Healthy Aging In The Workplace: 3 Ways To Consider

Cheryl Salinas Saturday, December 3, 2022 Content Leave a comment

Globally, while the US spends the most on its healthcare system, it still falls behind in its life expectancy ratings, highlights the latest trends of the DoFasting Healthy Aging Index.

UAB Kilo Grupe’s company DoFasting recorded Utah and Colorado as states as the healthiest for the elderly. West Virginia and Mississippi ranked last – 49 and 50 respectively – on this index evaluating population aging among the American states based on five core pillars.

We are currently underway in the UN’s Decade of Health Aging (2021 – 2030). More than a billion people are currently over the age of 60. A lot of these people are still working. Reasons range from inadequate pension to a desire to continue working.

However, workplaces are not adequately equipped to handle the aging population. What factors contribute to healthy aging along with ways workplaces can boost healthy aging for their employees?

Healthspan vs. lifespan: what’s the difference?

Lifespan is the duration for which we are alive. However, healthspan refers to the number of these years we are healthy, free from chronic disease and disabilities that come with old age.

During these relatively healthy years, most individuals spend their time growing up, getting educated, and working. The employed years generally place the most stress on individual healthspan. This is due to work stressors, family struggles, and possible development of health conditions along the way.

Events such as the recent global pandemic also affect the healthspan, which, in turn, directly affects the overall lifespan. While the average lifespan for Americans decreased in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic decreased this further by 3 years to 76.1 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

DoFasting’s report recognized that heavy criticism is placed on the US healthcare system for this. However, a significant reason is individual behavioral and socio-economic factors. Some of these factors included diet, exercise, smoking, and individual weight, among others.

To foster a healthier healthspan, individuals require time and resources to channel into their health. With increased workloads, financial burdens, and reduced time for themselves, individual health is taking a backseat. This means that currently, our healthspans are on the decline.

Do workplaces support healthy aging?

Approximately 1 in 5 adults over the age of 65 years are still a part of the American workforce.

With current trends showcasing an aging workforce, employers have much to benefit from extended lifespan. A high percentage of their employees will now have the valuable experience, a strong work ethic, and are also capable of training new recruits.

To facilitate this, employers have to cater to the health needs of this workforce.

According to the CDC, 6 in 10 American adults live with at least one chronic disease. A key aspect of this statistic is lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, obesity, minimal physical activity, and poor nutrition.

Kilo Grupes’s Digital Health Survey reported similar findings, where 1 in 3 of their respondents reported having issues with their health. Only 28.2% of respondents recorded being completely healthy.

A reason for this is health insurance within companies continues to cover only basic health needs. But, for the aging population to work more efficiently they need more comprehensive health coverage.

With a huge transition to remote work and online work, the aging population might face technological challenges, too. These contribute as possible stressors for a job they initially performed quite efficiently.

Mental health concerns also differ for the aging workforce. While the younger workforce is more vocal about their mental health needs, older employees are less likely to talk about them.

A Mental Health Index, by Total Brain, One Mind, and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, recorded employees ranging from 40 – 59 years having the highest increase in stress, anxiety, and feeling of negativity in 2021.

While employers can continue to reap the benefits of having seasoned employees among their aging workforce, a lot needs to be done to increase their healthspan.

How can workplaces improve healthy aging for their employees?

The younger workforce (people under 35 years) consider themselves to be healthy according to UAB Kilo Grupe’s Health Survey. They are also likely to consider other sources to take care of their health, such as digital tools and telehealth services.

However, older employees are less likely to opt for these resources, according to the Deloitte US healthcare consumers’ survey. Reasons can include the inability to adapt to evolving technology and the requirement to use smart devices to do so.

This is why companies should tailor the needs of older employees within work environments to boost healthy aging in workplaces.

1. Regular health check-ups and mental health counseling

Flexible work timings which can allow for required doctor visits. Companies might consider having in-house healthcare professionals, who can benefit more than their aging employees.

Studies have shown positive results when health strategies were developed within workplaces to support healthy aging. Having fitness resources such as a gym, or instructors shows the aging employees that their companies care for them.

Similar findings are noted for mental health interventions. Among the few studies available, focused interventions on mental health for aging employees showed promising results. Mental health is a highly stigmatized subject among older employees. Open discussions, especially with company-sponsored professionals, can help ease the mental health struggles they might be facing.

0. Evolving health and financial policies

According to the US Preventive Services Task Force, screening for breast cancer and colon cancer should begin at the age of 50. Company health policies should have these covered within their health insurance policies along with other screening procedures.

Additionally, health policies should consider some coverage for chronic conditions. These medical conditions need more attention through frequent doctor visits, and more time invested in improving their health.

Financial requirements also change for older employees. A survey by Bankrate recorded that 50% of Americans use their retirement savings to assist their adult children with loans and bills.

Discussing financial requirements and retirement policies should be a step taken by companies for their aging employees. Especially once an employee decides to forego their retirement.

0. Build inclusive frameworks for the aging workforce

The fact that employees’ age is inevitable. However, if they wish to continue working, companies should be able to help them in doing so. First step is to offer additional training and resources that would help them with using all the health and wellness tools, both online and offline.

It should also include eliminating unconscious bias employers might place on younger employees. Additionally, while companies are striving to cater to the evolving needs of more remote work culture, many employees continue to feel most comfortable within their current way of working – offering additional trainings might be valuable here, too.

Conclusion

Healthy aging should be community-driven. Having the infrastructure to allow communities to meet the evolving needs of the aging population is essential. This applies to workplaces since people spend most of their healthy years working.

Companies should take it upon themselves to start boosting their employee healthspan early for healthy aging within their workplaces.