Ohio Department of Aging Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 6, 2009

Deadline Nears for Elder Caregiver Awards Nominations
Ohioans Encouraged to Nominate Loved Ones, Neighbors Who Care

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Department of Aging will accept nominations for its annual Elder Caregiver Awards through Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2009. The Elder Caregiver Award honors Ohioans of any age who provide much-needed care to a loved one who is aging or who has a disability. Individuals and organizations interested in nominating a neighbor, colleague, family member or friend may submit a nomination online or download a nomination form at www.aging.ohio.gov/news/nominations/. Those chosen will receive the award in the spring.

"Caregivers have many faces. A caregiver could be a wife helping her husband through a temporary illness or injury, a son trying to keep his mother comfortable while she nears the end of her life, a good Samaritan who dutifully helps a friend with errands and chores, an aging parent 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 Caregiver 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 around 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. Those selected will be invited, along with friends and family, to an awards ceremony in Columbus in the spring.

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.

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.