What are social connections?

Social connections are the relationships you have with the people around you. They may be close, like family, friends, and coworkers, or more distant, like people you know casually. They can be as close as next door or so far away that you only connect with them by telephone or through the Internet.

Your network of relationships may be big or small. One or two close family members or friends may be all you need to feel supported and valued. Whether your circle is big or small, the important thing is that you are there for each other.

Why are social connections important?

Resilience, the ability to bounce back after stressful situations, is strengthened when you give and receive support. Building positive relationships with people can make a difference in how resilient you are. Try to connect with people who have a positive outlook and can make you laugh and help you. The more positive your relationships are, the better you’ll be able to face life’s challenges.

The support you get from your social connections can add to your feelings of meaning and purpose in life. These, in turn, add to your resilience. Happy, resilient people tend to be more connected to the people around them. Resilient people know that they can depend on the strength of their family and friends when the going gets tough.

Remember that giving support is just as important as getting support. You count on your social connections for support, but they also count on you. Ask others about their families, jobs, and interests, and help them when you can. Don’t always focus on your challenges or talk about yourself. Know when it’s time to listen or just enjoy your friends’ company. Giving support to others builds the social bonds that help make you resilient.

 How can you make more social connections?

There are many ways you can start building positive relationships:

• Invite a friend who makes you laugh, and go to a funny movie.
• Send an encouraging email or text message to someone who’s going through a hard time.
• Look for a faith community that shares your views. It may also have its own organized social groups.
• Call a food bank or hospital and ask about their volunteer programs.You can also connect with people through social media on the Internet. Many people interact more freely with people they can’t see face-to-face. Online forums about specific interests can be a good choice for people who cannot leave their homes or are shy or self-conscious.

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When the whole family is involved in physical activities together, children learn that being active is fun and makes you feel good. And busy parents can combine family time with exercise time.

Try these tips for getting everyone in the family up and moving together:

Getting started

• As a family, make a list of activities you’d like to do together.
• Make sure the activities are things everyone can do and enjoy.
• Keep a family physical activity log, or hang a calendar on the wall.
• Try to plan one or two family activities a week. For ideas, see the suggestions below.
• Once a month, plan something special that involves being active, like a trip to the zoo, a day hike, or camping.
• Use a safe backpack, stroller, or bike trailer so that smaller children can be included in family activities.

Walking

When family schedules get really busy, going for a walk may be the easiest thing you can do together.

• Start with short walks that everyone in the family can do. Add more distance gradually. Younger children can ride a bike or a tricycle. You can pull a wagon in case little ones get tired.
• Scavenger hunts can keep children from being bored on a walk. Keep in mind a list of “treasures” they can find, such as a red leaf, a blue house, a black dog, or an out-of-state license plate.
• Use a phone app or get pedometers, and work on increasing the number of steps you take on your family walks. Start with a goal of 10,000 steps a day.
• Register the whole family in a family fun run/walk in your community. If the event is for charity, have your family walk through your neighborhood to collect pledges.

Outdoor activities

• Go for a bike ride.
• Join your children in old-fashioned games like hopscotch, tag, jump rope, and hide-and-seek.
• Get involved in family-friendly sports like skiing, skating, swimming, and tennis.
• Play a daily family basketball game in the driveway or at a playground.
• Take up miniature golf or flying-disc golf.
• Fly a kite.
• Pick up trash at a local park.

Indoor and rainy-day activities

• Have a family dance night. Share dances from each generation, and teach each other to do them. Or learn folk dances.
• Create a new dance or exercise routine to a favorite song. Have a different child choose the song each week.
• Go to the mall, and count how many laps you can walk as a family.
• Have a hula hoop contest.
• Set up a fun obstacle course in the basement, garage, or spare room.

General rules

• Limit TV, video games, and computer time.
• Don’t use food as a reward for meeting activity goals.
• Make physical activity a priority. Don’t let things get in the way of family activity time.

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There’s nothing quite like a good comeback. It’s a testament to the determination of the human spirit, and a reminder of why second chances can be a great thing. The beauty of a comeback is that it happens in many forms. It could be an athlete getting back on the field after a major injury, or a determined older student going back to school to finally earn their degree. For Adam McCullough, it’s finding his way back into the driver’s seat.

For most of his life, Adam, 28, lived without a disability. He grew up in Holmen, WI, and played college football at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. After graduating, he got a job at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as a hydrologist, where he’d gather samples of water from lakes and rivers and test what was in them. But on December 26, 2016, Adam was driving home and crashed his car after hitting an icy patch on the road. The accident left him paralyzed from the chest down.

At first, Adam’s main focus was learning how to navigate life in a wheelchair. Simply getting around his parent’s home on his own was a challenge. He set his sights on building strength through physical and occupational therapy, and took part in trial studies for new treatments. Over time, he regained some movement in his hands. As he became more independent, he realized just how much he missed driving.

