Whole Health
Work with our staff to create a personalized health plan based on your values, needs, and goals.
What is Whole Health?
Whole Health (care) empowers YOU to take charge of your health and well-being. Incorporating your goals, desires, and values into your healthcare supports you in living your life to the fullest. The secretary of Veterans Affairs summed up Whole Health and Whole Health Care as fulfilling an ongoing promise to our Veterans, providing the best of innovation and care to assist our Nation’s heroes in their “next mission--” their life and health.
Expanded Services
Historically, healthcare has focused on disease, illness, and diagnoses. Are your screenings and vaccinations up to date? Do you feel sick, or are you injured? Do you smoke, or is your weight healthy? What medications are you on, and how are your test results? While these are important, your healthcare team also desires to incorporate what matters to you. This inclusion is essential to how your healthcare team will function to support your goals. Available to you are Health Coaching Services, several self-care offerings, and a variety of Complementary and Integrative Health Services, which are detailed below:
The Pathway Is EMPOWERING: We partner with you, as well as your family and community, to explore the missions, purposes, and aspirations that will guide the development of your personal health plan.
Well-Being Programs Are EQUIPPING: We work with you to build the skills and support you need and identify proactive, integrative health approaches such as stress reduction, yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, nutrition, acupuncture, and health coaching that will help you take charge of your health and well-being and live your life to the fullest.
Whole Health Clinical Care Is TREATING: Along with your health care team, you will complete your personal health planning and find complementary and integrative health approaches.
To get started on your Whole Health Journey call 801-588-5991
Well-Being Programs
Components of Proactive Health and Well-Being
Awareness of your health and well-being will help you think about your “whole health.” All the areas in the circle (see Whole Health Circle below) are valuable and are connected. Improving one area can improve another and influence your overall physical, emotional, and mental health and well-being. The human body and mind have tremendous healing abilities, and we can strengthen these healing abilities.
The inner circle represents your values and what matters to you. Being in a state of mindful awareness helps you see what matters to you. The next circle is your self-care represent circumstances and your daily routines and choices. The next ring represents the professional care you receive. Professional care may include tests, medications, supplements, surgeries, examinations, treatments, and counseling. Also included are complementary approaches such as acupuncture and mind-body therapies. The outer ring represents the people and groups to whom you are connected.
Explore the Circle of Health: The Eight Areas of Self-Care
Self-care is a critical factor in living a healthy life, and often the means to your ability to live in the ways that matter most to you. Daily choices influence our physical, mental, and spiritual health. In fact, evidence shows that each of the “eight self-care” areas of self-care contributes considerably to your overall health and well-being. They can also affect your chances of developing diseases and the seriousness of that disease. Consider your values, lifestyle, habits, and motivations in each area. Taking stock of where you are now and where you want to be in these areas is the first step in living a healthier life.
Moving the Body
Energy and Flexibility
Exercise gives you energy and strength, and movement can make you more flexible, lest we forget that exercise is good for your mind. Regular exercise can lower blood pressure and cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Examples of exercise and movement include walking, gardening, dancing, or lifting weights. It’s essential to find what works for you.
Examples of the types of services Veterans can access and use to support this area include (but are not limited to):
- MOVE! Weight Management Program: Choose from several weight management options – groups, MOVE Coach Mobile, and TeleMOVE Home Program.
Contact: 801-582-1565, ext. 2149 - Walk with Ease: Safely make physical activity apart of your everyday lifestyle. Virtual group twice per week. Community locations: Find a Workshop
Contact: 801-582-1565, ext. 6292 - Living Well with Chronic Conditions: 2 hour, 6-week class. Learn self-management skills to improve health. Community locations: Find a Workshop
Contact: 801-588-5991
Surroundings
Physical and Emotional
Your environment can affect your health. You may have problems with safety or things like clutter, noise, bad smells, poor lighting, or water quality. You can change some of these problems. You may not be able to change them all. It starts with paying attention to the influences of your environment on your life and health. Improve what you can. It’s good to have a safe, comfortable, and healthy space.
- Tobacco Cessation: 6-week class. Help to quit tobacco.
