Let the Voting Begin: Out With Care Recipient, In With???

Thanks to all who suggested a new term to replace an old term (care recipient). Just as a reminder, here were the guidelines for your suggestions:

1. Suggest a one- or two-word term that means the same as “care recipient.”
2. The term must be easy for me to say and write. (Thank you!!)
3. The term must be general in nature, taking into account that care recipients are spouses, partners, grandparents, friends, aunts, uncles, etc.
4. The term must be gender neutral.
5. Feel free to make up a term.
6. The term must respect those who may not necessarily feel love for their care recipients.
7. Enter your term in our comments section by January 6, 2010. I’ll select three or four of the suggested terms and offer them up for a vote. Voting will take place on January 7 and 8.
8. The term which receives the most number of votes will become the term I use in articles and on the talk show. The winning term will be announced on January 9 on Table Talk, which airs at Noon CT. The creator of the winning term will receive a $25 Visa gift card and will be my guest on the January 9 talk show.

The suggestions were so great I couldn’t narrow them down for you to choose from just three or four. I loved them all, but now it’s your turn to vote for the one you love the most:

Voting ends Friday night at 11:59 p.m.

If your term is in the running, please be sure to check your email at about 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET, 7 a.m. PT) on Saturday morning. That’s when I’ll notify the winner and share details so you can join me on Saturday’s Table Talk (Noon CT) to announce the winning term.