours. Email financialhealth@horizonsfamily.org to verify information, get assistance with your financial plan, and connect to local resources.

TIAA The TIAA website can provide: • Detailed information about retirement and savings plans • Information about scheduling phone and online appointments with local TIAA financial advisors • Tips for managing debt, saving, and investing no matter where you are in life • On-demand webinars on a variety of financial well-being topics (login required) liveWELL

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The Four Pillars of

Planning for Retirement

By Joe Cowley, PhD, SHSS, Senior Resource Specialist, LivWell Seniors, LLC

There are many factors to consider when planning for your retirement or taking on caregiving responsibilities for a loved one. Throughout 2020 LivWell Seniors will be featuring a “Pillars of Planning” series in each quarterly liveWELL newsletter to help guide and direct families through their journey in discovering the best options for their unique situation.

The 4 Pillars discussed are: 1. Financial 2. Legal 3. Legacy

4. Living Solutions

The first three pillars – Financial, Legal, and Legacy – were discussed earlier this year in the Winter, Spring, and Summer 2020 issues. For the final quarter of 2020, we will discuss the last but not least pillar of planning – Living Solutions.

CAREGIVING PILLAR 4

LIVING SOLUTIONS How to Talk to Your Elderly Parent about Needing Help Does your long-term retirement plan include your parents? Chances are that they are counting on you to handle their affairs if they die or become incapacitated. How confident are you that you have everything you need to handle that role effectively? Do you know their wishes regarding life-prolonging care? Have they given you power of attorney?

Will they have adequate resources to pay for the cost of their care?

It’s a role reversal none of us are ever ready for. You’re now responsible for the parent who raised you. Your loved one may need help getting dressed, getting to and from appointments, or grocery shopping. Did you remember to remind your parent to take their medication?

The sooner you begin talking and planning, the easier it will be for everyone involved.

Helping is much more difficult after a crisis, so start talking while your parents are still healthy and active.

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How to Approach the Conversation The talk with your elderly parent about hiring a home-care professional, the need for assisted living, or more intensive services can be uncomfortable. Parents may not realize they need assistance, or they may perceive home care as a threat to their independence.

Here are steps you can take to approach the conversation with your loved one.

• Acknowledge their concerns and provide reassurance.

• Discuss goals for their care. The goal may be to help your loved one maintain independence in their home or move into assisted-living or memory-care communities.

• Develop an ongoing casual dialogue. Be patient and persistent.

• Recruit other stakeholders if needed. A trusted spouse, doctor, or family attorney may be helpful in these conversations.

• Emphasize your desire to improve their well-being and maintain their independence.

• Don’t try to solve everything in one conversation.

Proper planning will give peace of mind, help avoid family conflict, and minimize the financial impact on everyone involved.

Consider this checklist as you plan for your parents’ care.

FINANCES

INSURANCE

List all banking and investment accounts and where they are held.

List all insurance policies (life, health, long-term care, etc.) and where they are located.

Get contact information for their advisers.

Get contact information for their insurance advisers.

Make sure the accounts are titled correctly.

Offer to sit in on a meeting with their insurance adviser to see if a long-term care insurance policy would be appropriate.

Offer to sit in on a meeting with their financial adviser to review investments and asset allocation and make sure there are adequate resources to support your parents’ lifestyle.

Review Social Security benefits and ensure all beneficiary designations are up to date.

Streamline bill paying.

Review homeowners, auto, and umbrella liability insurance to make sure they are adequate, appropriate, and up to date.

Review health insurance coverage and consider whether it would be appropriate to add a Medigap policy to pay for costs not covered by Medicare. liveWELL

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LEGAL DOCUMENTS

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Do they have a will or estate plan?

Is the current housing situation suitable?

If so, does it reflect their current wishes (i.e. does it pass property to the correct people and have the correct people taking charge)?

Do any changes, updates, or modifications need to be made to the house?

Do they have an up-to-date durable power of attorney for finance and health care?

Does their health care power of attorney contain a health-care directive that spells out their wishes for life-prolonging care?

Becoming a parent to your parent is never easy, but you owe it to both them and you to have things in order. The good thing is

Have they made contingency plans for illness, disability, or death of a spouse?

Are there resources to pay for contingencies (e.g. savings or long-term care insurance)?

HEALTH Make a list of their doctors and any medications they are taking.

Help coordinate benefits between care providers and insurance companies.

you don’t have to do it alone.

Seek Support Most caregivers are ill-prepared for their role to provide care with little or no support. Without reliable support, a family caregiver may suffer pain, depression, and burnout. A burned-out caregiver can have unintended consequences for your loved one who sadly won’t get the quality of care they need. Many of us end up sandwiched between our nuclear family, jobs, and the care of our parents. Having support early on is vital.

LivWell’s referral and placement services are always free. At LivWell Seniors, we understand that making the right senior living decisions can be complicated. Our compassionate, knowledgeable, and local Senior Resource Specialists (SRS) will support you and your family through this journey.

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LivWell Seniors is more than a referral organization—it is an organization that helps seniors thrive. Our seniors have worked hard to help build our communities and now, it is our turn to make sure they are cared for in the best ways possible. We at LivWell Seniors call it the Freedom to Live Well!

CONTACT US AT: www.livwellseniors.com info@livwellseniors.com 319-250-1577

Take Your Personal Health Assessment

$250 WINNERS! Jade Kennaway Nursing Assistant, UIHC “I plan on using the money to purchase plants and outdoor furniture for my new house, so I am able to spend COVID-friendly leisure time outside!”

Dana Gafeller Grant Accountant, VPFO-Controller’s Office “I’ll use the winnings to upgrade some things in our camper.”

Mohamad Mokadern Assistant Prof., CMED-Internal Medicine “I want to have the money go to the Lebanese Red Cross in support of the destructive explosion that hit Beirut City.”

Amanda Cole Staff Nurse, UIHC “I will get a well-deserved massage and then spend the rest of the money on a bill.

I’m so excited that I won. Thank you, and it will help especially at this time.

Andrew Feider Clinical Associate Professor, CMED-Anesthesia “My three-year-old son has been asking for a toy crane truck for a while now, so I’ll probably indulge him. With the remainder of the money, I’m going to hire our babysitter on a Saturday afternoon, so I can spend some time alone with my wife.”

Nominate your Wellness Hero!  HR.UIOWA.EDU/LIVEWELL/WELLNESS-HEROES

Kirsten Kumpf Baele Department of German Nominated by Waltraud Maierhofer

Kirsten had life-threatening blood clots years back.

Since then she constantly has to monitor her health.

In spite of her condition, she had a baby that is now three-years-old. Kirsten continues to run twice a week and is an inspiration to others. liveWELL

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NATIONAL INJURY PREVENTION DAY November 18, 2020

COMING SOON! November 9–29

This November we are launching our Living with Purpose Program, a 3-week challenge open to all faculty and staff. Faculty and staff who track their habits promoting purpose each week of the program can earn bonus points in My LiveWELL Portal. Stay tuned for the launch of this program by following @UIowaLiveWELL on Facebook or Twitter. We will also be communicating the program through our Wellness Ambassador network.

• Each day, 20 children die from unintentional injuries – resulting in more deaths than all other diseases combined • Injuries are preventable • Follow @uichildrens the week of November 16th to learn more about ways to prevent them

#BeInjuryFree UICHILDRENS.ORG/KEEPINGKIDSSAFE

Don’t have a Wellness Ambassador in your department? Please help recruit one!

Learn and apply at: hr.uiowa.edu/wellbeing/livewell/programs-and-services/ wellness-ambassadors

Find liveWELL on Social Media

@UIOWALIVEWELL

bonus code MY LIVEWELL PORTAL

PURPOSE

CODE E XPIRES 1/1/2021

Submit Bonus Code in Self-Service at My LiveWELL for 50 Points. Learn more about prizes and points:  liveWELL Store

University Human Resources liveWELL Program E119 CRWC, Iowa City, IA 52242 319-353-2973 livewell@uiowa.edu

WE WELCOME YOU Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact liveWELL at 319-353-2973.