We live in an area where seniors are
actively involved in all aspects of the community. According to research
conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care network, fifty-two percent of United
States seniors volunteer their time through unpaid community service. These
silent heroes give selflessly, expecting nothing in return. And yet, their
contributions often make a difference, not only to the
organizations they serve, but in changing how the public views growing older. For volunteer opportunities in the Bluffton, Hilton Head
area one has only to go online to see 69 or more postings, not including those
with local hospitals.
The search is on for South Carolina’s most outstanding senior
volunteer! Through the Salute to
Senior ServiceSM program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of
the Home Instead Senior Care® network serving the Lowcountry, the
contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of
volunteer service to their favorite causes are honored.
Nominations for outstanding senior volunteers will be
accepted between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2013. State winners then will be selected
by popular vote at www.SalutetoSeniorService.com. Online voting will take place from April 15 to April 30,
2013. From those state winners, a panel of senior care experts will pick the
national Salute to Senior Service
honoree. Home
Instead, Inc. will donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite nonprofit
organizations and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be
donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice.
Do you know a senior
who is making a difference through volunteer service? Senior care professionals and those who work at hospitals,
senior care communities and other places where seniors volunteer are encouraged
to nominate older adults. So, too, are family caregivers and the adult children
of aging parents. Older adults also may self-nominate.
To view the contest’s
official rules and complete and submit a nomination online, visit www.SalutetoSeniorService.com.
Or mail completed nomination forms to Salute to Senior Service, P.O. Box 285,
Bellevue, NE 68005.
For more information
about Salute to Senior Service or the
Home Instead Senior Care network’s services, call 843-842-3372.
Rachel
Carson, Certified Senior Advisor, is the owner of Home Instead Senior Care
serving the Lowcountry since 1997.
