Alzheimer's Association partners with businesses to ease employees' stress

There are 3 billion reasons why California industry should care about the fast-approaching Alzheimer's epidemic, a progressive and fatal memorystealing disease.

Three billion dollars is the corporate cost in revenues lost to absenteeism, reduced productivity and morale, employee retraining and caregiver stress. Many mature workers, women especially, belong to the "sandwich" generation of caretakers, responsible not only for dependent children still at home but increasingly responsible for their own parents' welfare as well.

Every 71 seconds there is a new diagnosis of Alzheimer's in the U.S.

"If I were to tell you that your chance of winning the lottery was one in seven, I'd venture to bet you'd buy a ticket," said Loretta Redd, executive director of the Central Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. "Unfortunately, those are the same odds as getting Alzheimer's disease. One in seven (adults) by age 65, and one in two by age 85."

Whereas the number of early onset cases is roughly half a million, the reality of providing 24hour care and supervision to aging parents is becoming a burden to both employers and workers alike.

The Central Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association recognizes this challenge and created "In Good Company," a corporate commitment to help support the programs and services of the chapter.

The local chapter includes offices in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria.

"Throughout the tri-county service area, businesses come together to generate awareness and funding for the crushing impact of Alzheimer's on both families and the workplace," Redd said. "With training of human resource personnel or direct services to employees, plans for caretaking and preparation for the long, stressful journey ahead can help reduce the stress and absenteeism of company employees."

Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. Scientists believe it is a disease involving proteins in the brain which either break down and clump together forming 'plaque' or create strands, called "tangles," within the brain cell body. Both conditions result in the breakdown of the transmission lines and begin in the part of the brain responsible for holding shortterm memories.

Redd said she sees more companies being attracted to the In Good Company model of mutual benefit. "The impact on the workplace may not be felt in the form of a young employee developing the disease, but obligations to the care of their parents will certainly impact performance and attendance at their jobs."