A Background
Since our launch in 2006, liveWELL has provided easy-access, research-supported expertise on health and well-being topics. Popular programs have included Wellness Grants, Wellness Heroes, Health Coaching, liveWELL Points & prizes, and the Recreation Membership Incentive Program which coincided with the opening of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in 2010. To continue to positively impact the health and well-being of employees, liveWELL is rolling out new offerings in 2020 in addition to those already listed above.
...but first, what's changing?
To fully fund our new programs and services, we are making a change to the Personal Health Assessment (PHA) survey on January 1, 2020. Instead of receiving a one-time annual incentive of either $45 or $25, you will now earn 100 liveWELL Points, connecting the PHA to an already-existing program located at Self-Service > Benefits & Wellness > myLiveWELL Portal. Additionally, for faculty/staff who take their PHA in 2020, they will be eligible for two monthly drawings of $250 each! Finally, taking the PHA allows for free access to the new programs, Health Coaching, and the Recreation Membership Incentive Program.
Research has shown that financial incentives for health surveys do not effectively sustain positive health behaviors; we are reinvesting the PHA funding into new programs that are shown to make a true impact on overall health and well-being.
What's new?
Lifestyles - Get Healthy and Stay Healthy
These programs are designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle and are based on evidence-based practices. We know that with focus and determination, coupled with expert guidance and support, anyone can make behavior changes towards achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, adopting healthier eating and consistent exercise habits, and managing stress, which is an absolutely essential piece of getting and staying healthy.
Lifestyles: Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program provides a full year of support at no cost to qualifying UI faculty and staff and is led by a certified Lifestyle Coach through CDC. DPP is proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Participants who lost 5-7 percent of their body weight and added 150 minutes of exercise per week cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58 percent (71 percent for people over 60 years old). The first group begins in February 2020 and a new class will be offered every six months.
Lifestyles: 10-Week Weight Management and Wellness (online)
This all-online weight loss/management behavior change platform offers a new tool for UI faculty/staff starting in 2020. To meet the needs of our employees, especially those with on-the-go lifestyles and in a 24/7 work environment, this program can be done anytime, anywhere. Users will be challenged with powerful and memorable nuggets of information every week over 10-weeks, with an app-based option.
Team-Based Challenges
We have heard you! Fun, friendly competition is motivating! The first team-based event of 2020 is the 10-Week Live Healthy Iowa challenge provided at NO COST (normally $22/person) to teams made up of UI faculty and staff.
Wellness Ambassadors are testing a mobile app challenge in December 2019-January 2020; we are hopeful to roll this out to all of campus in 2020. Follow @UIowaLiveWELL on Facebook and Twitter and also pay close attention to updates from your Wellness Ambassador on what other team-based challenges will be offered!
Other new and expanded programs
- Refresh App powered by Sleeprate - The Sleeprate app monitors and analyzes your sleep to reveal how long and how well you slept; it identifies issues with your sleep and then provides a personalized program to improve your sleep.
- Video Library - Mindfulness, Resilience, Nutrition, Desk Yoga are a few topics available for you to access anytime/anywhere.
- liveWELL Trainings - check our various wellness series that you can register for via MyTraining at Self-Service. An option to join remotely via zoom is always offered for accessibility.
Don't forget
None of our programs are going away! A broad array of FREE programs and services to help support whole person well-being are available!