Nutley Commissioners Announce New Health & Wellness Initative

This week, Nutley Public Affairs Commissioner Steven Rogers and Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Mauro Tucci announced the creation of a new Health & Wellness Initiative.

In an email, Commissioner Rogers said that the Health Department and the Parks & Recreation Department services were overlapping in ways that were “not cost effective nor efficient.”

“I spoke to Commissioner Tucci about creating a shared service with regard to health and wellness and he thought it was a good idea because it would save tax dollars, staff hours, and time, with regard to running some of the programs,” said Commissioner Rogers.

The Health Department will conduct workshops, seminars and lectures of health related topics, while the Parks & Recreation department will focus on exercise programs. 

When a resident signs up for an exercise program, they will fill out a health form, get their blood pressure taken and get weighed in. The health department will monitor their progress for the duration they are in the program.

Commissioner Rogers said that the wellness program's physical fitness component was good; but needed to encompass more than just building the body.

We should be looking at the whole being and include components designed to build the spirit and keep our state of mind well,” he added.

To create a well rounded wellness program, the Department of Health is adding non physical fitness components that will include one-on-one counseling sessions to address stress, domestic violence, bullying, adjustments to unemployment, adjustments to retirement, depression, obesity, overeating and other wellness issues. These sessions will be conducted by health department medical personnel in order to maintain privacy.

The Parks & Recreation Department will provide a number of exercise programs such as, Yoga with Mary Ann, Saturday Yoga with Kara, Pilates, Core Cardio, Positive Fitness, Zumba, Senior Aerobics, Tai Chi, and other physical fitness training programs that will be available to all age groups. 

As part of the physical fitness component of the initiative, the Department of Health will provide health and wellness monitoring, as well as numerous clinic programs such as Pap Smear, Pelvic and Breast Exam, blood pressure check, anemia screening, skin cancer screening, prostrate check-ups, Counseling for stress, depression, and dozens of other health related issues including, Complete Blood Profile (SMAC), Stroke Prevention, Cardiac Risk Assessment, Bone Density, Diabetes, Thyroid, Skin Cancer, Colorectal Cancer Screening.

Participants in the new Health & Wellness Initiative will receive quarterly updates on health related issues from the Nutley Health Department as well as updates on new exercise programs from the Recreation Department.

“The way we structured this program will provide all Nutley residents with a well rounded, all encompassing, year-long health and wellness program.  This is a work in progress and I anticipate good results,” says Commissioner Rogers.