With dementia on the rise, employers can combat stigma with care

CAREGIVING: When Barbara Huelat, FASID, AAHID, EDAC found herself as a caregiver to her husband as he struggled with dementia, a supportive workplace was a lifesaver on the hardest of days.?

"I had a caregiver for my husband when I went to the office, but one day they showed up drunk," she says. "What are you going to do? I brought my husband with me into the office and found things for him to do."?

Huelat, an author and designer of healthcare spaces, says stigma around dementia makes support and resources a challenge for caregivers, who are already struggling with the emotional toll these conditions have on their family members. Today, it's estimated that nearly 14% of people over the age of 71 have dementia, and almost 10% have Alzheimer's disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. She shares how employers can work to combat stigma and provide better support to caregivers and individuals alike:

Read: As the workforce ages, now is the time to normalize dementia care

RECRUITING: According to a survey by hiring software company Greenhouse , over one-third of U.S.-based candidates have ghosted employers during the hiring process because the company did not meet expectations or they had a poor interview experience. Additionally, over one-third of candidates have experienced discriminatory interview questions, most commonly around their age, race and gender.?

While every company will have unique challenges when it comes to its hiring process, those challenges are all likely rooted in poor communication. Ariana S. Moon , head of talent planning and acquisition at Greenhouse, shares her top tips for tweaking the interview process to attract and hire the best talent for the job: ??

Read: Job candidates are still ghosting employers — and the interview process is to blame

RETIREMENT: According to recent research by Buck , just 27% of employees feel confident they can cover their expenses in retirement, while 19% have no idea if they'll have enough saved. Buck found that almost 45% believe they need $1 million dollars in retirement — a lofty goal, considering the average retirement account balance is $65,000, according to the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, 50% of women and 47% of men between 55-66-years old have no retirement savings at all .?

"Folks in the U.S. are a little bit confused and probably a bit delusional about what's going to happen in retirement," says Tonya Manning , wealth practice leader and chief wealth actuary at Buck. "People want to have a retirement plan and they want to retire with dignity and with a lifestyle that's comparative to what they had when they were working. But the way they want to get it is not supported by our retirement system right now."?Can it be fixed? Experts from Buck weigh in:

Read: 25 is the new 55': How to jump-start employees' retirement savings early in their careers