Genworth Financial, Mayo Clinic launch wellness program for aging population

In what it touts as the first time a long-term care insurance provider has teamed with a healthcare organization to promote health and wellness, Genworth Financial has unveiled a health education collaboration with the Mayo Clinic aimed at improving the well-being of Baby Boomers.

The Live+Well program provides an online resource for consumers that features articles from Mayo Clinic wellness experts designed to help people manage and monitor their health risks. Topics will include men's and women's health, the common health concerns of caregivers, and tips for living a healthier lifestyle.

"Wellness education is the next frontier in promoting disease-free and disability-free living," said Buck Stinson, Genworth's president of U.S. insurance products. "Baby Boomers entering retirement increasingly seek to learn more about how the actions they take today can influence their future health."

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Genworth has two goals for the program. First, it intends to develop new concepts specifically focused on the Baby Boomer generation to help them live longer and healthier lives. Second, the program will also allow the company to learn more about morbidity trend in the aging population.

Mayo Clinic officials say working with Genworth and allowing it to disseminate wellness information and educational resources fits with the health provider's mission.

"It's a priority for Mayo Clinic to reach people everywhere with reliable health information," said Brent Bauer, MD, medical director of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions. "We are pleased that Genworth's Live+Well program will make Mayo Clinic's resources available to Baby Boomers seeking to prevent disease and foster healthier lives."

Genworth officials say they've seen success with their own employee wellness program. They said they realized that those leaving the workforce need more information about wellness, especially at a time when people need to be more active in managing their own health.

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"We researched many world-class healthcare providers before deciding to work with Mayo Clinic," said Stinson. "Mayo Clinic's culture of innovation and dedication to helping people achieve healthier lifestyles dovetails perfectly with Genworth's goal of helping consumers live the life they expect in retirement."