This past weekend, I helped a friend of mine put together a mobility product that she recently purchased. The product seemed relatively simple to assemble, designed to be put together by one person and is found in the homes of many senior citizens.  I thought it was an easy thing I could do to help my friend and would not take much time at all.  After an hour of contortion, heavy lifting and confusing instructions, I had accomplished the task, wondering if those who designed the product or wrote the instruction booklet had ever taken the time to put together their own handiwork.

This experience was another reason that we are so excited about announcing the launch of the 2006 Caregiver Friendly Award program.  For the past three years we have been inspired by the many products, books, services and media which have been placed into consideration for the award.  It is always a challenge to choose the best representations of the entries which were designed and produced with family caregivers in mind. If you are wondering, the above mentioned product has never won a Caregiver Friendly award.

I am gratified by the organizations that tell us the Caregiver Friendly Awards have made them realize that they need to take into consideration the caregiver experience as they design and produce new products.  That’s what the award is all about.  We are honored by this past years award winners and look forward to adding your nomination to the list of winners in 2006. 
 

The winners will be honored in the pages of Today’s Caregiver magazine, at the Fort Lauderdale Fearless Caregiver conference and in the hearts and minds of caregivers who benefit from their good works.

 

Take care

Gary Barg
Editor-in-Chief
gary@caregiver.com