2006 Family Caregiving Awards honor non-profits that have made a difference

November 9, 2006—Washington, D.C.— Representatives from leading non-profit organizations convened in November in Washington, D.C. to honor the 2006 winners of the Family Caregiving Awards, sponsored by the National Alliance for Caregiving, a Washington, DC-based coalition of national organizations, with support from MetLife Foundation.

The event recognizes outstanding community agencies that support family caregivers providing assistance to older adults.

Nearly 170 non-profit agencies competed for six national 2006 Family Caregiving Awards, which included categories for caregiver support, caregiver education, and technology.

These agencies help family caregivers by providing support, education and other resources in the ongoing effort to assist vulnerable older adults to remain either in their own homes, or with family, as research shows that vast majority of Americans prefer to remain in their own homes as they age.

“We were thrilled to learn about so many fine programs around the country that have found innovative and effective ways of supporting the efforts of the family caregivers,” said Gail Gibson Hunt, President & CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving.

“There are thousands of nonprofit agencies across the United States that provide these sorts of services, and we hope that other non-profits will be inspired by these programs, by seeing the possibilities and taking on the challenge of improving the level of support to caregivers.”

This year’s award winners included:

• Eldercare Partners in West St. Paul, Minnesota was recognized in the category of Caregiver Support, for Eldercare Partners’ caregiver services. This coalition of service agencies in Minnesota provides individual coaching and counseling for families.

• Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. in Big Stone Gap, Virginia was recognized in the category of Caregiver Support, for Family Support Services. This single agency in Appalachia has pulled together an extensive array of services for their broadly dispersed clients.

• Wisconsin Alliance for Family Caregiving in Madison, Wisconsin was recognized in the category of Caregiver Education, for strengthening the delivery of family caregiver education through partnership. This statewide network of 75 organizations in Wisconsin works toward a common goal of supporting caregivers.

• The Stroke of Hope Club, Inc. in North Palm Beach, Florida was recognized in the category of Caregiver Education, for its caregiver manual. This all-volunteer organization in lorida is committed to enhancing the lives of stroke “victors” and their caregivers.

• The Family Caregiver Alliance, in San Francisco, California was recognized in the category of Technology, for its support of caregivers through the use of the latest technology.