WESTPORT, Conn., June 7, 2005 -- LifeCare®, Inc.'s Professional Geriatric Care Management (PGCM) Program has been awarded a 2005 Caregiver Friendly Award by Today's Caregiver, the first national magazine for family and professional caregivers. The Caregiver Friendly Awards celebrate outstanding media, products and services which have been designed in the best interest of caregivers and their loved ones. LifeCare's PGCM Program is being recognized in the Service category.
LifeCare's PGCM Program arranges for highly qualified professional geriatric care managers (professional nurses and social workers trained in assessment, care planning, and care management of older adults) to conduct in-person assessments and services for caregivers and their loved ones. This face-to-face aspect of the LifeCare program provides caregivers with exclusive access to the Guild, a preeminent organization of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, whose members must meet strict educational and experience requirements, abide by a Pledge of Ethics, adhere to Standards of Practice, and maintain minimum insurance requirements. The Association's strict quality criteria are unique in the industry, which is still largely unregulated, and LifeCare is the only organization to have such a relationship with the Guild.
"We're very pleased to receive this award from Today's Caregiver," said LifeCare CEO and co-founder, Peter G. Burki. "I think it's wonderful that Today's Caregiver is focusing attention on the issue of elder caregiving, which is becoming increasingly important to our country. About 34 million Americans currently care for an older loved one, and almost 60 percent of these people also hold regular jobs. They desperately need resources that help them juggle their personal and professional responsibilities while taking good care of their loved ones at the same time. We created our PGCM Program with precisely these people in mind."
"This award is designed to help family caregivers recognize organizations who will care for them in as committed a manner as they care for their loved ones," said Gary Barg, Today's Caregiver's editor-in-chief.
LifeCare's PGCM Program is just one component of the company's comprehensive Successful AgingSM Services, designed specifically to help individuals address their evolving personal and family needs as they age. LifeCare's Successful Aging Services also include 24/7 resource and referral services for caregivers; aging-related legal and financial services; and pre- and post-retirement coaching.
Notes to Editors
Peter G. Burki is available for interview.
About LifeCare®, Inc.
LifeCare is one of the largest privately owned employee benefits organizations in the U.S. and the exclusive provider of Life Event Management® Services. With more than 21 years of experience in delivering highly personalized counseling, education and referral services, LifeCare helps employees manage the day-to-day challenges of their lives. In turn, LifeCare helps employers improve employee commitment, recruitment, retention and workplace productivity. LifeCare currently serves 1,500 client companies with 4.5 million individuals within health plans, governmental agencies, unions and corporations. For more information, visit www.lifecare.com.
About The Caregiver Friendly Awards
Caregiver Friendly Awards are presented by Today's Caregiver magazine to celebrate outstanding books, media, products and services designed with the best interest of the family caregiver in mind. Today's Caregiver magazine, launched in 1995, is published by Caregiver Media Group, which also produces the Fearless Caregiver Conferences, www.caregiver.com and The Fearless Caregiver book which teaches caregivers how to become their loved one's fearless advocates within the healthcare system.
Media contact: Michael Civiello
LifeCare, Inc.
pr1[at]lifecare.com
203-291-4170