Featured Member – Wesley Acres
Wesley Acres
3520 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
www.wesleylife.org
Year the company was established: 1947
Company Mission statement:
“Guided by Christian compassion, we support the independence, health and well-being of older adults wherever they call home.”
WesleyLife Strategic Focus:
- Expansion of mission through purposeful growth by responding to the increasing needs and expectations of the aging consumer.
- Serve, develop and engage employees so they can do their very best, in an environment that is healthy and encouraging
- Achieve and sustain financial security to support the growth, innovation and quality of the organization
- Develop and pioneer innovation that results in quality of life improvements for our older adults
Describe your main business:
As a leader in our industry, our main purpose is to serve residents that call Wesley Acres home while supporting both our residents and team members in maintaining and building a healthy lifestyle through a culture that makes being healthy the easy choice
Total number of employees:
Wesley Acres has 223 employees as of September 6th, 2011.
Briefly describe your wellness program:
Wesley Acres has supported and built a wellness culture where everyone is a participant – from residents and team members to the surrounding community. At Wesley Acres we are more committed than ever to improving the health of all of our residents and team members while at the same time improving job satisfaction and managing healthcare costs. We do this by offering informative and meaningful programs to improve the overall quality of life for all those we serve. Our holistic, outcome based approach incorporates six dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational and intellectual.
Approximately when did you begin a wellness program at your company:
Wesley Acres began a wellness program in August 2004.
What has been your greatest challenge in wellness within your company:
The greatest challenge in wellness within Wesley Acres has been reaching every employee. Since we are a healthcare provider, our employees have very demanding jobs and it is hard for them to be flexible for wellness activities at work. We continue to get every shift involved by offering group fitness classes, health campaigns, in-services and educational resources.
What goals do you have for 2011 for company wellness:
- Promote healthy behavior changes within the following areas of WELCOA: medical self-care, physical activity, nutrition/weight management, tobacco cessation and stress management.
- Wesley Acres will complete an application for a Gold Well Workplace Award.
- The Employee Wellness Committee will become involved in more programs as defined by the Wellness Committee roles are responsibilities.
- Employees will practice vocational wellness by giving back to the community.
What is one idea/lesson that you have learned about wellness within your own company that you would like to share with other people:
We have learned the importance of great communication among all employees. In order to communicate with all three shifts the Wesley Acres Wellness Department sends out a monthly newsletter, attends all team meetings and in-services, and posts flyers in break rooms and next to time clocks.