Company-sponsored wellness programs are particularly important for older employees inasmuch as they are at greater risk of disease and disability than are their younger counterparts and their health care and health insurance costs are generally higher. As the cost of retirement benefits rises, wellness programs for retirees are becoming increasingly important. Wellness programs intended for older workers and retirees may focus on one or more of the following: medical screenings, health information, health classes and seminars, and exercise and fitness programs. Physician involvement and support, spouse eligibility, focus on risk factors, emphasis on managing chronic illness, knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff, recognition of individual achievement, focus on retirement planning or on a retiree club, and caution in using an age focus are all factors that have been found to be associated with program success. Although worksite wellness programs have not traditionally focused on older workers or retirees, companies that have instituted such programs have found them worthwhile for their cost-effectiveness and their inherent social value. Wellness programs for older and retired employees can be especially effective when companies recognize the varied abilities and interests of retirees of different ages and when programs are designed with consideration for such barriers as access to programming, legal liability, difficulty in effecting behavioral change, and lack of consensus about effective interventions. (Twenty-seven examples of companies that offer wellness programs for older employees and retirees are included in this document.) (MN)