Active Outlook Supports ‘Whole Health’

Growing older, as the expression goes, isn’t for sissies — and now Humana’s Medicare members have the strength of a new program, Humana Active Outlook (HAO), to support their healthy aging efforts.

“Humana Active Outlook is a consumer-based life enrichment program designed to facilitate healthy aging, offered at no cost to all Humana Medicare Advantage, stand-alone Medicare Part D and Medicare Supplement members,” explained Robert G. Pope, M.D., chief medical officer, Humana senior products. “Healthy choices are especially important for older adults to maintain their independence and productivity.”

Key program points
Key features of the HAO program are as follows:

• HAO delivers responsive, personalized initiatives designed to improve members’ health across physical, mental, psychological, spiritual, emotional and financial dimensions.
• Program content and learning objectives are monitored by a medical advisory board composed of Humana physicians and clinicians for program integrity.
• The program is built around four HAO program modules, each of which is a self-contained curriculum composed of
  six lessons:

1. NOURISH! A healthy eating module helps members explore nutrition as a source for healthful living.
2. THRIVE! A physical activity module explains health conditions and provides information on the latest in evidence-based research and trends pertaining to healthy aging.
3. DISCOVER! A mental acuity/cognitive retention module uses a patented computer-based Brain Fitness Program from Posit Science Inc. to promote mental acuity and slow the effects of age-related cognitive impairment.
4. PARTNER! Explains how members can use grassroots outreach and community-based education to learn about Medicare topics and be heard.

Recent studies have indicated these areas of emphasis do improve outcomes. A July 2006 study by the National Institute on Aging found that as simple an act as expending more energy through daily activities is associated with lower mortality rates for older adults.¹ And several studies, including a UCLA study presented at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s 2005 annual meeting, have found that memory exercises increase brain function in the area of memory.²

Initial outreach promising
HAO has launched with two outreach programs. The One Million Strong campaign, a partnership between Humana, Procter & Gamble and The Alliance for Better Bone Health (P&G Pharmaceuticals and sanofi-aventis), kicked off in late April in Washington, D.C. The goal of the three-year campaign is to identify those at risk for bone fractures as a result of low bone mass density or osteoporosis. Additionally, HAO is a sponsor of the Senior Olympic Games.

Members receive program information via bimonthly newsletters, Web-based content, grassroots outreach and community-based health screenings and classes. Discounts and coupons for health-related goods and services are provided, helping members more readily adopt healthy behaviors into their daily lifestyles.

For information about the program, visit www.humana.com. Click on the “Visit Humana-Medicare.com” link on the right side of the home page. Then click on “Why choose Humana,” and then “Humana Active Outlook.” For additional information, call (800) 833-6578.

¹ www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20060711Energy.htm,
² www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Fitness/5-12-12-SaveMemoryExercise.htm

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