Health and Wellness
The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce has incorporated and championed health and wellness into its plethora of initiatives. We know that a strong workforce and community are vital to ensuring economic vitality and prosperity. A healthy workforce will have more employees, less turnover, will help to lessen employee absenteeism and will ultimately reduce health costs for employees and employers. For communities, it improves the quality of life for residents.
The Chamber has specific programming that is focused entirely on wellness. Whether programs designed for actual fitness among the members, or workshops on strategic subjects, we are determined to embed behavioral changes in our membership through these wellness events.
It is our pleasure announce that several members of the Chamber have stood up to take part in the Annual Health and Wellness Sponsorship that is now being offered. These businesses are: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan/Blue Care Network, Comfort Keepers and St. Joseph Mercy Livingston. We are thankful for their support in helping us to promote great health and wellness through the membership.
Special “cooking demonstrations” are also being provided from May – November at the Brighton Farmers’ Market, promoting healthful methods for cooking and eating.
If you are interested in learning more about the Chamber’s Health and Wellness programming and sponsorship please contact us at (810) 227-5086.
WE ENGAGED LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE CHANGING HEALTH OF MILLENNIALS.
In the course of the last several years, Millennials have shown that they are very different from previous generations in a number of ways. Defined as the generation born from 1981 to 1996, they are the largest, most educated, and most connected generation the world has ever seen. However, recent data also show the beginnings of troubling generational health patterns that could hamper the future prosperity of Millennials, and in turn the prosperity of the U.S. If the current pace of decline in millennial health continues unabated, the long-term consequences to the U.S. economy could be severe. Millennials now make up the largest share of the U.S. population and labor force, placing them at the heart of U.S. economic growth as consumers, workers, and business owners. How their health plays out in the years ahead will determine not only the overall health of the country, but also its potential economic trajectory. By using Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Index data to analyze these questions, we are able to take a much broader and forward-looking view of these impacts relative to previous studies. In our examination of millennial health patterns we have found several interesting and concerning findings, particularly regarding future impacts on healthcare costs and economic activity.
Did you know?
It’s estimated that 2.6 million adults in Michigan have pre-diabetes.
What is Pre-diabetes?
Pre-diabetes is when blood sugar or glucose levels are higher than normal. Those with pre-diabetes are at an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and if left untreated, development of type 2 diabetes.
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Our Community
At St. Joe's Livingston, we are proud to support an evidence-based program that has been shown to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. The National Diabetes Prevention Program helps those at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The program consists of 16 one hour weekly classes followed by monthly maintenance sessions to provide ongoing support for long term changes. Program participants are provided guidance on healthy eating, getting active, changing behaviors, problem solving and support to make small, realistic changes for life. Classes are held either virtually or in a classroom setting and are led by a trained Lifestyle Coach.