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Pledge to Support Your Employees With Dementia On World Alzheimers Day

7 min read
Last Updated on 16 August, 2022

Every year, World Alzheimer's Day is celebrated on the 21st of September as part of World Alzheimer's Month. Through this day, awareness is raised about Alzheimer's disease. It outlines the issues faced by people suffering from dementia and offers treatment options. This year's World Alzheimer's Day theme is "Know dementia, Know Alzheimer's".

Alzheimer’s Disease is an irreversible, progressive condition of the brain that causes memory loss, weakens thinking skills, and eventually impairs one's ability to complete basic tasks. It is a common type of dementia. Dementia is a collection of diseases for neurological disorders that affect memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a growing health epidemic and as it impacts the memory of an individual, it is posing devastating challenges to workplace wellness.

The Magnitude of the Problem

WHO estimates that around 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia. Every year there are nearly 10 million new cases of dementia. These numbers highlight the grim scenario of Alzheimer's in our society.

Infact, every 66 seconds, an American develops Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. That number will increase to 33 seconds by 2050.

magnitude-of-dimentia

When we talk about workplaces, the numbers are even more precarious. Alzheimer's disease costs American businesses $61 billion annually. An additional $36.5 billion is lost as a result of other costs, such as lost productivity among employees.

The problem of Alzheimer's is growing exponentially not only among the elderly but also among the younger workforce due to work pressure, burnout, and stress. Dementia is not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19. However, Covid-19 risk may be increased by dementia-related behaviors. For example. a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease may forget to wash their hands, which increases their risk of contracting COVID-19.

Impact Of Alzheimer’s Disease On the Workplace

Those living with dementia are portrayed as dependent, and ineffective, thus limiting their lives. Consequently, they are unable to work or engage in meaningful activities. The quality of life of people with dementia is negatively impacted, as is their economic and social engagement.

alzheimer-s-and-impact-on-workplace

As dementia poses major challenges for workplace wellness, awareness of dementia as a workplace issue is growing internationally. Initially, there are several signs that may assist the management in identifying employees suffering from dementia-related symptoms. It may be a sign of dementia when, for example, an employee's comprehension of tasks has slowed down or he continues to take longer than expected to perform tasks.

Some of the major effects of Alzheimer's disease in the workplace are-

  • Employees face difficulty in focusing on the tasks assigned to them. Due to this lack of attention to detail, they struggle to perform to the best of their abilities and struggle in finishing tasks.

  • Employees with Alzheimer's disease tend to be forgetful. Now, this can have a serious consequence on the workplace dynamics where it is all about meeting deadlines to achieve the business goals.

  • Employees suffering from dementia are also likely to struggle to maintain healthy communication with their co-workers.

  • Since employees with dementia tend to process things slower, they are more likely to fall behind in a competitive work environment like the workplace.

  • Many employees who suffer from Alzheimer's have reported facing workplace discrimination from their co-workers.

It is important to identify such employees and provide them with the necessary medical and professional support. Employers must come up with proper health policies to support employees living with dementia.

Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Since 2000, deaths from heart disease have decreased by 14% and from Alzheimer's disease the figures have risen by 89%. Thus it must be considered seriously to prevent the workplace from slipping into a state of crisis.

Symptoms-of-alzheimer-s

The common symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease are-

  • Experiencing memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion.
  • Having difficulty understanding, expressing, or reading.
  • Getting lost in a familiar neighborhood.
  • Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills
  • Repeating questions.
  • Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects.
  • Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks.
  • Loss of interest in normal daily activities.
  • Hallucinating or experiencing delusions or paranoia.
  • Acting impulsively.
  • Not caring about other people’s feelings.
  • Losing balance and problems with movement.

Treatment

There is no cure currently for Alzheimer's. People with Alzheimer's disease can, however, find treatments that can slow the progression of symptoms and improve their quality of life.

A key part of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease is describing your symptoms, as well as sharing your perspective to a close family member or friend as to how those symptoms are affecting daily life. Based on tests conducted by the doctor, a wellness assessment is done to assess memory and thinking skills.

Treatment mainly focuses on:

  • Behavioral symptoms.
  • Delaying symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Helping people maintain mental health.

