PREVENTION OF DISABILITY-INDUCED RETIREMENT

THIS RESEARCH IS DESIGNED TO TEST WHETHER EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PROGRESSIVE AND/OR RECURRING IMPAIRMENT TO PROVIDE SECONDARY PREVENTION TO DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUBSEQUENT OCCUPATIONAL DISABILITY WILL POSTPONE OR AVOIDDISABILITY-INDUCED RETIREMENT. WHILE THERE IS NOT YET AN ESTABLISHED FUNDING SOURCE TO UNDERWRITE SECONDARY PREVENTION OF PROGRESSIVE OCCUPATIONAL DISABILITY, POTENTIAL FUNDING MECHANISMS APPEAR TO BE INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE. IF A PREVENTION MECHANISM CAN PROVIDE DEMONSTRABLE RESULTS WITH A POPULATION THAT IS AT RISK OF PROGRESSIVE OCCUPATIONAL DISABILITY THAT WILL REQUIRE A SUBSTANTIAL EXPENDITURE FOR REHABILITATION, IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT FUNDING WILL BE UNDERTAKEN BY EMPLOYERS AND/OR INSURANCE CARRIERS. PREVENTION OF DISABILITY IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE OLDER WORKER. CONTINUATION OF A CAREER IN OLD AGE ENABLES THE WORKER TO MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE THROUGH THE REDUCTION OFECONOMIC DEPENDENCY. THE NEED FOR INDEPENDENCE CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE LIFE SPAN AND IS A SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTOR TOTHE MAINTENANCE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.