Home Care Association of America names Washington caregiver its 2026 Caregiver of the Year

Home Care Association of America named Ingrid Mwansa of B'zoe Care in Lynnwood, Wash., its 2026 Caregiver of the Year during the group’s National Home Care Conference. The award spotlights the growing demand for home care as aging Americans increasingly rely on caregivers to remain safely in their homes.

Why it matters: - The award highlights the expanding role of non-medical home care as more older Americans choose to age at home. - Mwansa’s work underscores how dependable caregivers can make it possible for people with advanced needs to stay in familiar surroundings. - The recognition also reflects pressure on the home care workforce as demand rises nationwide.

What happened: - Home Care Association of America named Ingrid Mwansa, a caregiver with B'zoe Care in Lynnwood, Wash., its 2026 Caregiver of the Year. - HCAOA announced the honor at its National Home Care Conference. - Paradigm sponsored the award. - Mwansa was selected from five regional finalists. - HCAOA members submitted hundreds of nominations from across the country.

The details: - Mwansa has traveled every week for more than three years before dawn to reach a client living with dementia on a remote Washington island. - The routine includes driving to a ferry terminal and crossing the water to get to the client. - Mwansa has not missed a week. - She works as a live-in caregiver four days a week. - She also covers additional shifts when other caregivers are unavailable. - Her duties include managing medications, preparing meals and providing daily care. - Mwansa trains new caregivers on the case. - She accompanies the client to medical appointments in Seattle and advocates for her as she manages advanced dementia. - Nominators described Mwansa as empathetic, dependable and resilient. - The client’s care situation involves out-of-state relatives, a power of attorney, a trust management company and a private care manager. - The private care manager said the client would not be able to remain at home without Mwansa’s care. - HCAOA represents 5,000 agencies and suppliers across all 50 states. - HCAOA says its members provide non-medical care to seniors, veterans and people with disabilities.

Between the lines: - The award frames home care as a core part of the long-term care system, not a backup option. - Mwansa’s selection also points to how much the industry values reliability, flexibility and family coordination, not just basic caregiving tasks. - Paradigm’s sponsorship shows how closely payment and administration companies are tied to the home care sector’s growth. - A client staying at home often depends on more than one caregiver; the case also requires support from relatives, legal authority and care-management professionals.

What's next: - HCAOA will continue to use the Caregiver of the Year program to recognize standout caregivers across the country. - The broader home care market is likely to keep expanding as the population ages and more families seek care at home. - HCAOA said it will continue working through advocacy, education and member collaboration to expand access to quality care.

The bottom line: - Mwansa’s award is a recognition of one caregiver, but it also points to a larger shift: Americans are leaning more heavily on home care to preserve independence, dignity and stability at home.