The Aging WorkforceThe Aging Workforce

Jack Tiffany, PA-CJack Tiffany, PA-CIndustrial Medical AssociatesIndustrial Medical Associates

515-560-8660515-560-8660jacktiffany@verizon.netjacktiffany@verizon.net

© Jack Tiffany 2006© Jack Tiffany 2006

TermsTerms

““Older” worker: anyone at least 55 years of ageOlder” worker: anyone at least 55 years of age

““Baby Boomer”: anyone born between 1946 & 1964Baby Boomer”: anyone born between 1946 & 1964

Recent studies have shown that many Baby Boomers expect to continue Recent studies have shown that many Baby Boomers expect to continue working at least part-time as they move into what have traditionally been working at least part-time as they move into what have traditionally been

thought of as the “retirement years.”thought of as the “retirement years.”

Should employers be concerned?Should employers be concerned?

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2006-- More than one-third (34%) of all employers - and nearly half (46%) with 25,000 or more workers - agree that the aging workforce will have a significant impact on their company, yet more than three-quarters (79%) have not taken any steps to accommodate olderworkers, according to the 2005/2006 MetLife Employee Benefits Trend Study.

Is this a new trend?Is this a new trend?

““Retirement” by Norman Rockwell, circa 1950Retirement” by Norman Rockwell, circa 1950

From AARP Research Report From AARP Research Report The State of 50+ America, 2006The State of 50+ America, 2006

Are Baby Boomers different from previous generation?Are Baby Boomers different from previous generation?

Baby Boomers have different beliefs about workBaby Boomers have different beliefs about work

From From Living Longer, Working Longer: The Changing Landscape of the Aging Workforce – A Living Longer, Working Longer: The Changing Landscape of the Aging Workforce – A MetLife StudyMetLife Study

From AARP Survey From AARP Survey Staying Ahead of the Curve 2005Staying Ahead of the Curve 2005

But…But…

Yet…there is one major differenceYet…there is one major difference

Baby Boomers are more obese & they have more obesity Baby Boomers are more obese & they have more obesity related arthritisrelated arthritis

FromFrom Obesity and Arthritis Among Baby Boomers, Obesity and Arthritis Among Baby Boomers, American Journal of Public HealthAmerican Journal of Public Health, ,

September, 2005September, 2005

In an Arthritis Foundation-funded study, researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Harvard School of Medicine analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health Statistics to compare obesity trends of the "baby boomer" generation(born 1946-1965) as compared to that of the so-called "silent" generation (born 1926-1945). The results of this analysis was startling.

Between the ages of 35-44, between 28 percent and 32 percent of baby boomers were obese. At the same age, only 14 percent to 18 percent of the silent generation was obese. In addition, the percentage of obesity in baby boomers between ages 25 and 44 was nearly identical to that of the silent generation when they were 10 to 20 years older. Therefore, baby boomers are becoming more obese earlier than the previous generation and are living longer with the health effects of that obesity.

One hundred forty million person aged 20 and older are currently employed in the United States. Twenty-nine percent of them are obese, up from 20% a decade ago. With obesity comes an increased rate of work limitation, along with significantly increased rates of hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, and arthritis.

From Pfizer Facts Obesity in the United States Workforce, 2004http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/download/health/pubs_facts_obesity.pdf

58% of adults in NYS are overweight or obese. 58% of adults in NYS are overweight or obese.

From From CDC BRFSS, 2004CDC BRFSS, 2004

Add obesity toAdd obesity to

Natural effects of aging on our bodiesNatural effects of aging on our bodies

Loss of muscle mass (fewer & shorter muscle fibers) causes loss of Loss of muscle mass (fewer & shorter muscle fibers) causes loss of strength (large & small muscles), flexibility, & range of motion.strength (large & small muscles), flexibility, & range of motion.

