It’s no surprise that caregivers need care, too. That’s especially true for those working in the senior living or healthcare profession. Back in 2017, The Goodman Group piloted the use of Wellscapes, a mindfulness program developed by the University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing, to promote team member well-being at The Commons on Marice, a senior living community in Eagan, MN.

In senior living and health care, there can be a high percentage of stress and burnout in the workplace. That is why The Goodman Group eagerly implemented Wellscapes with the hopes the program would help team members at the managed communities feel supported.

WELCOME TO WELLSCAPES

Wellscapes uses the power of nature and sound to help relieve stress, elevate mood and improve overall well-being. It’s a series of nature videos that can be combined with music, nature sounds or a gentle guided meditation. Each video is about five to seven minutes long and features seasonal nature photography. 

For the pilot program, The Goodman Group provided team members with a URL to access the program on their personal devices. The app let them have total control over when and how they used the videos. They could choose to view peaceful images, listen to calming music, or be voice-guided through meditation.

The mindfulness option offers gentle, voice-guided relaxation to help the listener take a few moments to center and relax. Studies suggest meditative practices reduce anxiety, improve concentration, and can help with depression and other symptoms.

HOW IT WORKED

Team members who participated were asked to keep a journal of how they were using the videos, which were their favorites, and if and how they were beneficial to them. By and large the feedback was excellent, with team members expressing their appreciation for having access to mindfulness resources. 

THE WELLSCAPES APP

Since the pilot program in 2017, The Goodman Group now offers Wellscapes as a resource to team members at several other managed communities. What’s better is that Wellscapes is available as a mobile app to the general public, so you can give it a try too.