Nearly one in ten (8%) of UK companies have already encountered employees with dementia, new research has revealed.
The study from PMI Health Group, found that 90% of UK HR professionals believe dementia should represent a concern for business.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) agree with the Alzheimer's Society's recent calls for every company in the UK to have a dementia policy.
The research of 174 HR professionals across the UK also revealed that HR professionals are being increasingly affected by the issue.
Some 29% of employers said they have had to give staff time off to look after relatives with dementia and 69% said they now offer flexible working to employees who are caring for elderly relatives.
Eldercare is also becoming more of a priority for HR departments - 69% of HR professionals believed that employers have a responsibility to offer eldercare benefits to staff.
These include access to helplines and specialists who can advise on, and manage, the needs of elderly relatives.
Mike Blake, director at PMI Health Group "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.
"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 the condition or caring for someone with the condition."
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