50–59: Fearless in Your 50s

Your 50s are a time to be intentional about your health—building on (or correcting) the habits you’ve established, while responding to how your body continues to change.  Staying well in this decade is about consistency, awareness and preventive care that supports your long-term quality of life.

Two areas take center stage in your 50s.

• Menopause. For many women, menopause is either underway or complete in their 50s. While this transition is natural, its effects can be anything but simple. Changes in sleep patterns, mood, energy, weight, joint comfort and focus can continue well beyond the end of your menstrual cycle. Understanding what’s happening in your body and recognizing how symptoms can evolve over time is the key to feeling your best. Share what you’re noticing with your physician, even if symptoms feel minor or inconsistent. Keep track of patterns, ask questions and explore resources to help you. Understanding and Treating Menopause is a great place to start. Memorial Hermann employees can also take advantage of Midi for additional expert support, clinical care and prescription recommendations.
• Muscle and bone health. Your 50s can be a turning point for your muscles and bones. Support your body with the kind of movement, rest and nourishment that keeps you feeling strong and capable. This is about confidence in your body, now and for everything you want to do next. Memorial Hermann employees have access to Employee Wellness for health coaching and nutrition consultations. 

Make sure you have the care team you need and trust, led by your primary care physician, to help you proactively protect your health and reactively address needs. If you’re covered by a Memorial Hermann medical plan use the Memorial Hermann Provider Directory on Aetna’s website or mobile app to search for in-network providers (look for the MAXIMUM SAVINGS tag to identify MH Preferred Tier providers). Remember, if you use MH Preferred Tier providers, which include facilities, clinically integrated physicians and other providers most closely aligned with Memorial Hermann, you’ll pay less for care you can trust.

Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about the vaccinations and screenings they recommend for you. At this age, you should discuss:

• A shingles vaccine and a Tdap booster, in addition to annual vaccinations, like a flu shot.
• Regular cancer screenings (including breast, cervical, colorectal and skin) and heart health screenings. Early detection for any condition is key!
• Vision and hearing checks to catch changes early.

Life transitions—menopause, becoming an empty nester, career shifts and more—can bring emotional ups and downs. Honoring those changes, finding support and using practices like mindfulness, breathing or intentional quiet moments can strengthen your resilience. These resources may help.

Available to employees and family members:

• Spring Health: You have access to up to 6 free therapy sessions and 6 free coaching sessions per year. In addition, the online mental health assessment helps you find the right care for your needs and keep track of your progress. Spring Health will help you find the right counselor for you, and if you’re covered by a Memorial Hermann medical plan, you can continue to see them after your 6 covered sessions by paying your plan’s in-network cost share.

Call Spring Health for:

TIP

Spring Health also offers a library of on-demand digital content for immediate help with stress, anxiety, sleeplessness and more.

• Memorial Hermann Mental Health Crisis Clinics: These clinics do not require an appointment. Call 713.338.6422 for locations and hours.
• Medical Plan Coverage: Medical plans cover a variety of mental health and substance use services. For information on what the Memorial Hermann plans offer, refer to this plan comparison. Our plans also cover convenient virtual care options. For additional information, call 800.334.9778 or log into aetna.com or the Aetna Health app.
• Memorial Hermann’s Health & Wellness Categories. Here are a few recommendations: 
  • The Importance of Taking Time Out
  • Finding Joy in Community and Creativity
  • Practical Strategies for Managing Stress and Anxiety

Employees also have access to the following services, available at no cost:

• Employee Wellness: Confidential, one-on-one therapy sessions from a licensed (LPC, LCSW) counselor. Click the link or email wellness@memorialhermann.org to make an appointment.
• Life in Balance: Designed to help you make lasting changes that improve your well-being with 60-minute health education and skill-building workshops.
• Woosah Mondays: Mindfulness practices for managing stress and staying present. 
• MHU Online Navigating Stress Playlist: Curated stress management videos and coping strategies. Visit MHU and search “Navigating Stress” in the search bar and the playlist will appear.
• Code Lilac: 24-hour emotional support for difficult situations. Call 833.MH.LILAC (833.645.4522) to get started.

Your 50s are often a time of expanding responsibility—at work, at home and in your community. Take advantage of the programs that can help support you and your loved ones.

Available to employees and family members:

• Continuing education:
  • College Coach: Free resources and expert advice for navigating college admissions, including essay prep and review, financial aid and scholarships.
  • Bright Horizons: Offers tutoring, test preparation (e.g., MCATs and LSATs) and support for professionals looking to earn a new degree.
• Opportunities to save money:
  • Employee Discount Spot: Exclusive deals on a range of products to help set up a home and care for your family. You’ll also find discounts for auto and home insurance and pet insurance.
  • Purchasing Power: A convenient payroll deduction program for significant purchases like electronics, furniture or appliances.

Employees also have access to the following resources:

• Career development:
  • Learn Well: Memorial Hermann can help you manage the cost of continuing education.
  • Achieve: Career resources, including access to personal career coaches at no cost, to help you develop your career, your way.
• Family Resources: Whether you’re caring for your children, your parents or both, Memorial Hermann can help you plan and find the trusted resources you need.  
• Financial protection and planning:
  • Group Legal: If you’re enrolled in the MetLife Group Legal Plan, you have access to expert legal advice for personal legal matters, including will preparation and updates, real estate transactions and more.
  • Financial Finesse: Free, one-on-one financial coaching to help you plan for all life’s milestones.

It’s time to make a clear, confident plan for what comes next. Your 50s may be your peak earning years, and you may be thinking about when—and how—you want to retire. Step back, take a full inventory of where you stand today and make sure your financial picture reflects both your goals and your reality. 

Available to employees and family members:

• Fidelity: Fidelity offers general education to help you plan for your retirement. Visit Fidelity.com > Personal Financial > Retirement Education to learn more.  

Employees also have access to the following resources:

It’s time to review your retirement savings strategy, take advantage of catch-up contributions and consider when you want to retire and the risk level of your investments. Visit Retirement Planning for information on the Memorial Hermann Retirement Savings Plans.  

• Get expert guidance: Meeting with a financial advisor annually can help you stress-test your plan and make thoughtful adjustments.
  • Call the Fidelity Retirement Service Center at 800.343.0860, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CT for answers to general retirement questions. Call 866.811.6041 for Personalized Planning & Advice. This is a fee-based service to help you get and stay on course.
  • Visit investor center representatives at one of Fidelity’s retail locations across the Greater Houston Area for professional investment and retirement planning support.