Agency News

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is offering free grief support sessions this spring at the UPMC Home Healthcare/Family Hospice offices throughout West Central Pennsylvania. For everyone’s safety, all participants are required to wear a mask. There are no exceptions, and social distancing will be implemented. