Health Links (HL): What does being a healthy business mean to your organization? How does it reflect the company's values and business goals?

Visiting Angels of Denver (VAD): To our organization, being a healthy business means prioritizing the needs of our caregivers, focusing on all facets of wellness. In our situation, our employees tirelessly dedicate their lives caring for others, so we choose to heavily focus on their mental well-being to ensure that someone is caring for the people who are always caring for others.

HL: How has Health Links helped Visiting Angels of Denver build a culture of health and safety?

VAD: Health Links encouraged us to form a wellness committee, which placed a positive responsibility on our office staff to focus on our traveling staff. They also promoted physical health and wellness, which we began incorporating into our events designed to support psychological health, which helped us deliver the whole health package to our employees.

HL: What changes have you seen among your employees, their families, and the surrounding community as a result of your program(s)?

VAD: We have noticed our caregivers interacting with office staff more, having higher job satisfaction and company loyalty, and higher participation in voluntary events. Our employees are now our friends!

HL: Does your health and safety program give back to your community?

VAD: Our program focuses heavily on giving back to our caregivers, though we have discussed dedicating some of our once-monthly gatherings to community outreach. Be it designing a craft to be donated or participating in the Walk for Alzheimer's as a group. Our caregivers also completed a toiletries and food drive for a local maternity woman's shelter, Shannon's Hope.

HL: What tip/advice would you give to a business that is considering starting a workplace health and safety program?

VAD: Your employees are the backbone of your business, and you will never go wrong by keeping that backbone strong, healthy, and supported.