@yourservice

February 2015 Exclusively for Health Advocate Members

Wellness, assistance and work/life support for the whole family

Real-Life Help

Monthly Webinar • Monday, February 16th

Benefits Gateway™

February 2015 | @yourservice 2

Get the Right Support From time to time, we all experience a rocky relationship, whether with a family member, friend or coworker. And no matter if you’re having a small misunderstanding or continual disagreements, a fractured relationship can be stressful and can affect your performance and even your health. The good news is that almost all relationships can improve by using good communication skills.

This edition highlights how Health Advocate can help you with developing these skills for healthier interactions with others. The service is FREE and completely confidential. And since February is American Heart Month, you will learn about the role stress plays and how exercise and other lifestyle behaviors can protect your heart.

Read on to find out how…

A Licensed Professional Counselor can help you develop good communication skills.

A Work/Life Specialist can locate resources to help with caregiver stress.

The EAP+Work/Life website provides authoritative articles about relationship issues, heart healthy tips and more.

A Personal Health Advocate can help you with a difficult diagnosis.

A Wellness Coach can help you with exercise, nutrition and other lifestyle changes.

Real People, Real Stories

Coping with Difficult Personalities Debra became increasingly distressed whenever she crossed paths with Pat, a coworker with an “I Know Better Type” of personality. Pat monopolizes conversations, meetings and projects, always puts through her own ideas first, and downplays Debra’s ideas.

“I talked with a Licensed Professional Counselor who helped me understand the dynamics of my interactions with Pat and what was causing problems. I also received good tips for working more productively with her. Pat and I are now working better as a team and my stress level at work is way down!”

Debra also learned ways for dealing with other difficult personalities in her life. “It’s made all my relationships more rewarding!”

Relationship problems? Turn to your EAP+Work/Life program.

Strengthen Relationships

Webinar! Monday, February 16th

Improve Family Communication Identify family systems that affect family roles, boundaries and communication patterns.

Register now!

Free!

February 2015 | @yourservice 3

Heart Health Tips Ways to Reduce Your Stress!

Mental stress does more than diminish your sense of well-being; it also can increase your risk of heart disease.

Chronic Stress Can…

Raise blood cholesterol and blood pressure, resulting in hardeningof the arteries.

Prompt unhealthy habits like smoking, overeating and excessivedrinking—additional factors that can increase your risk.

To Counteract Stress…

Exercise. Aim for 30 minutes of moderately intense activity, such asbrisk walking, most days of the week.

Build a strong support system. Supportive people can reduce yourstress and help you take better care of yourself.

Need help for stress? Just Call One of Our Trained Counselors.

Caregiving Stress? We Can Help You and a Loved One

Taking care of a loved one can be challenging! Signs of caregiver stress can include anger, depression, headaches, fatigue and illness.

Remember, your EAP+Work/Life program can help you find adult day care, transportation services and other resources.

When Communication Breaks Down… Turn to Us

Many misunderstandings stem from miscommunication. If you are troubled by your interactions, call your Licensed Professional Counselor. You’ll learn good communication skills for stronger relationships.

For example, when discussing uncomfortable subjects, our expertssuggest that you follow these general approaches:

Don’t assume, ask questions. Asking “Did something cause you not to meet this deadline?” will help the other person feel less defensive and more able to explain what happened.

Use “I” rather than “you” Stating “I’d like you to do the dishes” invites a more positive response than saying, “You never help with the chores.”

Be specific about what you need. Telling someone, “You should communicate better” can be vague. Instead, try saying, “Please make the driving directions more clear for our guests.”

Communication troubles? Contact us.

Health AdvocacyYour Personal Health Advocate can help untangle medical bills, find qualified doctors, locate eldercare services and much more.

EAP+Work/Life ProgramTalk to a Licensed Professional Counselor to learn coping skills. You may be referred to the appropriate professional for in-depth, long-term help.

Use self-search provider databases, get 4,000 updated and authoritative articles, view video clips, attend monthly online seminars and more.

Wellness CoachingYour personal Wellness Coach can help you lose weight, eat better or reach other health goals.

Benefits GatewayBenefits experts can quickly guide you to the benefit you need, including medical, dental and pharmacy.

Just call 866.799.2691

Your All-in-1 Benefit

February 2015 | @yourservice 4

Log your weight!

Track weight loss progress on your Wellness websiteLogging your weight can help you track your progress and identify areas for improvement. We make it easy to track your weight—you can log it right on your Wellness website! Plus, if you have a Fitbit device that you use to record your activity, you can sync your Fitbit with the online weight tracker!

Log on to your member website to get started!

Website Spotlight:

Beginner Weight LossOne way to improve your heart health is to improve your nutrition—and we can help! Visit your Wellness website to take the Beginner Nutrition workshop, which can help you learn what healthy foods you should be eating and how to incorporate them into your daily diet.

Remember, your Health Advocate Wellness website features a variety of resources to help you improve your health and well-being. Log on today to explore all our expert resources!

Get started now!

Need expert help?Contact your Wellness Coach If are looking to improve your heart health, you may have questions and not know where to turn. Luckily, your Wellness Coach can help with a variety of health and wellness-related concerns. Call your Coach for answers to questions like:

• How can I reduce my sodium intake?

• How can I get started with exercise?

• What types of foods are heart-healthy?

Call your Wellness Coach to find help and solutions for these concerns, and more!

Ask the Wellness Coach How can I maximize my workouts?Without a doubt, exercise is good for your heart and overall health. But how do you keep your exercise fresh and invigorating? Here are our recommendations:

• Vary your workouts. Challenge different muscle groups by regularlychanging your routine. Think about rotating between different exercises and terrains (for example, hills vs. flat areas) and working out different parts of your body.

• Try interval training. Add intervals to your next walk by walking at acomfortable pace for 1 minute followed by a quicker pace for 30 seconds. Alternate between the two for 15-20 minutes. You’ll burn more calories and increase your fitness level.

• Strapped for time? Get a pedometer and start walking! If you can hit10,000 steps per day, you are nearing the equivalent of a moderate workout.

And don’t forget, you can log your steps and track your progress on the Health Advocate Wellness website!

©2015 Health Advocate, Inc. HA-CWEGM-1501002-2NL FEB

24/7 Support

Help is Just a Phone Call Away

Health Advocate is not affiliated with any insurance or third party provider. Health Advocate complies with all government privacy standards. Health Advocate does not replace health insurance coverage, provide medical care or recommend treatment.

Dealing with a Difficult DiagnosisWe can help Receiving a serious diagnosis can leave you scared, confused and wondering what to do next. Call your Personal Health Advocate. Our experienced Registered Nurses can answer questions, coordinate tests and much more.

Call us. We can help ease a difficult situation for you or an eligible family member. And we are always here to address a variety of other healthcare and insurance-related issues.

Research the condition and latest treatment options

Find doctors for second opinions

Expedite appointments with hard-to-reach specialists

Review coverage and out-of-pocket costs for procedures

Facilitate the transfer of medical records

…and much more!

Your EAP+Work/Life Website is Available 24/7 Online Help and Resources On Demand

Your Health Advocate EAP+Work/Life website is packed with important information to help you with personal, family and work issues and better balance your life! Here’s what you’ll find:

Orientation video of the many ways we can help

Locators for childcare, summer camps, in-home agencies, pet care, education,older adults, volunteer opportunities

Authoritative articles on emotional well-being, relationships, financial, legal andhealth issues, work and personal growth

Sign up for webinars

Savings Center

Support groups and other community resources

Log on anytime! Connect to us

HealthAdvocate.com/members866.799.2691