Recent studies indicate that about 70% of all illness is preventable by improving health habits and lifestyle. This emphasis comes at a time when park and recreation agencies are recognizing the important role they can play in encouraging wellness in their communities.

With health care expenditures accounting for 11% of the GNP or approximately $3,000 per person per year, employees who pay these bills have a vested interest in keeping their employees healthy, both in terms of lost dollars and lost time.

Like many corporations throughout the United States, the Illinois Park Employees Health Network (IPHEN) has initiated wellness programs to help curb these rising costs.

IPHEN is a health benefits pool that provides medical, prescription, dental, vision, life and accidental death and dismemberment plans to Illinois park and recreation agencies. IPHEN held its first annual Wellness Institute last fall to help promote awareness for healthy lifestyles and reducing risk factors. As part of the program nearly 200 employees and their spouses took park in health seminars and screenings.

Here's what some participants learned about their own health and wellness.

Brenda Burlini, a bookkeeper for the Itasca Park District, attended the Wellness Institute with a number of her co-workers, and said it was an eye-opener. The screenings made her realize that she had to do something about her weight. Better yet, Brenda learned that "Age doesn't limit you. You're never too old to be in good shape."

As a result, Brenda now reads food labels and buys healthier, low-fat foods. She explains that she's not dieting; rather, she's changing her eating habits. She now walks a mile every day and enjoys a newfound control over her lifestyle.

Despite the fact that diabetes runs in her family, Sandy Mclntosh, administrative assistant at Morton Grove Park District, never had a diabetes screening until she participated in the Wellness Institute. Fortunately, the test turned out fine as did the blood pressure and body fat screening. Mclntosh has learned how easy it is to "keep an eye on the situation" and how good it feels to know she's okay.

Stress and its impact on maintaining good health was another important lesson learned by Mclntosh. Stresses for employees in the park and recreation field often involve inclement weather and construction projects. "These are things that I really never considered before when trying to identify stress," she says.

Although she already takes an aerobics class twice a week to relieve stress, Mclntosh learned that she really needs more exercise. Now she has a treadmill and uses it on her non-aerobic days and feels much better for it.

Hank Goebbert, building custodian at the River Trails Park District, thinks not only is it important to be healthy, it's also very important to know how to take care of your health. Hank said the Wellness Institute taught him how to do this. Both he and his wife benefited from the comprehensive assessment

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of how their lifestyles impact their health. "The printout identified risk factors and practical recommendations to reduce those risks," he says.

Goebbert also realized how regular exercise plays a role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He and his wife now walk together on a regular basis. And, as a result, his wife, who has had both knees replaced, finds her balance has improved. Both have more energy and stamina. They've joined a walking club and ride bikes when the weather cooperates. The Goebberts plan to continue their healthy lifestyle so they can take full advantage of their retirement, which is just a few years down the road.

Paula Kurland, administrative assistant at the Golf-Maine Park District almost talked herself out of attending the Wellness Institute because she felt uncomfortable going by herself, when at the last minute, her co-workers decided not to go. "But I'm so glad I did," says Paula. "I learned a lot, especially about stress and nutrition and how they affect each other.

She also learned the good new that she has "perfect" blood sugar and blood pressure. But Paula admits "it could just as easily have been bad news, since I hadn't been taking the time to have regular checkups." She's now committed to a thorough, annual check up, is developing better eating habits and is learning how to deal better with stress.

"Whether you're talking about your physical or mental well-being, there are many aspects that we can control within the structures of our lives," Kurland says, "if we decide to take control of our overall health."

"Many of us know about stress management from our formal education," says Ken Lack, aquatics technician for Hoffman Estates Park District. "But in the day-to-day rush to get things done, we forget about it. The Wellness Institute refreshed my memory and made me step back and take a look at what areas of stress are and then apply some of the techniques that were taught."

The institute came at an appropriate time for him, since his district had just opened the Seascape Aquatic facility—and we all know what kind of stress is involved in opening a new facility. Now when Ken feels his stress level climbing, he applies some of the suggestions from the stress management booklet he received at the institute.

For example, when he feels overwhelmed, Ken prioritizes the list of things he has to do for the day. He first lists what absolutely must be done that day then writes down what's left for the next day.

"When you become more aware of the stressors in your life and how to reduce them, it's like a recipe. After you've used one method a number of times, it becomes ingrained and you do it from memory."

The Illinois Parks Employees Health Network (IPHEN) is a self-funded health benefits pool that provides medical, prescription, dental, vision, life and accidental death and dismemberment plans to Illinois park and recreation agencies. Formed in 1990 with 25 agency members, IPHEN has grown to include 47 members, providing health benefits coverage to almost 900 employees.

Sandy Burk joined IPHEN as its benefits manager in July of 1995. Previously she worked for 10 years as administrative assistant for the Elmhurst Park District.

34 • Illinois Parks & Recreation • January/February 1996