Do you know a family caregiver that deserves some accolades and could use $10,000?

Who is the Family Caregiver?

Many families and individuals are caregivers to a loved-one who is afflicted with an illness, injury - or most commonly - an elder. These caregivers can be the daughters, sons, parents, spouse, siblings, other relatives, or even a friend of the person in need of assistance. They frequently make great personal sacrifices to provide care for their loved ones, sometimes to the detriment of their own health and well being. Often, the family caregivers are the ones relied upon to provide care when they are at home. In fact, according to the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA), the service provided by family caregivers represents 80% of all home care services. Due to the humility of many of these dedicated individuals, the everyday efforts of family caregivers are sometimes unrecognized and under-appreciated.

Homewatch CareGivers, the largest, most experienced international provider of full-service in-home care, is honored to recognize the care, compassion, and sacrifice of these family caregivers at both the local and national level.

Local winners from the Upstate are awarded a scholarship to Homewatch CareGivers University and a day off while their local Homewatch CareGivers provides eight hours of respite care at no charge. Local winners qualify for the National Grand Prize of $10,000.

The National Family Caregiver of the Year Award nomination entries will be judged based on the magnitude of care and support provided to an individual, personal obstacles that were overcome in order to provide this care, health care industry obstacles faced on behalf of the individual receiving care, and the impact this care ultimately had on the individual.

Every National Family Caregiver of the Year Award nomination must be submitted by a third party Nominator. We recommend you attach a nomination letter with the application of 500 words or fewer.

We must be able to verify the individual for which the nominee provided care. The nominee must have provided care for this individual within the 12 months prior to July 29, 2011.

Homewatch CareGivers will provide a donation of $5 to National Family Caregiver Association (not to exceed $5,000) for every valid, complete, unique nomination submitted via the web nomination form. Completed paper applications are not eligible for a donation. Homewatch CareGivers has the right to decide the validity and completeness of the application on a case by case basis.

Visit http://www.homewatchcaregivers.com/family-caregiver-award.aspx to nominate someone today!