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For more information, contact:
Laura Granberry, Rosalynn Carter Institute, 229-931-2034 or lbgran@canes.gsw.edu

Americus, GA - Since 2001, the Johnson & Johnson/Rosalynn Carter Institute Caregivers Program has positively impacted the lives of over 75,000 individuals through its funding of community collaborations that support caregivers. This partnership builds on RCI’s 22 years of advocacy for caregivers and on the credo of Johnson & Johnson to be “responsible to the communities in which we live and work” and “encourage…better health and education.”  The J&J/RCI Caregivers Program seeks to build bridges between researchers and caregivers, with the ultimate goal being to embed caregiver support into existing systems of care.

To that end, the Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award recognizes leadership in implementing innovative and creative partnerships between community organizations and caregiving researchers.  Award winning partnerships reflect best practices in providing effective caregiver supports. During the RCI Awards Gala held October 22, a special merit award was given to Fox Rehabilitation and the Jefferson Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health. Their work in translating Dr. Laura Gitlin’s Environmental Skill-Building Program from a research setting into a third-party reimbursement environment ensures long-term sustainability in caregiver support for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. These partners are currently working to roll out the Environmental Skill-Building Program throughout the entire Fox Rehabilitation network involving 110 occupational therapists in 5 states – a real life example of “scaling up” to support caregivers. In recognition of this work, Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter presented Mimi Jacobs from Fox Rehabilitation and Tracey Vause Earland from the Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health with a check for $5,000.    

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