LOCAL PROGRAM BRIGHTENS HOLIDAYS FOR NOVATO AREA SENIORS

Media Contact:

Todd Vaughan

(415) 883-6260

Todd.Vaughan@homeinstead.com

Novato, Ca. – Nov.10, 2014 – This season, many Novato area seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior® program. Sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care® office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

“It is heartbreaking to think of the senior members of our community spending the holidays all by themselves, without any gifts or any way to celebrate the season,” says Catherine Vaughan, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Novato. “But all too often, that’s what happens when seniors live alone. It can be a really tough time of year for them.”

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with the YMCA Novato, CA, Hospice by the Bay, Whistlestop and Respecting our Elders to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect several hundred gifts in order to help more than 350 area seniors this holiday season.

“This is our third year participating in the Be a Santa to a Senior holiday program, and something our community looks forward to each year,” said Vaughan. “Along with our program partners, we will be wrapping and distributing gifts to local seniors who may otherwise spend the holidays alone.”

A Be a Santa to a Senior tree will be located at the YMCA located in Novato, CA. Participating retail locations will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees from Nov. 28 – Dec. 16 that feature ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.

“During this season of giving, we encourage shoppers to buy a little extra for a local senior,” said Vaughan. “Your gift - and more importantly the visit that comes with the delivery – could make their holiday season.”

For more information about the program, visit www.BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call (415) 883-6260.

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ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care® network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, this network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and 16 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individual’s needs. Services span the care continuum -- from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.