Hi, I work for a company that’s getting the word out about a contest especially designed for America’s unsung heroes, the 50 million American caregivers who work tirelessly on behalf of their loved ones.

Caring Today magazine, and Home Instead Senior Care are sponsoring the third annual Caring Today magazine’s “Give a Caregiver a Break” essay contest.

The contest offers family caregivers the opportunity to write about their experiences, and winners will be awarded with much-needed help. Grand prize for the essay contest is $5,000 worth of free care from Home Instead Senior Care. Two first prize winners will each receive $2,500 worth of care from Home Instead Senior Care, and 12 “Extraordinary Caregivers” will receive $500 each in service. That’s $16,000 worth of relief to the people who really need it.

To enter the contest, family caregivers are asked to describe their caregiving experiences, including the challenges they’ve faced, how they’ve embraced their role as a caregiver for a senior loved one and inspired others, and how a Home Instead CAREGiverSM could make a difference. Entries, must be 500 words or fewer, and the deadline is July 16, 2008.

Winning essays will be published in the November/December issue of Caring Today, both online and in the magazine. Videos of the winners will be posted on CaringToday.com.

Contest details are available on Caring Today’s Facebook group page, which is a great place to ask questions and share caregiving experiences (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22731175184), on the Caring Today website (http://caringtoday.com), and on the Home Instead Senior Care website (www.homeinstead.com).

We hope you’ll get the word out about this great way for caregivers to tell their stories and get some relief!

Bobcat, you are so right.Five hundred words describes the beginning.
We need people to get their information by being in the home of caregivers.The only way to feel the words is to experience them.Seems we get alot of essays written but they fall on deaf ears.
Do we hear and of those running for president mention the millions of people afflited with AD, etc.Not one dam word has been said.
The only time it make the news is when someone with , what they decide, has importance.
They are afraid to say what reaaly needs to be done to cure some of this dementia.Those on the far religious right will dam them to hell.
If someone wants a story, go out into the world and be the caregiver for a month.You will get the best story possible

Kayam, normally I don't reply to listings like this, but I would like to ask how anyone in this boat is going to write an essay covering all required in 500 words or less?

Here is my entry: Help, I am drowning, Save Me.

Heck, that was 6 words. If I win, can I reassign the prize in case Mom is passed away by the time you decide. Or better yet, Can I have care for me? Do you send deep tissue massage therapists?

Sorry for the sarcasm but truely, 500 words is not going to cut it.