Young onset dementia: A guide for employers
Young onset dementia: A guide for employers
This advice for employers provides suggestions for handling common problems faced by employees with early dementia. It was excerpted from a guide created by the Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin. The full document is available at http://bit.ly/zb1GqP. The alliance also has documents on assistive technology and non-technological supports.
An employee with young onset dementia may become frustrated in his or her job.
What you can do:
Employers can address this understandable emotion in two ways. First, be aware of matching tasks with remaining abilities. Making use of the suggestions on this page will go a long way in alleviating frustration. Second, seek out a fellow employee who will "partner" with the person with dementia to provide an understanding ear and offer encouragement. In this way frustrating situations can be addressed before they interfere with work.
An employee with young onset dementia may begin to have problems with acquiring, storing and recalling information.
What you can do:
Employers can address this issue with the use of memory aids such as reminder notes, calendars, to do lists, and electronic memory aids such as electronic calendars to provide reminders to the worker, recording devices and other assistive technology.
The employee with young onset dementia may begin to have difficulty learning new things.
What you can do:
Provide simple written instructions for the worker and offer increased or additional instruction.
Use the employee's over-learned and over-remembered skills. Use the employee's long term memories-past experiences, habits and knowledge to aid functioning.
Routine and structure will also help the employee with young onset dementia function at their highest possible level.
The employee with young onset dementia may have difficulty paying attention.
What you can do:
Limit distractions. Try to limit noises and extraneous activity as much as possible to make it easier for the employee to focus on the task at hand. Ear plugs or headphones have been used by some employees with young onset dementia to help limit distractions.
Limiting or eliminating work space clutter will also help the employee maintain focus.
Choose tasks that fit the person's ability. They are more likely to gain and hold attention than those that are too complex or too simple.
Frequent stopping and starting of a task may be difficult for an employee with young onset dementia. Try to avoid interruptions as much as possible.
The employee with young onset dementia may have difficulty starting, maintaining or stopping a task.
What you can do:
Don't assume the worker is tired, lazy or uninterested.
Encourage and assist the employee. Verbal or visual cues may also be helpful to signal to begin or end a task.
An employee with dementia may have problems with organization, judgment or reasoning. They may find it difficult to organize their time, set goals and follow plans.
What you can do:
Help plan and organize daily activities. Consider a daily written schedule or check list for the employee.
Maintain a structured routine in the day to help the employee maintain function. Keeping the same basic schedule can lessen confusion and frustration.
This advice for employers provides suggestions for handling common problems faced by employees with early dementia. It was excerpted from a guide created by the Alzheimers & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin.Subscribe Now for Access
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