Holistic health requires caring for the whole person – supporting not only physical wellness, but mental and emotional health. Social and economic factors, family dynamics and food insecurity can all factor into an individual’s sense of well-being.
Southwestern Health Resources (SWHR) demonstrates a commitment to whole-person health by providing wraparound services through its Care Transformation and Innovation (CTI) team, working with a network provider’s most complex patients to deliver support and solutions which improve quality of life.
Multidisciplinary members of a CTI care team include nurses, community health workers, social workers and dietitians. Whether through home visits or telehealth connections, these frontline health workers connect with patients on a personal level to help ensure needs are being met. This may include connecting a patient with transportation resources so they can attend a doctor’s appointment or shop for groceries; helping the patient sign up for food assistance or insurance coverage; providing education on healthy eating; and connecting the patient with specialists and therapists.
These services are important for all patients but men, in particular, may not provide themselves with the care necessary to support optimal health and longevity. Among other things, this can contribute to lower life expectancy when compared with women of similar demographics. Universities are beginning to investigate why men may not participate in the healthcare system in the same way that women do.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, men are more likely to skip routine health screenings and less likely than women to visit the doctor for any reason. And while both men and women live longer than they did in the past, the longevity gap between men and women continues to grow.
According to a Harvard Medical School study, the reasons for this are multifold. Compared to women, men are more likely to drink alcohol and use tobacco and make risky choices. In addition, men are at higher risk for many serious diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer and HIV, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Many major health risks men are facing can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, good nutrition, not smoking, stress reduction and more moderate alcohol consumption (no more than two drinks a day, if at all). Regular checkups and screenings can help spot disease early when it is easiest to treat.
“Working with men in care management, for the most part, is no different from working with women when it comes to support,” says David Williams, Community Social Worker on the CTI team. “Men can be most challenging when mental health and substance abuse are in the forefront, as they usually won't ask for help or verbalize any expression of needing help. Using motivational interviewing approaches can be useful for this population."
Recently, SWHR approached male employees to inquire how they incorporate healthy habits into their lives. Taking a holistic approach makes a difference for the three individuals featured below. Check it out.
