Alzheimer's Association offers free education to workplaces/businesses

Submitted by the Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York

Alzheimer’s disease exacts an enormous economic toll – on individuals and families who exhaust their life savings providing and paying for care, and on state and federal governments that spend billions through Medicare, Medicaid and smaller programs to help pay for health and long-term care.

Those costs are widely recognized. What is less well known is the cost to American businesses – a cost that occurs even though Alzheimer’s is closely associated with advancing age and the vast majority of people with the disease are out of the workforce by the time it strikes.

But there are also other costs that impact the workplace: family caregiving – absenteeism, productivity losses and replacement costs – as workers struggle to balance the overwhelming responsibilities for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease with their obligations on the job and the business share of health and long-term care.

Some of those costs can be mitigated by education that helps caregivers understand how dementia is impacting their loved one, how to provide the best care and find resources to assist them in caregiving.

The Alzheimer’s Association Western New York offers free educational programs that cover a wide range of subjects and can be offered during the workday (i.e. “Lunch ‘n’ Learn” programs), to allow employees access to these vital caregiving tools in a convenient environment.

These classes cover the basics about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, communication, caregiving, legal and financial concerns, healthy living and more, and can be tailored to a time frame that is optimum for your workplace (30 or 60-minute sessions).

Among recent corporate participants was M&T Bank.

“M&T Bank caregiving resource group has been fortunate to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide interesting, informative and beneficial presentations to our employees,” said M&T Vice President Shirley Jaskier, a steering committee member of the bank’s caregiving resource group. “We received great feedback from our staff participants, and plan on having them back again for future presentations.”

To learn more or to schedule a learning opportunity at your workplace, contact Chelsea O’Hara in the WNY Chapter office at [email protected] or 716-626-0600, ext. 8972.

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia – by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

The local chapter provides programs, services and other resources for those living with dementia, their care partners, health care professionals and others across eight counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming.
Learn more by calling 716-626-0600 during traditional business hours, or 24/7 at 800-272-3900 or www.alz.org/WNY.