Winners Announced for 2009 Caregiving Legacy Awards

Three Extraordinary Programs Awarded $20,000 Each in National Competition

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) and The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards.

Awards of $20,000 each will be presented to three organizations to recognize extraordinary programs that address the needs of Alzheimer's caregivers. The winning programs qualified in one of three categories: creative expression; diverse/multicultural communities; and policy and advocacy. The programs will be honored at the American Society on Aging/National Council on Aging (ASA/NCOA) Conference in Chicago, March 2010.

The Caregiving Legacy Awards program was established through a grant to FCA's National Center on Caregiving (NCC) from The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation. A distinguished panel of judges determined the award recipients from a diverse group of applicants from all over the country. To see further details about the award winners click here.

The Award Recipients

Category: Creative Expression

Organization: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Program: Meet Me at MoMA

Meet Me at MoMA is the museum's free program for people with early to mid-stage Alzheimer's and related dementias, and their caregivers. Through the program MoMA offers interactive gallery tours, led by trained educators, to individuals once each month from September through June, and to groups from day care centers and assisted living facilities upon request year-round. MoMA also offers a multi-week series of art-making classes. The goal is to provide people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers with mutually beneficial opportunities for self expression, connection, and learning that enrich their lives.

Founded in 1929, MoMA is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern art. Visit the Museum's website here.

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Category: Diverse/Multicultural Communities

Organization: Banner Alzheimer's Institute

Program: Banner Alzheimer's Institute Native American Outreach Program

The Banner Alzheimer's Institute Native American Outreach Program was established to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among the 22 Arizona Native American tribal members and health care providers.The program's goals are to improve diagnosis and treatment and to assist caregivers with the daily challenges in caregiving. Scheduled outreach activities to tribes and an annual conference now in its 6th year have resulted in reaching over 1,500 family and professional caregivers.

Banner Alzheimer's Institute (BAI), a division of Banner Health, was established in 2006 with a threefold mission: To end Alzheimer's disease without losing a generation; to set a new standard of care for patients and families; and to forge a model of (biomedical) collaboration. Visit BAI's website here.

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Category: Policy & Advocacy

Organization: San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services

Program: 2020 Foresight: San Francisco's Strategy for Excellence in Dementia

Care and Alzheimer's/Dementia Summit

An innovative 11-year Strategic Plan with recommendations for dementia care excellence to policymakers, caregivers, care-receivers, service providers and the public was the accomplishment of an Alzheimer's/Dementia Expert Panel. Formed in November 2008, the panel was appointed by the Mayor of the City of San Francisco at the urging of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council. To kick off the Strategic Plan and engage the larger community, a day-long summit for family caregivers, providers, media and the public was held at the City Hall of San Francisco on July 8, 2009.

The San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) funds and coordinates services to older adults, adults with disabilities and their families to maximize self-sufficiency, safety, health, and independence so persons can remain living in the community as long as possible and maintain the highest quality of life. Visit the Department's website here.

About The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation

The mission of The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation is to invest in programs that promote education, tolerance, social services, healthcare and the arts. The Foundation builds on the ideals and pursuits of its founders, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert. In addition, The Foundation funds arts education and culture in Los Angeles, Jewish programs in Los Angeles, and universities in California. In the area of Alzheimer's disease, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation focuses its grant-making on the advancement of research by junior investigators in the United States and Israel and investments in Alzheimer's disease caregiving. Visit The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation website for more information.

About Family Caregiver Alliance

Established in 1977, Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) supports and assists caregivers through information, education, services, research and advocacy. Serving a diverse constituency, FCA programs support and sustain the important work of families and friends caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling health conditions. The National Center on Caregiving, established at FCA in 2001, works to advance the development of high quality, cost- effective policies and programs for caregivers in every state of the country. Visit FCA's website here or call (800) 445-8106 for more information.