For more details contact: 801-582-1565, ext. 5587
Personal Development
Personal Life and Work Life
No matter where you are, your personal and work life is vital. How do you spend your time and energy during the day? Do things give you energy or make you tired? Do you spend time doing what matters most to you? How do you feel about your finances, and how are they affecting your life? These factors affect not only your happiness but also your health.
Food and Drink
Nourishing and Fueling
- Nutrition Counseling: Meet with a Registered Dietitian to optimize energy and health.
Contact: 801-582-1565, ext. 5447 - Healthy Teaching Kitchen: Learn to cook simple, tasty, and healthy meals at home. Classes available virtually and in-person.
Contact: 801-582-1565, ext. 1368 - MOVE! Weight Management Program: Choose from several weight management options – groups, MOVE Coach Mobile, and TeleMOVE Home Program.
Contact: 801-582-1565, ext. 2149
Recharge
Sleep and Refresh
Sleep is essential for your body and mind. Rest can give you peace. Relaxation can lower stress. Activities you enjoy can help you feel recharged. A good balance between activity and rest improves your health and well-being. Examples of the types of services Veterans can access and use to support this area include (but are not limited to):
- Complimentary and Integrative Health Services: Offers Meditation and Mindfulness programming.
For more information contact: 801-582-5991 - Yoga Therapy: To learn about our current yoga offerings and/or enroll, contact: 801-582-5991
- Tai Chi: To obtain class times and/or enroll, contact: 801-582-5991
- Qigong: To obtain class times and/or enroll, contact: 801-582-5991
Friends, Family, and Coworkers
Relationships
Feeling alone can sometimes make you get sick or keep you sick. Positive social relationships are healthy. A healthy intimate relationship with a life partner can be a source of strength. It’s good to talk to people who care about you and listen to you.
Examples of the types of services Veterans can access and use to support this area include (but are not limited to):
- Caregiver Support Program
Contact: 801-582-1565, ext. 2608 - Care4Giver (Mobile App)
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction LGBTQ+ Affinity Course
Contact: 801-588-5991 - Veterans Center Counseling
- Veterans of Color Support Group
Contact: 801-588-5991
Spirit and Soul
Growing and Connecting
- Qigong: Qigong is a series of gentle movements performed in a relaxed meditative state.
- Chaplain Services
Contact: 801-582-1565 - Sweat Lodges
Power of the Mind
Relaxing and Healing
Your mind can affect your body. Sometimes when you think about stressful things, your heart rate and blood pressure go up. You can use the power of your mind to lower blood pressure or control pain. Learn to use the connection between your body, brain, and mind. Warriors and athletes use the power of the mind to visualize a successful mission or event. Mind-body practices tap into the power of the mind to heal and cope.
Examples of the types of services Veterans can access and use to support this area include (but are not limited to):
Complimentary and Integrative Health Services offers Meditation and Mindfulness programming.
For additional information contact: 801-582-5991
- Yoga Therapy: To learn about our current yoga offerings and/or enroll, contact 801-582-5991
- Tai Chi: To obtain class times and/or enroll, contact 801-582-5991
- Qigong: To obtain class times and/or enroll, contact 801-582-5991
Whole Health and Healthy Living Program Navigator
We can support you throughout your health and well-being journey at VA Salt Lake City. To learn more about any of our offerings, ask your Provider or reach us at numbers listed in the handout hyperlinked below.
Professional Care
Prevention and treatment of illness or disease and traditional and complementary medicine are part of professional care. Preventive care includes things like immunizations and cancer screening. Common treatments include checkups, medications, supplements, physical therapy, surgery, and counseling. Complementary medicine comprises approaches like acupuncture and mind-body therapies. Staying current with your personal care plan for health and well-being is essential.
Community
The outer ring represents your community. For some, their community is close by, and for others, it is far away. Your community is more than the places where you live, work, and worship. It includes all the people and groups you connect with, who rely on you, and upon whom you rely.
Which areas would you like to focus on first as you develop your Personal Health Plan? Prepare to talk with your healthcare team by reviewing your Personal Health Inventory.
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Find a list of Community Whole Health Promotion Resources at Salt Lake City VA Health Care System.