Strategies to Address an Aging Workforce

Case Management Focus

The United States of America is in a disruptive and uncertain state. As a result, many people are deciding to work longer, and many retirees consider returning to work as they realize they need additional income.  

According to the US Census, employees over 55 comprise 23.4% of the workforce, a number that is expected to grow in the coming years.  

This could be good for employers who are looking for workers to fill open positions. Yet, data shows that older workers often bring with them pre-existing illness, injury, and other health issues. Many times, those conditions must be treated alongside the work injury, adding to the cost of the claim and impacting recovery and the ability of the injured worker to return to work.  

As with the group health side of healthcare, costs are being driven up by medical/technological advances, the costs of drugs, and uncoordinated care. In workers' compensation, coverage for attendant care and transportation are covered services that drive up costs.  

So, how can employers address an aging workforce and prevent escalating claims costs? Here are some strategies that nurse case managers can suggest employers consider.  

• Hiring Occupational Health Nurses to create programs that look at employee total health 

• Start programs that address wellness and prevention 

• Offer programs that can encourage employees to lower risk factors: weight loss programs, smoking cessation programs, and how to manage chronic medical conditions to reduce exacerbations and setbacks.  

• Help people learn how to manage risk factors that lead to chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, chronic pain, arthritis, and overuse of alcohol/substance abuse are all important in lowering costs.  

• Combine safety programs with ergonomics and wellness programs to address the needs of older employees to prevent workplace injuries. 

These strategies are part of a paradigm shift to move the United States from a sick healthcare system to systems focusing on wellness and prevention. Nurse case managers can lead these programs as this is a skill set that we all have. Get involved – use your expertise to help make changes that benefit all workers.   

Question: have you worked in a setting where employers are implementing programs to meet the needs of the aging workforce? If so, I would love to talk with you and share your outcomes in a future post. Please reach out to me at allewellyn48@gmail.com  

Resources:  

Here are some resources you should check into on this topic.  

Aging Boomers Solve a Labor Market Puzzle https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/06/why-did-labor-force-participation-rate-decline-when-economy-was-good.html#:~:text=Labor%20Force%20Participation%20by%20Age&text=Ages%2016%20to%2019%3A%2037.7,%3A%205.7%25%20to%207.2%25. 

The Impact of the Labor Shortage and an Aging Workforce: https://carrierchronicles.com/the-impact-of-the-labor-shortage-and-an-aging-workforce 

Are Retirees Quietly Rejoining the Workforce? https://www.paychex.com/articles/human-resources/retirees-rejoining-the-workforce  

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