Wellness Programs : Wellness Programs - Smoking Cessation.

Medical research has long shown quitting smoking at any age can improve a person’s health.

But a Duke Univ. shows that the group you could think would be the least likely to quit - people  over the age of 50 - might actually have the best odds for quitting through a tobacco use cessation program.

Scientists tracked 573 older patients over 10 years. They found that just 16% of those who joined the tobacco use cessation program later returned to tobacco use.  Meanwhile, previous research has found young smokers who try to quit have a 35% to 45% relapse rate within two years.

Bottom line -   Given the aging staff member population and the cost of retiree healthcare, you may want to keep trying with use of tobacco cessation education for your older workers.