According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers ages 55 years and older make up 23.9 percent of the U.S. work force, and that number is likely to grow as more aging workers are delaying retirement, which is a challenge for employers.

With an older work force, employers face higher health care costs and disability claims, but employers can control this by implementing healthy aging programs, says Peter Saravis, CEO of Evive Health.

"Employers today have some kind of wellness program in place, but these programs will not achieve results if they are not engaging older adults to participate and to take responsibility for their health," Saravis says. "The key is to make sure the program addresses the needs of your most vulnerable populations, including older workers."