Addressing dementia in the workplace: Advice for employers

We are living longer, and as a result, working longer. Along with this comes the greater likelihood that cognitive decline will show up in the workplace. Despite this, many employers aren’t ready to address cognitive impairment and dementia.

America’s aging workforce

America’s workforce is aging—greater numbers of employees are working longer and delaying retirement. While older workers bring valuable knowledge and experience, they are also at higher risk for experiencing cognitive decline, including dementia.

Many employers are not equipped to recognize when an employee is experiencing cognitive decline, how to address related performance concerns, or what to do with an employee’s dementia diagnosis.

Issues arising from dementia at work

Employees who develop dementia while they are still actively working raise a number of concerns for employers. Lapses in memory may lead to a decrease in the quality of work, behavioral changes could affect coworker or client relationships, and at the most extreme, the employee’s cognitive decline could lead to disclosures of confidential information.

The workplace may also be a likely environment for an individual’s early dementia symptoms to be spotted. The employee may begin to have cognitive issues that aren’t noticed at home but which may be evident in missed tasks or deadlines, difficulty multitasking, or problems following instructions or making decisions.

Addressing performance concerns