The Southern Maryland office of the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter is seeking nominations for the first annual Southern Maryland Inspiring Caregiver Awards. 

To be eligible, nominees must be family, volunteer, or professional caregivers who currently work or previously have worked directly with Alzheimer’s or dementia patients in Southern Maryland. For the purposes of this award, Southern Maryland is defined as: Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s Counties.

A minimum of eight awards will be presented. In 

addition, one award will be given to an enduring caregiver with 10 or more years of care giving in the field of dementia care. An official nomination form must be attached to a minimum 250-word essay stating why and how the nominee has demonstrated inspiring care giving. Two additional supporters’ names and contact information must be included with the nomination package. Nominations must be complete to be considered and must be postmarked no later than Saturday, March 19, 2011.

Winners will be announced on March 25. 

“These are the unsung heroes of our community,” stated Linda Gottfried, Southern Maryland Regional Director for the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter. “Caring for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients can be a very rewarding and challenging job. Given the intensive, complicated scope of care the disease requires, we believe that honoring those who are on the front lines improving the quality of life for dementia patients is the right thing to do.”

Winners will be honored at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center. Tickets are available for $40.00. Event sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds support the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association, which includes support, training, education, information and care for family caregivers.

For more information, to download a nomination form and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.alz.org/nca or contact Linda
Gottfried at (301) 934-5856 or at Linda.Gottfried@alz.org.