2006 Family Caregiving Awards Honor Non-Profits That Have Made a Difference.

WASHINGTON -- Representatives from leading non-profit organizations convened today 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 recognized 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 the 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 non-profit 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.

* The University of Wisconsin-Extension 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 Florida 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. This is the nation's oldest caregiver organization, and uses technology in all of its efforts to get help to those in need.

* The Alzheimer's Association of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties based in Los Angeles, California was recognized in the category of Caregiver Education, for its Asian American Dementia Care Network. This southern California chapter of the nationally-recognized Alzheimer's Association targets and serves families of multiple Asian cultures. This organization was also honored with a special "MetLife Foundation Excellence in Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Award," for its commitment to improving the lives of those with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.

Non-profit honorees were awarded $25,000 to continue and enhance their support for caregivers. Applicants were asked to demonstrate how they are innovative, effective, replicable, based upon research and responsive to diverse populations. Applicants were then judged by a panel of experts, who selected six programs to be honored.

Two programs were also given honorable mention awards: the Mid-Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, located in Columbia, Missouri, a support group in Missouri for male caregivers of women with Alzheimer's disease, and Area Agency on Aging 1-B, in Southfield, Michigan, an overnight respite program that allows families to leave their loved ones in a secure and caring environment.

"Family members provide much of the day-to-day care needed by older adults who are frail, impaired or in poor health," said Sibyl Jacobson, president, MetLife Foundation. "We recognize these programs for the enormous contribution they make to family caregiving."

Family caregiving is the underpinning of the country's healthcare system, with the value of family caregiving to society estimated at $306 billion per yearComore than the value of home care and nursing care combined. Experts anticipate that family caregiving will continue to grow in the decades ahead. Currently, there are over 44.4 million 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.

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation has been involved in a variety of aging-related initiatives addressing issues of caregiving, intergenerational activities, mental fitness, health and wellness programs and civic involvement. More information about the Foundation is available at www.metlife.org. Additional information on MetLife and MetLife Foundation's commitment to Alzheimer's and other aging issues, including resources on caregiving, can be found on www.metlife.com, under "About Us." "MetLife & Alzheimer's Disease" is found under "Corporate Citizenship."

For more information on the competition and detailed profiles of the award winners, go to the website of the National Alliance for Caregiving, www.caregiving.org.