Thrive Every Day, October 2023

Oct. 10, 2023
Thrive At Princeton. Thrive Every Day. Make the Most of Your Princeton Benefits

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time to educate and promote research, as well as support survivors and those currently fighting the disease. In the U.S., one in eight women is at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Preventive mammogram screenings often result in early detection which typically lead to less aggressive treatments and higher survival rates. Don’t wait to be screened—and remind those you care about to schedule their annual mammogram, too! Learn about Princeton’s Mammography Program.

Financial Update: The Social Security Administration will be hosting a live webinar on October 26 at noon entitled “An Overview of Social Security’s Retirement, Auxiliary, Survivor, Medicare and Online Services.” See the “financial wellness” section below for full details.

Benefits Update: Open Enrollment for 2024 Benefits will begin on October 23 and end on November 10, 2023. Attend an in-person Benefits Fair:

  • Main Campus: October 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Frist Multipurpose Rooms
  • PPPL: October 25, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lyman Spitzer Lobby

Taking care of your physical, mental, and financial wellness is extremely important. We hope this monthly benefits newsletter will make it easy and convenient for you to do just that.


Physical Wellness

 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

MSK Direct: Breast Cancer Awareness Webinar

Join Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast oncologist from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), for a webinar on best practices for cancer prevention, early detection, screening recommendations, and risk factors.

Wednesday, October 11, 1:00 p.m.
Register

Princeton partners with Memorial Sloan Kettering to offer MSK Direct, a program that gives you guided access to expert cancer care and provides support throughout your care experience. To use this benefit, call the Princeton University dedicated MSK Direct line toll-free at (844) 303-2123, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., or visit their website.

My Health Coach

While a mammogram is the most common preventive breast cancer screening, other screenings are also important for detection:

  • Annual clinical breast exams done by your doctor can find changes or new problems.
  • Self-exams ensure you are familiar with how your breasts look/feel and can help you notice symptoms such as lumps, pain, or changes.
  • MRIs and ultrasounds may be used along with mammograms when a potential issue is identified or for those at higher risk for getting breast cancer.

My Health Coach offered by Trestle Tree, can help you:

  • Understand the importance of preventive screenings
  • Manage a health condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
  • Provide nutrition counseling
  • Develop a fitness plan that works for you
  • Help you quit smoking

Government Provided At-Home COVID Tests

Effective immediately, every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four free COVID-⁠19 rapid tests delivered to your home.
Place your order.
If you need assistance, call (800) 232-0233.


Mental Wellness

Carebridge

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Emotional scars of abuse can be debilitating and complex. Carebridge is committed to helping employees and their loved ones with immediate counseling support, referrals to community resources, support groups, and safety planning. If you or someone you love is a victim of domestic abuse, please reach out for assistance.

Upcoming webinars:

Stress Check-In: Tap to Relieve Stress    

Thursday, October 12, 3:00–3:30 p.m.

Register now

Strategies to Manage Anxiety, Fear, & Stress

Tuesday, October 17, noon–1:00 p.m.

Register now

Grief Check-In: Common Grief Experiences

Wednesday, October 18, 2–2:30 p.m.

Register now

If you are experiencing any of the following, don’t put off asking for help.

  • Depression or loneliness
  • Anxiety
  • Grief and loss
  • Relationship conflicts
  • Parenting concerns
  • Addiction
  • Trauma
  • Domestic abuse

For an in-person appointment with a Carebridge counselor at the Employee Wellness Center, schedule your appointment online.

To speak with a Carebridge mental health professional 24/7, call (800) 437-0911, visit their website www.myliferesource.com (use code TW8AE to register), or download their App from Apple or Google Play.


Financial Wellness

Social Security Administration: Live Webinar
An Overview of Social Security’s Retirement, Auxiliary, Survivor, Medicare, and Online Services

  • Thursday, October 26, noon to 1:00 p.m.
  • Join Meeting on Microsoft Teams
  • Meeting ID: 284 910 938 879 / Passcode: DjDMKS
  • No pre-registration required. Be sure to log in by noon; webinar will close to new attendees after 12:05 p.m.

Resources to review prior to the webinar:

TIAA

Recent changes to the retirement program are described in the Transition Guide. Communications about the enhancements were sent to participants the week of August 18. To lend support, TIAA has a recorded webinar that you can access at any time. 

Keep your financial goals on track with TIAA’s live webinars, including “Invest for Success – 5 Principles You Need To Know” and Cybersecurity.” For the complete listing of this month’s TIAA webinars, visit the registration page.

TIAA offers individual retirement counseling sessions, either online or by phone, which provide in-depth planning assistance. To schedule an appointment, register online.

CAPTRUST

CAPTRUST’s number one mission is to connect participants with timely, relevant, and actionable content to help you make smarter financial decisions and ultimately retire with confidence. This benefit is free, completely confidential, and provided by a company that has no products or services to sell you.

To speak to a counselor about the University’s retirement plan and/or other financial issues, call the Retirement Advice Line at (800) 967-9948. For more information, including articles, videos and other valuable resources, visit the CAPTRUST website.

Isles

Isles Financial Services (IFS) provides personal finance education and counseling services for low- and moderate-income workers. IFS services are focused on everyday financial issues such as budgeting, credit, savings, and debt. IFS helps to reduce stress regarding money management and allows people to regain control of their finances for the long-term. Counseling is available in English and Spanish.


Employee Wellness Center with its three pillars: physical, mental, and financial

The Employee Wellness Center @ 350 Alexander

Here, you will find support to help you care for yourself and your family, so you can thrive at work and at home. Whatever challenges you’re facing, help is available. Get more details on the HR website.


Questions?

For questions about physical or mental wellness resources, contact Lynn Herbine. For financial wellness inquiries, contact Jane Edgar. The Benefits Team is available to assist at (609) 258-3302 or [email protected]. For complete details on all wellness resources and programs, visit the HR website.