Prince Edward Island Woman Wins National Award for Senior Volunteerism

Dream big: 83-year-old Marilla Millar proves age doesn't matter when it comes to helping others

OMAHA, NE, April 8, 2014 /CNW/ - Marilla Millar, an 83-year-old volunteer from Ellerslie, P.E.I., 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. She was selected from nearly 90 nominees.

Millar is recognized by this prestigious award for her forty years of foster care and volunteer service to many organizations in her community. Just a few short months ago, Marilla had her final foster baby leave her care. Over her 40 years of foster care, she has opened her heart and home to over 139 babies since 1974. She and her late husband, Peter, almost always fostered infants/preschoolers needing care.

To add to her lifelong commitment of caring, Marilla has volunteered for many organizations in her community. She volunteers for the Bideford-Conway United Church and the UCW Women's Institute. She was the first President of the Tyne Valley Community School and volunteered there for 30 years.

Millar additionally won the Salute to Senior Service provincial award for Prince Edward Island. As both the provincial and national winner, Millar earned a total of $5,500 for her charities of choice - donated by Home Instead, Inc. Millar also has a spot on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame where her story is posted.

"We are honoured to present the national Salute to Senior Service award to Marilla Millar," said Jeff Huber, president of Home Instead, Inc. "Millar's longstanding service to the 139 foster children who have been in her care and outstanding service in her community demonstrate so well the significant and meaningful impact senior volunteers have on society every day. She also proves age is irrelevant when it comes to making a positive difference in the lives of others."

Millar is among Canada's population of seniors (65+) who volunteer an average of 223 hours per year, higher than any other age group, according to Volunteer Canada.¹

"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."

According to Volunteer Canada, volunteering provides health benefits to older adults, offering them potentially significant physical, emotional and cogitative or brain benefits. It also enhances social support, social inclusion and civic engagement.²

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.ca.

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.

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¹ Volunteer Canada, Volunteering and Older Adults, Final Report, February, 2013.  http://volunteer.ca/content/volunteering-and-older-adults-final-report.
² Volunteer Canada, Volunteering and Older Adults, Final Report, February, 2013.  http://volunteer.ca/content/volunteering-and-older-adults-final-report.

SOURCE: Home Instead Senior Care

Media Contact: 
Dan Wieberg
402.498.4466
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