When Alzheimer's Strikes
Monday, November 17 2008
IT'S A GROWING CONCERN FOR BUSINESSES, EXPERTS SAY, WITH WORKFORCES AGING BUT ALSO PEOPLE BEING AFFLICTED EARLY. EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HOW EMPLOYERS CAN HELP AFFECTED WORKERS STAY PRODUCTIVE AND ON THE JOB.
Karen Zimmerman, 52, had always tak- en pride in her career as an event and con- vention planner, first in the hotel industry and later for a labor union in Washington. She worked long hours in demanding situa- tions, but, she says, "It was very busy but enjoyable."
In 2007, though, she began to feel a bit anxious. "My supervisor started to treat me differently, but I didn't know why thai was," she says. "She tried to blame me for things." Because the supervisor had prickly relations with other employees, Zimmerman tried not to take it personally.
"But it got worse," she says. "I also had forgctfulness. I attributed it to menopause."
Her biggest fear was that she would be fired. "I was scared," she says. "I didn't know why it was happening."
