As Regional HIM Director for a ten-facility healthcare organization, you have been working with your facility HIM managers to address the current problem of recruiting and retaining employees in the HIM departments across the organization. Upon doing some research, you have learned that the number of younger workers in the labor force is anticipated to decline while the availability of workers 55 and older is anticipated to increase. You have had a significant number of older workers in your departments, however, department statistics reveal that 50% of those workers left the organization over the past couple of years. The exit surveys of those workers revealed dissatisfaction with their jobs and/or the organization and retirement as the top reasons for leaving. After discussions with the Human Resources Department, you have determined that recruitment efforts should focus on the recruitment of older workers. Based on the significant number of older workers who have resigned in recent years and comments made in the exit surveys, you have also determined that hiring older workers is just half the battle! You must have a plan for addressing the needs of, and creating a culture of inclusion for, a population of older workers to retain them. You and your facility HIM Managers worked together to develop a plan for creating a culture of inclusion and retaining older workers.

1. Explain the problem being addressed and why it is important to address it.
2. Explain at least two barriers to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
3. Explain the plan. The plan should address the following:
   1. At least one workspace environmental or ergonomic factor to be addressed to meet older workforce needs
   2. Twoprograms/activities the department could put into place to create a positive, inclusive environment for older workers.
   3. One method that could be offered to the department's older workers to phase in retirement.
4. For eachsuggestion included in the plan, explain how the action can help to include and retain older workers.