“Love your parents. We are so busy growing up, we often forget they are growing old.”

This quote, originating on tumblr and making rounds on the Internet at large, brings up a difficult but important topic related to workplace health and wellness. A large portion (about one quarter as of 2011) of the government’s workforce is eligible to retire, and with the Baby Boomers comprising such a large population, this retirement wave will be felt on many levels. Focusing on the near future, considering long term care insurance is an important step in taking responsibility for your future as retirement nears. It’s a type of insurance that no one hopes to ever need, but if you are hit with a disease such as Alzheimer’s, long term care insurance will spare your loved ones much of the burden of your care. Looking to the long-term picture, implementing workplace health and wellness programs today could save many people from ever needing long term care insurance in the future. We must think about our health as early in life as possible in order to live long, quality lives. Workplace health wellness programs can help people take responsibility for their health starting today. It’s never too late--even if you are close to retirement, participating in a workplace health and wellness program can develop within you habits to carry on into your retirement in order to maintain your health. By taking responsibility for your health today and in the future, you set yourself and your loved ones up for a life filled with more joy and less pain.