North Carolina Man Wins National Award for Senior Volunteerism

OMAHA, Neb., April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Thurman Haynes, a 97-year-old volunteer from Jamestown, N.C., has been named the national winner of the Salute to Senior Service^® contest, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care^® network. He was selected from thousands of nominees and 50 state-level winners.

Haynes is recognized by this prestigious award for his dedicated community service at the Haynes-Inman Education Center, a school for children with disabilities, where he volunteers more than 80 hours per month. Haynes is often one of the first to arrive and greet students each school day. He assists them off the bus and ensures they arrive at class safely. Haynes also lends a hand during PE class, helping students participate in volleyball, jump rope, shuffleboard and other activities.

A regular at school events and functions, Haynes has been involved with the Haynes-Inman Education Center since its inception when the local Guilford County School system approached him about selling some of his land for the school. The school, which opened in 2010, is named in part for Hayne's granddaughter, Meredith, who had mental and physical disabilities.

"Thurman Haynes reminds us all how important it is to celebrate life on a daily basis," said Kevin Carr, the principal of Haynes-Inman Education Center. "You can't buy what Thurman brings to Haynes-Inman. His dedication and the respect and love he gives others is amazing."

Haynes additionally won the Salute to Senior Service state award for North Carolina. As both the state and national winner, Haynes earned a total of $5,500 for his charity of choice – donated by Home Instead, Inc. Haynes also has a spot on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame where his story is posted.

"We are honored to present the national Salute to Senior Service award to Thurman Haynes," said Jeff Huber, president of Home Instead, Inc. "Thurman's longstanding service to the Haynes-Inman Education Center demonstrates so well the significant and meaningful impact senior volunteers have on their communities every day. He also proves age is irrelevant when it comes to making a positive difference in the lives of others."

Haynes is among the 62 percent of seniors ages 68 and older who volunteered their time in the last year, according to a recent Marist Poll sponsored by Home Instead, Inc.  

"It's important for seniors to remain active and engaged as they age," Huber said. "It is even possible for frail or isolated seniors to give back to their communities as well. To that end, the Salute to Senior Service program includes free 'give back' activity resource sheets with ideas to help seniors who are home-bound or have limited mobility continue to contribute to their communities through volunteerism."

For more information about the Home Instead Senior Care network's Salute to Senior Service program or to download the "give back" activity resource sheets, visit SalutetoSeniorService.com.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care^® network is the world's leading provider of non-medical in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises providing more than 50 million hours annually of care throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, Finland, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico and China.  Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ more than 65,000 CAREGivers^SM worldwide who provide basic support services – assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), personal care, medication reminders, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, incidental transportation and shopping – which enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. In addition, CAREGivers are trained in the network's groundbreaking Alzheimer's Disease or Other Dementias CARE: Changing Aging Through Research and Education^® Program to work with seniors who live with these conditions. This world class curriculum is also available free to family caregivers online or through local Home Instead Senior Care offices. At Home Instead Senior Care, it's relationship before task, while continuing to provide superior quality service that enhances the lives of aging adults and their families.

SOURCE Home Instead Senior Care