Reduced visual capacity (acuity, depth perception, field of vision); 60 yo Reduced visual capacity (acuity, depth perception, field of vision); 60 yo requires 2-3 times more light than 20 yorequires 2-3 times more light than 20 yo

Slower mental processing of information – decreases reaction time; lessens Slower mental processing of information – decreases reaction time; lessens ability to utilize muscles effectively – decreases dexterity & coordinationability to utilize muscles effectively – decreases dexterity & coordination

From CNA Risk Control Document From CNA Risk Control Document The Aging Workforce: How will it Affect Your Business, 2006The Aging Workforce: How will it Affect Your Business, 2006

PlusPlus

Hearing LossHearing Loss

Hearing loss represents the third most prevalent health complaint in older Hearing loss represents the third most prevalent health complaint in older adults following arthritis and strokeadults following arthritis and strokeAge, excessive noise exposure, and treatment with ototoxic medications all Age, excessive noise exposure, and treatment with ototoxic medications all contribute to hearing losscontribute to hearing lossData indicate an alarming increase in the prevalence and incidence of Data indicate an alarming increase in the prevalence and incidence of hearing loss at earlier stages in life, especially among men in the 35-to-60 hearing loss at earlier stages in life, especially among men in the 35-to-60 age group age group Compromised auditory ability in speech communication and in sound Compromised auditory ability in speech communication and in sound localization and detection can pose a safety risk to affected individuals as localization and detection can pose a safety risk to affected individuals as well as to coworkerswell as to coworkers

From From Hearing health and care: The need for improved hearing loss prevention and hearing conservation practices, Hearing health and care: The need for improved hearing loss prevention and hearing conservation practices, Stephen A. Fausti, et al, Journal of Rehabilitation & Research, Volume 42, Stephen A. Fausti, et al, Journal of Rehabilitation & Research, Volume 42, Number 4, July/August 2005Number 4, July/August 2005

And employers will see a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses And employers will see a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses

& a higher incidence of injuries & MSDs& a higher incidence of injuries & MSDs

Employers should be concernedEmployers should be concerned

55-64 year olds accounted for 12.6% of workforce & 23% of workforce 55-64 year olds accounted for 12.6% of workforce & 23% of workforce fatalities in 1998fatalities in 199822.2% report activity limitation caused by chronic conditions22.2% report activity limitation caused by chronic conditionsHealth insurance costs 1.7-2.6 times higher than workers in 40sHealth insurance costs 1.7-2.6 times higher than workers in 40sAlthough injury rates are lower for older workers, when Although injury rates are lower for older workers, when injuries occur they are more severe & more costly to treat & compensateinjuries occur they are more severe & more costly to treat & compensateMedian number lost time days due to work injuries & illnesses was 10 Median number lost time days due to work injuries & illnesses was 10 days compared to 5 days for rest of workforce in 1998days compared to 5 days for rest of workforce in 1998Absenteeism & Absenteeism & presenteeismpresenteeism = lost & = lost & reduced productivityreduced productivity

From AARP Report From AARP Report Health & Safety Issues in an Aging WorkforceHealth & Safety Issues in an Aging Workforce , 2001, 2001

Employers will also face aEmployers will also face a shortageshortage of younger workersof younger workers

From AARP Research From AARP Research Report The State of 50+ America, 2006Report The State of 50+ America, 2006

ConsequentlyConsequently

Employers will need to retain and/or recruit older workersEmployers will need to retain and/or recruit older workers

So…what do employers do?So…what do employers do?

““Cavalry Charge” by Frederick Sackrider RemingtonCavalry Charge” by Frederick Sackrider Remington

Have an effective ergonomic program in place…Have an effective ergonomic program in place…

……to eliminate or reduce exposure to work-related risk factors & to eliminate or reduce exposure to work-related risk factors & to modify or moderate individual risk factorsto modify or moderate individual risk factors

which are unique to the older workerwhich are unique to the older worker

Sound familiar?Sound familiar?

Cartoon (financial planner talking to an old man) by Barbara Smaller in Cartoon (financial planner talking to an old man) by Barbara Smaller in The New YorkerThe New Yorker, , January 16, 2006January 16, 2006

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