Ohio Department of Aging Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2008

Department Seeks Nominations for Elder Caregiving Awards
Annual Honor Pays Tribute to Personal Dedication, Love and Sacrifice

Columbus, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Aging today issued a call for nominations for its Elder Caregiving Award. The honor recognizes outstanding individuals of any age who sacrifice their time and independence to provide much-needed care to an aging or disabled loved one.

Individuals and organizations interested in nominating a neighbor, colleague, family member or friend may download a nomination form or submit a nomination online by visiting www.aging.ohio.gov/news/nominations/. The department will accept nominations through September 15, 2008. Those chosen will receive the award in the spring.

"Caregiving has many faces in Ohio. A caregiver could be a husband helping his wife through a bad spell, a daughter helping her father deal with the ravages of dementia, a good Samaritan who dutifully helps a neighbor with errands and chores, aging parents caring for a son or daughter with a disability - there are many more examples" said Barbara E. Riley, director of the department. "By helping their loved ones delay or avoid nursing home placement and reduce their dependence on formal home health care, these informal caregivers save the state an estimated $10.4 billion each year."

To be eligible for the Elder Caregiving Award, either the caregiver or care recipient must be age 60 or older. One must also be a current resident of Ohio and caregiving for which they are nominated must not be job-related. The department will select honorees from all over the state to symbolically represent all Ohioans who give their time, their resources and themselves to improve the quality of life of those around them.

Nominations will be evaluated on the severity of the care recipient's condition, the degree of difficulty of care provided, any unique or innovative approaches to caregiving used by the nominee, any special circumstances or barriers the caregiver faces, how the nominee utilizes the resources and assistance available to him or her and the impact of care provided on the caregiver, the recipient and their respective families.

The department also is still accepting nominations for the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Visit our Hall of Fame information page for details.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov.