The Search Is On for Outstanding Senior Volunteers

Nominations are now being accepted for the nation’s most outstanding senior volunteer. Sponsored by the Home Instead Senior Care® network, the Salute to Senior ServiceSM program will honor senior volunteers for the tireless contributions they make to their local communities.

The program, which launched in January, will include a search for the most outstanding senior volunteer in each state and culminate with the selection of a national Salute to Senior Service winner during Older Americans Month in May.

Salute to Senior Service nominees must be 65 and older, and volunteer at least 15 hours a month, making a positive impact on their communities through volunteerism. State Senior HeroSM winners will receive plaques and their stories on the SalutetoSeniorService.com site. What’s more, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice.

“Helping others defines life for many retired seniors,” said President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jeff Huber of Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network. “And what a difference we have observed in seniors’ health, attitude and outlook among those who choose to stay active as they age.”

According to research conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care network, 52 percent of seniors volunteer their time through unpaid community service. Furthermore, 20 percent of seniors who volunteer say that their community service is the most important thing they do.

Nominate seniors 65 and older who volunteer at least 15 hours a month by submitting their story at www.SalutetoSeniorService.com. Or request a form from ckoehler@homeinsteadinc.com and return to Home Instead, Inc., Cat Koehler, 13323 California Street, Omaha, NE 68154. Submit your nomination for your outstanding senior volunteer between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2012.

Founded in 1994 in Omaha by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care network is the world's largest provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors, with more than 950 independently owned and operated franchises providing in excess of 45 million hours of care throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Finland, Austria, Italy, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.