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A company that helps provide care for seniors eager to stay in their homes is looking to honor Utah's outstanding senior volunteer.

Home Instead Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, is seeking nominations for its "Salute to Senior Service" program, which honors adults 65 and older who volunteer their services at least 15 hours a month.

Based in Bellevue, Neb., Home Instead Inc. has offices in Salt Lake City and West Jordan. Its mission is "to enable seniors to live happy, healthy and independent lives in their homes" with assistance in providing in-home, non-medical care.

Nominations will be accepted through March 31. Forms are available at www.SalutetoSeniorService. They may be submitted online or by mail, addressed to Salute to Senior Service, P.O. Box 285, Bellevue, NE 68005.

Online voting takes place April 15-30. A group of senior-care experts will pick a national honoree from among state winners, said Home Instead President Jeff Huber.

"We all know seniors who do so much for our community," he said. "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."

Home Instead will donate $500 to a nonprofit group selected by each state's winner, $5,000 to the organization selected by the national honoree.

The company is encouraging senior-care professionals, family caregivers, adult children of aging parents and employees of hospitals, care facilities and other places where seniors congregate to nominate volunteers for the awards. "Older adults also may self-nominate," Huber noted.

Salt Lake County, which has numerous volunteers involved in its programs for older adults, intends to participate in the awards program.

"We're always looking for new and innovative ways to say thanks to our volunteers, so we'll be sending out the call to our program coordinators to nominate a volunteer," said Ken Venables, a spokesman for Salt Lake County's Division of Aging Services.

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