Emeritus Senior Living and Parentgiving.com to Honor Exceptional Caregivers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Emeritus Senior Living (http://www.emeritus.com), a national provider of assisted living and Alzheimer's and related dementia care services to seniors, announced today that it has partnered with online resource center Parentgiving.com to launch the First Annual Parentgivers of the Year Awards. The contest invites families from across the country to nominate a selfless individual who cares for an aging adult, while also caring for their own family.

“We know how challenging it can be to care for an aging loved one, and we are glad to have the opportunity to provide support and resources for caregivers, as well as short-term stays at our communities for seniors when their caregivers need a vacation.”

Emeritus Senior Living and Parentgiving.com will be accepting nominations via the Parentgiving website (www.parentgiving.com) through January 31, 2010. Winners will be announced in March 2010 during Women's History Month. Nominations can be made at http://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/cga-contest.

"We are proud to be sponsoring the Parentgivers of the Year Awards and giving back to those that give so generously to seniors,” commented Granger Cobb, president and Co-CEO of Emeritus Corporation. “We know how challenging it can be to care for an aging loved one, and we are glad to have the opportunity to provide support and resources for caregivers, as well as short-term stays at our communities for seniors when their caregivers need a vacation.”

The Parentgivers of the Year grand prize winner will receive a spa retreat plus a three day short-term respite stay from Emeritus for their loved one so that they can enjoy a respite without worry. Five additional winners will receive a $200 gift certificate for the Parentgiving Store and two days of caregiving services from Emeritus.

“With the launch of this award, Parentgiving.com would like to thank, support, educate, and advocate for family caregivers across the country. We want to recognize some of the millions of unpaid and unheralded caregivers who devote billions of dollars in resources to help family members and give them the recognition for all they do on behalf of their family,” said chief content officer Julie Davis.

How to Nominate: Nominations can be made at http://www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/cga-contest. Simply enter the name of the most selfless and dedicated caregiver you know—yes, you can nominate yourself—and tell us about your caregiving experience. Nominations can be made by the care recipient, friends, family, colleagues and senior care professionals, among others. To be eligible to win, nominated caregivers must be currently caregiving for one or more elderly individuals. All entries will receive a 10% discount on their next purchase at the Parentgiving.com store.

The Parentgivers of the Year Grand Prize Winner will win $3,500 in prizes as follows: up to $2,000 toward a spa getaway, up to $1,000 in respite services, including a 3-day short-term respite stay for their senior loved one at one of 316 Emeritus Senior Living communities nationwide and a $500 gift certificate for the Parentgiving Store. In addition, five Finalists will each receive a $200 gift certificate for the Parentgiving Store and a 2-day short-term respite stay for their senior loved one at one of 316 Emeritus Senior Living communities nationwide. All Parentgivers of the Year will be selected by a panel of judges that includes Davis, Parentgiving.com co-founder Bob Silver and elder care and health experts. The selection of the Parentgivers of the Year will be based on the psychological, social, financial and medical issues faced, challenges that have been overcome to provide care, sacrifices made and the impact the care has had on the individual.

About Emeritus Corporation

Emeritus Corporation is a national provider of assisted living and Alzheimer's and related dementia care services to seniors. Emeritus is one of the largest and most experienced operators of freestanding assisted living communities located throughout the United States. These communities provide a residential housing alternative for senior citizens who need assistance with the activities of daily living, with an emphasis on personal care services, which provides support to the residents in the aging process. Emeritus currently operates 316 communities in 36 states representing capacity for approximately 27,500 units and approximately 32,700 residents. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ESC, and our home page can be found on the Internet at http://www.emeritus.com.

About Parentgiving.com

Parentgiving.com's mission is to help people better care for their aging parents with original elder care articles in 15 "learning center" categories, daily newsflashes, senior health tips, caregiver stories, checklists and an online community of blogs and forums. The Parentgiving Store has over 1,600 products and growing in such categories as home medical, incontinence, bedding, bath safety, meal replacement and daily living aids.