Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Organizational Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Aging global workforce increases prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Young-Onset Dementia (YOD).
• Organizations face challenges balancing inclusivity and operational efficiency for employees with cognitive impairments.
• Traditional accommodations are often inadequate for evolving employee needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine empathetic practices, technology integration, and resilience strategies for supporting workers with cognitive disabilities.
• Investigate how organizations manage job demands and resources for employees with MCI and YOD.
• Identify factors contributing to inclusive and efficient workplaces for employees with cognitive impairments.

Main Methods:

• Multi-level comparative case study design in two Canadian organizations (public sector and healthcare).
• Conducted 97 semi-structured interviews exploring workplace culture, accommodations, managerial support, and technology.
• Utilized socio-technical systems framework and Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model.

Main Results:

• Effective accommodations integrate empathetic leadership, flexible management, and strategic technology deployment (digital and non-digital).
• Adaptive decision-making and iterative feedback loops enhance organizational resilience.
• A person-centered, adaptive approach aligned with workflows is crucial; technology alone is insufficient.

Conclusions:

• Empathetic, flexible workplaces are essential, with managerial and technological systems adapting to employees' cognitive needs.
• A conceptual model of "strain and resilience cycles" emphasizes continuous adaptation of structures and technology.
• Fostering inclusivity, reducing stigma, and leveraging technology appropriately improve employee well-being and operational efficiency.