Part of running a business and employing people is knowing how the law affects your business. One major thing to keep in mind is that because of the Americans with Disabilities Act, you may be required to make reasonable concessions for someone with disabilities.
Elderly employees probably offer the biggest challenge in this regard. To use a somewhat silly example, you can’t go and fire an elderly employee just because they walk slower than your other employees. As long as the employee is capable of doing the essential parts of the job, you will be required to make certain concessions in order to keep them.
As another example, you can’t fire an employee simply because they don’t hear very well, even with a hearing aid. A reasonable concession you might be expected to make could be providing a phone with volume control for a phone rep who is hearing impaired.
Employing someone with disabilities can be a tricky business. Your best bet is to make extra sure you are being as fair as possible, and if you believe the person is truly incapable of doing the essential parts of the job, be sure to document everything!