At Meth-Wick, we believe living well is essential to everyone at every age. This approach was the foundation of a program we developed nearly a decade ago as part of our Wellness & Recreation program: WelTracs®.

It offers residents a unique combination of community-based services and a successful aging program.

A Whole-Person Wellness Model

WelTracs was created based on the idea that wellness doesn’t just mean physical well-being. Rather, our programs are based on a whole-person wellness model, which emphasizes six dimensions: spiritual, physical, vocational, emotional, intellectual, and social wellness.

The program uses a goal-based, one-on-one conversation approach, meaning residents set goals about what they want to get involved in, on or off campus. While many make traditional goals for physical wellness, like attending fitness classes and using the campus walking trail, they also set goals based on the other five dimensions of wellness. Building strong relationships with their grandchildren, joining a book club, or staying committed to volunteering are just a few of the many goals we see our residents striving to achieve. Each new incoming independent living resident takes part in WelTracs.

“At Meth-Wick, we want our residents to live their best lives,” says our Successful Aging Coordinator, Grace Hiedeman, CTRS. “WelTracs allows us to get to know residents right as they join our community. That way we can help them navigate all the resources available to them in their new home.”

Matching Opportunities to Needs and Interests

Meth-Wick is filled with wellness opportunities. Grace helps residents sort through the classes, gym equipment, and outings to determine what aspects best support their plan. Rather than bouncing between classes and events, she matches programs with each resident’s needs and interests. This method supports a better range, quality, and depth of Meth-Wick’s wellness services.

Once a resident has been participating in the program for a full year, an annual revisit allows for evaluation of their goals, setting new wellness goals for the coming year, and having a detailed conversation about their health and wellness. WelTracs doesn’t require residents to meet their goals, it simply provides them with the resources to do so.

Responsive Program Development

WelTracs also serves an additional purpose for our staff. It allows us to personalize our wellness and recreation programming for our current residents by providing a database of their interests. “The emphasis is not on generic wellness activities but on aligning programs with individual needs and interests,” says Grace. “If a resident is interested in a program that Meth-Wick does not currently offer, we try to implement the program on campus to fill the need.”

Using this database, we are able to make informed decisions about the classes we offer, the speakers we bring in, and the events we host. Some of the programs that have been added in response to resident requests include yoga, tai chi, balance classes, art programs, and massage therapy.

WelTracs is designed to help seniors age successfully, in the way they would like. Ultimately, they are the decision-makers when it comes to their wellness, and they make the goals that identify their successful aging journey.

If you’d like to learn more about Meth-Wick’s WelTracs Program, please contact our Successful Aging Coordinator Grace Hiedeman, CTRS at [email protected].