Employers And Employees Are Being Hit Hard By Workforce Caring For People With Dementia

Carers UK and business forum ‘Employers for Carers’ has highlighted the challenges of staff having to care for people with dementia.

Over three million carers in the UK juggle work and care, many of whom are finding combining both work and supporting a loved one very challenging. According to a survey contained within the report, one in five people said they had to cut working hours and one in ten had to take a take on a less senior role, as a result.

From a business perspective, 90 per cent of businesses believed that dementia was an increasingly big issue for their organisation.

George McNamara Head of Policy & Public Affairs Alzheimer’s Society commented;

‘Dementia is a national challenge and businesses are not immune.  Workers are increasingly having to juggle their caring responsibilities for their parents and older relatives and employers must respond in order to retain staff and stay competitive.

Providing some basic information or flexible working can make all the difference, however, many workers who care for someone with dementia have nowhere to turn for support in the workplace.  This is bad for business with many having to reduce hours or give up work altogether.

The needs of carers of older people in the workplace have been overlooked.  Only those employers who fully understand and recognise the need to provide support and the benefits will succeed in the future.’