“Little things pop in your head,” says Adam. “If I want to go to the grocery store by myself, I just don’t have that option. It’s been limiting, you know? I think anyone can picture that.”

Having made so much progress in other areas of his life, he started wondering if there was a way he’d be able to drive again. After talking with his doctor and doing some research, Adam told his TMG IRIS Consultant, Julie, of his new goal. They started this journey by first getting Adam an accessibility assessment to see what he would need to do to drive again. They then got Adam a learner’s permit so that he could practice driving an accessible vehicle. Adam also needed to take a driver assessment to determine the exact equipment he would need in his vehicle so that he could safely and easily drive. Finally, he will have to pass the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) road test to get his license.

Through it all, Adam and Julie have worked closely together. They spent time looking into funding options to cover the driving assessment and equipment, and options to purchase a van. Even when the road got long, they knew that together Adam could reach his goal.

“Julie is there every step of the way,” says Adam. “We educated ourselves and researched everything together. Without Julie, I wouldn’t be talking to you [about driving] right now.”

Of course, Julie is quick to say that Adam has been the driving force behind making all of this happen. His grit and persistence to get back to driving and regain independence is amazing, and she says it’s been wonderful to watch him continue to make progress in many different areas of his life.

“Adam has a passion for self-direction,” says Julie. “He’s coming to me saying ‘This is what I need, this is what I want.’”

In January, Adam was finally able to drive for the first time in two years when he test drove accessible vans to figure out which equipment worked best for him. The driving consultant feels confident that, after a few more sessions, Adam will be able to pass the DMV’s road test and get his driver’s license. He says he was thrilled to be driving his dad around for a change.

As Adam gets closer to getting his license, he’s excited for all the possibilities that will open up. Driving his dogs out to the dog park; getting himself to work on his own; visiting far-away friends. However, more than anything else, he’s simply excited to be behind the wheel again.

“When I get the car, I’ll turn the radio volume up all the way and just drive around by myself for an hour,” says Adam. “My dog will have her head out the window. Me just driving around and torturing people with my singing voice!”

Stress is a part of everyone’s life in one way or another. But did you ever consider that stress doesn’t always have to be a bad thing? What if you found ways to make stress a positive thing?
Stress is complicated and tends to impact people over a long period of time. Here are a few tips to help you manage your stress.

1. Get organized. Being unorganized creates stress and leaves you feeling out of control and overwhelmed. Get your house or your desk or your car in order and then feel the wave of relief that comes over you.

2. See things from another angle. View stress as an energizer. Consider each new demand as a challenge, no matter how difficult it may seem.

3. Take charge. Although you can’t control other people’s actions, you can control your response to what comes your way. When it comes to managing your emotions, you’re the boss.

4. Think big. Think in terms of long-range goals, not just day-to-day problems so you can see beyond the immediate situation.

5. Find true friends. Having supportive friends is a key to reducing stress. Good friends should recognize your strengths and lend a hand in stressful situations.

6. Learn from it. Look for meaning in the stress you have experienced. For example, a sick family member may have caused a great deal of stress, but the situation brought your family closer.

7. Be proactive. Learn to recognize the early signs of your stress, such as anger, taking on too many things, working too much or irregular sleep patterns. Think about what you can do to reduce the negative stress effects.

8. Accept limits. Understand your boundaries. Set realistic expectations for yourself.

9. Use your strengths. Recognize your strengths and focus on projects that allow you to use them. Taking on too much can make you feel out of control.

10. Make decisions. Indecision increases stress. Start by making small decisions and acting on them.

11. Laugh. Laughter is indeed the best medicine. Laughing at yourself can relieve stress.

12. Keep yourself healthy. Take care of your body by eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water. Find time to exercise.

13. Pay attention to your body. There are times when our bodies send signals telling us to slow down and take a break. When you experience physical signs such as exhaustion, restless sleep, headaches, body aches and other types of pains, take time to renew your body and your mind.

Resources
National Institute of Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml

Help is available. For additional information, visit MagellanHealth.com/MYMH

This document is for your information only. It is not meant to give medical advice. It should not be used to replace a visit with a provider. Magellan Health does not endorse other resources that may be mentioned here.

It’s AIDS Awareness Month, and we want to recognize and remember those lost to AIDS, support those living with HIV, help to spread awareness about prevention and treatment, and provide information around our patient-centric AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) services that have helped so many patients.

By the numbers

Did you know that more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV today, and one in seven don’t even know they’re infected?¹ Thanks to significant improvements in treatment over the last few decades, HIV/AIDS patients are living longer, more prosperous lives than ever before. In 1996, the total life expectancy for a 20-year-old person with HIV was 39 years. In 2011, the total life expectancy increased to about 70 years.²

Even though many advancements have been made in treatment, the fight’s not over yet. You may have noticed that HIV/AIDS is no longer getting the attention that it used to, but these patients are still very much in need of quality care and treatment.

