|
|
|
Eldercare Innovators Win Top Awards
|
Family caregivers provide society's sick and elderly with voluntary service valued at $306 billion per year. Who are these champions of caregiving?
Currently, there are over 44.4 million family caregivers in the United States. Nearly 60% of caregivers work and nearly 40% of caregivers have children
under the age of 18.
Managing the competing priorities of work and family, in addition to the caregiving responsibility, is stressful, costly, and draining,
and can exact a heavy toll, resulting in caregiver stress, burnout, and other health problems.
The National Family Caregiving Awards (2008), a cooperative effort of the National Alliance for Caregiving and the MetLife Foundation recognized
community-based programs that support family caregivers who provide assistance to older adults.
The programs were recognized for their innovativeness, effectiveness, and responsiveness to caregiver needs in the communities where they operate.
A special seed grant also was awarded to one program meeting the needs of older persons caring for adult children with disabilities.
This year’s 2008 award winners include these national innovators.
Asian Community Center of Sacramento, CA for the Drop-In Respite and Caregiver Cooperative, in which caregiver-volunteers
“earn and buy” respite time with other Co-op members.
Center for Intergenerational Learning, Temple University in Philadelphia, PA for its Time Out Program, which mobilizes college students to
provide in-home respite services to caregiving families.
Alzheimer’s Association-Gulf Coast Chapter in Pinnellas Park, FL for Memory Mobile, the only mobile Alzheimer’s caregiver service
delivery vehicle in the country targeting isolated, rural families.
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link in Southfield, MI for Caregiver’s Guide for Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant, developed
to educate loved ones about their vital role as caregivers.
CancerCare in New York, NY for Online Caregiver Support Groups, which provides virtual 24/7 access to support and information for people
across the country caring for a loved one with cancer.
Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. of Sullivan, IL for Old Order Amish Caregiver Program, which provides support with emphasis
on overcoming obstacles that have kept the Amish from seeking help outside their faith.
“Family members provide much of the day-to-day care needed by older adults who are frail, impaired, or in poor health, as well as
adult children with disabilities,” said Sibyl Jacobson, MetLife Foundation.
Representatives of the Leadership Award agencies appear in the photo above.
From left to right, the names and affiliations are:
Richard Hara, Director of Online Services, CancerCare, New York, NY (sitting)
Kathy Cameron, Consultant, National Alliance for Caregiving, Bethesda, MD (standing)
Kim Adamson, Caregiver Advisor, Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Sullivan, IL
Doris Green, Lifespan, Rochester, NY, Honorable Mention Award Winner (standing)
Jean Jones, Director, National Bone Marrow Transplant Link, Southfield, MI (sitting)
Charles Albrecht, Senior Vice President, Alzheimer’s Association-FL Gulf Coast Chapter, Pinellas Park, FL (standing)
Susan Smith, Director, Time Out Respite Program, Center for Intergenerational Learning, Temple Univ., Philadelphia, PA (sitting)
John Kramer, Research Assistant, RRTC on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, Univ. if IL at Chicago, Chicago, IL (seed grant winner) (standing)
Doreene Hess, Center Manager, Asian Community Center, Sacramento, CA (sitting)
Gail Hunt, President & CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving, Bethesda, MD (standing)
Vicki Schmall, President, Aging Concerns, West Linn, OR and member of the Advisory Committee (sitting)
Content Source: MetLife Foundation.
Image Credit: National Alliance for Caregiving, Washington DC.
National Alliance for Caregiving (www.caregiving.org)is a non-profit working to raise public awareness of family caregiving issues.
MetLife Foundation, established by MetLife (www.metlife.org), has a history of involvement in aging-related caregiving.
|
|
|
