Program lays foundation for a healthy retirement
Program lays foundation for a healthy retirement
Taking a page out of the Boy Scouts manual, UAW-Ford in Detroit is helping its employees to be prepared for a healthy retirement. Each local office is provided a budget of $2,500 for an eight-session program.
"Our focus is to catch the people going out the door - those who are getting ready to retire," explains Adrienne Cox, human resource associate at the UAW-Ford National Programs Center. This is accomplished through the UAW-Ford Successful Retirement Planning Program (SRPP), established about 10 years ago. Today, a major component of SRPP is "Health Life for Seniors," a multifaceted program that includes:
· health and fitness;
· medication;
· work/life programs (i.e., grandparenting, eldercare);
· Social Security education;
· legal issues;
· financial planning.
"As Adrienne likes to joke, Americans are used to planning more for their vacations than they do for retirement," says Sam Florence, UAW international representative at the UAW-Ford center. "When you get older, you have to be more aware of what you are eating, about weight control, and self-care. With the '30 and out' rule, many of our typical retirees are really quite young."
"When they retire, they can be starting a whole new career," adds Cox. "So we try to stay away from the stereotypical presentation of a retiree who is in a wheelchair or a rocking chair." One of the major issues stressed in the program is that wellness is for the entire family, says Cox. "The materials that are part of our program are designed to help the employees and their families both now and later," she explains. "Many employees now find that as grandparents they must take care of a grandchild; we provide health hints for them."
"We found employees would sometimes go through the programs and not mention them to their wives, so now we include spouses in the program," adds Florence. "They really take it to heart, and since the benefits extend to spouses, it helps control costs."
The program is promoted through leadership in the various plants. In the past year, a new communications strategy was implemented with the designation of Education Training Coordinators - individuals with a primary responsibility for letting employees know about the program.
Classes are generally delivered on-site, or in the local Union Hall, says Cox. "We have certified presenters/coordinators/facilitators - specialists brought in by UAW-Ford," she explains. The typical class runs eight weeks, with classes being held two hours each week. "Scheduling is flexible enough that classes can be run on the weekend," she notes. "And spouses can attend at no additional charge."
Most UAW-Ford locations now have their own fitness centers, all of which are open to retirees. Trainers are available on-site to assist the employees with their programs.
The overall program is constantly evolving, based on employee needs. "We've had programs developed because people said they wanted more information in specific areas," says Cox. "These have included financial investment programs, and even personal development programs like how to buy real estate."
[Editor's note: For more information, contact Adrienne Cox, UAW-Ford National Programs Center, 151 West Jefferson Ave., P.O. Box 33009, Detroit, MI 48232-5009. Telephone: (313) 392-7155.]
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