Ingrid Mwansa Named 2026 Caregiver of the Year

Ingrid Mwansa of B'zoe Care in Lynnwood, Wash., is the Home Care Association of America's 2026 Caregiver of the Year. HCAOA announced the honor Sept. 29 at the awards ceremony during the National Home Care Conference in Orlando, Fla. The award is sponsored by Paradigm. ​

Ingrid was selected from five regional finalists after HCAOA members submitted hundreds of nominations from across the country this year. For more than three years, she has traveled by car and ferry each week to reach her client's home on Orcas Island in Washington's San Juan Islands, never missing a visit. 

Ingrid works as a live-in caregiver four days a week and regularly covers additional shifts when other caregivers are unavailable. She manages her client's medications, meals and daily needs, trains new caregivers on the case, and travels with her client to medical appointments in Seattle, advocating for her as she manages advanced dementia. 

“Ingrid’s story is a reminder of what caregivers do every day without recognition: showing up, adapting to whatever a family needs and building the kind of trust that lets someone stay in the home they love,” said Allison Dolan, HCAOA’s senior director of communications, marketing and education, who manages the Caregiver of the Year program. “On behalf of HCAOA, I’m proud to celebrate Ingrid as our 2026 Caregiver of the Year.” 

Nominators described Mwansa as empathetic, dependable and resilient, particularly in navigating a complex family dynamic that includes out-of-state relatives, a power of attorney, a trust management company and a private care manager. The care manager emphasized that the client would not be able to remain in her home without Mwansa's care. 
Before joining B'zoe Care, Mwansa worked in banking in Zambia. She earned her home care aide license while working without a car, saving until she could buy one, and added a certified nursing assistant license last year. 

“Ingrid's dedication exemplifies the profound impact caregivers have on the lives of those they serve,” said Amber Monroe, senior vice president of enterprise growth for Paradigm, the award sponsor. “At Paradigm, we're honored to support HCAOA's Caregiver of the Year program because we see firsthand how exceptional caregivers like Ingrid make it possible for our nation's seniors and veterans to age with dignity in their own homes. Her commitment is a testament to the heart of home care.” 

During the conference, HCAOA also recognized four other 2026 regional finalists: Kudirat Akinshiju of Custom Home Care in Chicago; Lisa Ilomin of Home Helpers Home Care in Thousand Oaks, Calif.; Elva “Mitsy” Rice of Village Caregiving in Morgantown, W.Va.; and Rhonda Wilson of Bayada in Shelby, N.C. 

HCAOA’s 5,000-plus member agencies nationwide employ more than a million caregivers. The Caregiver of the Year program recognizes the exceptional professionals whose work allows older adults and people with disabilities to remain safely and independently at home. ​