Some of the important testing procedures for standard Alzheimer's treatment are-

1. Neurological Exam

The doctor will perform a physical exam and likely assess overall neurological health by testing the following:

  • Reflexes
  • Muscle tone and strength
  • To get up from a chair and walk across the hall
  • Sense of sight and hearing
  • Coordination
  • Balance
  • Psychological Testing

To assess memory and other cognitive abilities, the doctor may perform a brief mental status test. Neuropsychological testing of a longer duration may reveal additional details about mental functioning compared with people of a similar age and education level. Diagnosed with these tests, the progression of symptoms can be tracked in the future.

2. Brain Imaging

Images of the brain are used chiefly to pinpoint visible abnormalities in the brain. Other related conditions other than Alzheimer's disease such as strokes, trauma, or tumors, may also cause cognitive changes in the brain. New imaging applications currently used primarily in major medical centers may enable doctors to detect specific brain changes caused by Alzheimer's.

treatment-of-alzheimer-s

Imaging of brain structures includes the following:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

It is a technique that uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of the brain. While they may show brain shrinkage and confirm Alzheimer's disease, MRI scans also rule out other conditions. When evaluating dementia, MRIs are generally preferred over CT scans.

Computerized Tomography (CT)

A CT scan is a specialized X-ray method that creates cross-sectional images of the brain. It is usually used to rule out tumors, strokes, and head injuries.

3. Blood Tests

Doctors can now order a blood test to measure beta-amyloid levels, a protein that accumulates abnormally in Alzheimer's patients. The development of several more blood tests is underway. These diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's, however, are still not readily available.

In modern treatment procedures, genetic testing generally isn't recommended for a routine Alzheimer's disease evaluation. However, people who have a family history of Alzheimer's disease are an exception. Meeting with a health counselor to discuss the risks and benefits of genetic testing is recommended before undergoing any tests.

Foods That Boost Brain Health

Since dementia attacks the normal functioning of the brain, grabbing such food which enhances brain health can help to minimize the health risks associated with it. The food a person consumes may play a role in preventing Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

food-that-boost-brain-health

Five foods that can boost brain health are:

1. Walnuts

Walnuts contain both protein and healthy fats, which can improve memory. Omega-3 fatty acids in them can protect arteries and lower blood pressure.

2. Fish

Omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fats that lower beta-amyloid levels in the blood, are abundant in fish. Consuming salmon, cod, or canned light tuna twice a week is beneficial.

3. Broccoli

Broccoli is a good source of vitamin K. It can enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower. Glucosinolates present in them, can play an essential role in maintaining a healthy central nervous system. Low levels of acetylcholine are associated with Alzheimer's disease.

4. Avocados

Avocados are rich in omega fatty acids and vitamin E. Various studies have found that vitamin E can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

5. Whole Grains

Whole grains are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, complex carbohydrates, and vitamin B, which are beneficial for brain health.

What Can Employers Do?

Offering support and flexibility to the affected employees can help them juggle work and personal responsibilities in a smooth manner. It will improve their productivity, reduce absenteeism figures and help in building greater trust and brand image of the company.

what-can-employers-do

Some of the basic checklists for employers to support the employees suffering from dementia are-

  • Educate the workforce on early identification
  • Increase awareness and promote communications through print or digital resources, internet posts, videos, and emails.
  • Create an open-door policy with no office politics. Make sure that the employees have HR and their supervisors available to discuss the personal needs from available resources.
  • Educate the workforce on early identification
  • To curb the stigmas related to dementia, ageism, and mental illness
  • Encourage participation in corporate, community, and philanthropic activities
  • Incorporate Employee Insurance programs
  • Provide a flexible work regime.
  • Respecting the confidentiality of the medical records.

Conclusion

The recognition that people living with Alzheimer's have the capability and willingness to contribute to a functioning society is important. In summary, the priority should be to spread awareness about Alzheimer's disease and dementia on World Alzheimer's Day. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can help the person live a more quality life.

In the workplace, employers have a greater responsibility to identify vulnerable employees, provide support and raise awareness about the challenges posed by the disease.

This article is written by Nizamul Bhuyan, a Content Marketer at Vantage Circle. With a professional exprience of writing on various subject domains like Corporate Wellness and Sports, he prefers to watch football and explore new places to unwind. To get in touch, reach out to editor@vantagecircle.com

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