Why Detection of Early Alzheimers Disease Matters To Employers and Employees

What is Early Alzheimers Disease?

Early Alzheimers (known more fully as Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease) refers to a person showing signs of the disease before the age of 65. It is not considered rare but it is an uncommon occurrence of the disease when it strikes before the age of 65. In fact, only 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed are younger than 65 years old. Alzheimer's Association of the United States defines Alzheimer's Disease as: "ultimately fatal, disorder in which certain types of nerve cells in particular areas of the brain degenerate and die for unknown reasons."

Do you know of someone in their 50's sacked by their employer?

Imagine that you were a manager for an employer and you have just found out that an employee you fired six months ago for non-performance on the job has only now been diagnosed with Early Alzheimers Disease. The impact on the former employee and his family will be disastrous and your conscience painful because you were not aware.

In the United States it is estimated that there are 500,000 people below the age of 65 with Early Alzheimers Disease and other types of dementia. This impacts not only the person suffering from the disease, but also the direct carers and other family members. Review the10 warning signs of Dementia

Many of these people will still be working, possibly married with children still at school, college or university. Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease, or other dementia diseases, will be a family, financial and relationship disaster to them.

What is the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA)?

If you are a manager with an employee in their 50's whose performance has fallen below your acceptable benchmarks, you normally would counsel them to see why their performance has fallen. This is normal good business practice. However, The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) for the United States requires larger employers to provide employees job-protected unpaid leave due to a serious health condition which can extend to include care for family members.

Top 10 Reasons Why Detection of Early Alzheimers Matters To Employers and Employees

1. Most employers, if they knew their previously reliable employee was suffering from Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease, could possibly give them a smaller workload while still allowing them to work and rearrange their finances accordingly.
2. Most employers would be willing to work with the employee that was diagnosed because this allows them to work together to get the employee's employment issues sorted out for when the employee can no longer work. This would include getting professional advice and obtaining a copy of the Alzheimer's Association's Money Matters from their local Alzheimer's Association office.
3. It allows the employer and employee diagnosed with Early Onset of Alzheimer's disease to explore the possibility of early retirement, which of course depends on the employer and what type of work the employee is involved in.
4. If the employee is involved in equipment operations or other areas where it could be dangerous, an employer that knows of the Early Alzheimers diagnosis could take steps to keep the employee and others safe.
5. It allows the employer and employee together to begin making the necessary arrangements for when the time comes that he or she is no longer able to work including reduced hours of work.
6. If an employer knew of the Early Alzheimers diagnosis, they certainly would not fire the employee, because firstly, it may be illegal and secondly they may be able to keep an excellent employee by modifying their duties to better suit their capability.
7. The employer could help family members of the employee find professional help with various insurance policies and other financial obligations that will become necessary.
8. The employer can also help arrange for the second opinion from his insurance company's medical representatives which will likely be required to ensure it truly is Early Onset Alzheimer's disease because an accurate diagnosis is critical at this stage.
9. Many people at the age of 50 are in the prime of their careers and to suddenly be stricken with the early onset is frightening and terrifying for both the person with the disease and their family members. Hiding the diagnosis from your employer is never a good idea, because they may mistake your illness as slacking off on the job, when nothing could be further from the truth.
10. A person should not fear telling their employer of the diagnosis because under the law, they cannot just fire the person, but accommodations can be made in order to lessen the load of the employee so he or she may continue working.

What is Alzheimer's Early Detection Alliance?

The Alzheimer's Association of the United States formed the Alzheimer's Early Detection Alliance to help promote awareness of Alzheimer's disease. Their goal is to educate everyone about the warning signs of Alzheimer's, the importance of early detection, and the resources available to help them. Further information can be obtained from Alzheimer's Early Detection Alliance.

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