Total Senior Care and HomeCare & Hospice Launch “Walk Across America” Wellness Challenge
The 40-day employee wellness initiative encourages staff to collectively walk across the country through step tracking, teamwork, and daily movement.
OLEAN - HomeCare & Hospice and Total Senior Care are inviting employees, volunteers, and staff across both organizations to take part in a new wellness initiative designed to promote movement, connection, and team spirit: the Walk Across America Challenge.
Timed in celebration of America’s upcoming 250th birthday in 2026, the program builds on feedback from recent employee wellness efforts that highlighted strong interest in friendly, accessible physical activity challenges and team-based engagement opportunities.
The challenge will run from Memorial Day through July 4th, encouraging participants to collectively “travel” across the United States through daily movement and step tracking.
Employees will be invited to set a personal goal of 50,000 steps over 40 days, averaging just over 1,000 steps per day. Together, participants will help move the organization’s virtual journey from Olean, New York to the West Coast, with milestone stops along the way.
Rather than focusing on competition alone, the initiative emphasizes participation, encouragement, and shared momentum across both organizations.
A Shared Wellness Journey: The program reflects growing interest among staff in simple, flexible wellness opportunities that can be integrated into the workday and daily routines.
“This initiative is really about making wellness approachable,” said Melissa Sullivan, CEO of HomeCare & Hospice and Total Senior Care. “Our teams care for others every day, and we want to create opportunities that support their own health, connection, and resilience. As we look ahead to America’s 250th birthday, this challenge is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate movement, teamwork, and the strength of our organization.”
How It Works: Participants will track steps over the 40-day period, contributing to a shared organizational goal. As milestones are reached, the group will virtually “visit” cities across the country, marking progress along the journey. Staff will be encouraged to walk at their own pace - whether during breaks, after work, or through daily routines.
Building on Wellness Momentum: The initiative builds on feedback gathered from recent wellness programming, including strong employee interest in team-based activities, step challenges, and accessible fitness opportunities. These efforts have helped strengthen camaraderie while reinforcing a broader organizational commitment to staff well-being.
About HomeCare & Hospice/Total Senior Care: HomeCare & Hospice and Total Senior Care are committed to providing compassionate care and support services across Western New York, while also investing in the well-being of the staff who make that care possible.