The study, from PMI Health Group, found that 90% believe dementia should represent a concern for business, and that nearly one in 10 (8%) UK companies have encountered employees with dementia.
“The number of people with dementia is expected to increase to one million by 2021 and an ageing workforce means employees may be affected as both sufferers and carers,” said Mike Blake, compliance director at PMI Health Group.
“It is heartening to see from our survey that employers are now considering the need to provide education on the condition and to support staff who are either suffering from dementia or caring for someone with the condition.”
The research revealed that 29% of HR professionals have had to give staff time off to look after relatives with dementia. More than two-thirds (69%) now offer flexible working for these employees.
Eldercare is also becoming more of a priority, with 69% of HR professionals feeling that employers have a responsibility to offer eldercare benefits to workers, including access to helplines and specialists.
The research comes as a new drug was announced that could potentially slow the pace of dementia's onset. Full details of studies into solanezumab are yet to be released, but if viable the drug could help tackle the economic burden of dementia.
Globally an estimated 44 million people suffer from dementia, placing an annual cost of £384 billion on the world's economy. The number of people with the condition is projected to rise to 135 million by 2050, unless a preventative measure or cure is found.