Our ADAP services: It’s all about the patient

At Magellan Rx Management, we offer differentiated programs for our HIV/AIDS patients. We’re not just another PBM, enrolling members and processing claims. To us, the most important thing is that these patients receive the care they need to thrive and manage their condition.

Our approach puts the patient at the center; they are the sole focus. While our comprehensive AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) solution offers claims processing, prior authorization, coordination of benefits, and many more core functions, we don’t just stop there.

Our #1 goal is to make sure that every patient who qualifies for treatment, gets treatment.

Going the extra mile

When we say we strive to get these patients the care they need, we mean it. One of our patient’s insurance had lapsed right before becoming a Magellan member, and as a result, was refused costly treatment in the hospital.  Our team truly went the extra mile – calls were made to both the insurance company and the hospital to make sure the patient received the necessary treatment.

We also go the extra mile at the client level.  Recently, we implemented our ADAP program and here is what the client had to say:

“Again the Magellan team is exceeding our expectations!  You guys continue to be a joy to work with!”

We wholeheartedly believe in leading humanity to healthy, vibrant lives and that means doing everything it takes to make sure our HIV/AIDS patients are getting the care they need.

Click here to learn more about our ADAP services.

¹ Content Source: HIV.gov.Date last updated: July 11, 2018. (2018, September 25). U.S. Statistics. Retrieved December 7, 2018, from https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/statistics
² Scaccia, A., & Madell, R. (n.d.). Facts About HIV: Life Expectancy and Long-Term Outlook. Retrieved December 6, 2018, from https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/life-expectancy

Sadly, nearly every day Americans are faced with traumatic events. Whether it be weather-related incidents, mass shootings or other emergencies, these experiences are frightening. In response, Magellan has developed a Crisis Communications Resources page that includes downloadable tip sheets in English and Spanish about:

• Helping children cope after a traumatic event
• How to cope after a traumatic event
• Living with threats of violence
• Supporting employees during traumatic events

You can also find links to resources on the Ready.gov website, such as guides and videos for nearly 30 different types of disasters.

1. Share the responsibility of care with our partner, relatives, or other support persons.
2. Remember to rest when your child is resting. If you feel uncomfortable about leaving your sleeping child alone, sleep close by your child.
3. Talk with your doctor if you feel exhausted and unable to continue to care for your child adequately. This can happen to any parent.

Being a parent of a child with physical, emotional, or behavioral problems can be exhausting. Try to take good care of your physical and emotional health. Doing so will help provide you with needed energy to care for your child with special needs.

Schedule time for yourself. Use a calendar or planner to set aside specific times for buying and cooking healthy foods, resting, visiting with friends, and doing other things you enjoy. Don’t be afraid to ask family members or friends for help. Take a break while your child uses community services (such as school programs, social skills training, job training, and counseling). Ask your doctor about other resources that can provide you with needed personal time.

Learn ways to handle the normal range of emotions, fears, and concerns that go along with raising a child with special needs. Seek information about your child’s condition so that you will know what to expect. Use exercise, positive self-talk, relaxation, deep breathing, and other techniques to help you handle stress. Learn how to recognize when you need to use them.

Find out whether there is a support group in your area for parents of children with the same condition. Local and national groups can help connect families and provide much-needed sources of information. It may help you to share your feelings with others or simply to find out how others have addressed common issues. It can be comforting to talk with other parents who also face the challenges and joys of raising a child with special needs.

Seek and accept support from others. Don’t wait for information and assistance to come to you. Consider using respite care, which is a family support service that provides a break for parents and siblings. Trained staff can relieve family members from caregiving duties as needed. These breaks can help families communicate in a less stressful context and allow parents to focus complete attention on their other children for a while.

Allow yourself time to grieve if needed. You may feel a sense of loss about the dreams you had for your child. As you work through your grief, you will be better able to care for yourself and your family. Talk with your doctor or another health professional if you think you or another family member may be depressed or having other emotional difficulties.

Be realistic. In raising any child, there are no guarantees for success. It is important to remember to do the best you can and to know that you can’t control everything.

Believe in yourself. When self-doubts creep into your thoughts, remember to focus on the many good things you do for yourself and your child. If you are having problems dealing with your feelings about your child’s condition, talk with your doctor about whether counseling may be helpful.

Work with family and friends. Your family and friends may have concerns about your child. To address those concerns, you can:

• Talk about how your child’s condition affects you. Be open and honest about your hopes and concerns. Encourage others to talk about their feelings.
• Encourage them to learn about your child’s condition.
• Ask your other children to help with the care of the affected child as much as they are able. Allow them to refuse to help if they do not want to.

For additional information, visit MagellanHealth.com/MYMH

This document is for your information only. It is not meant to give medical advice. It should not be used to replace a visit with a provider. Magellan Health does not endorse other resources that may be mentioned here.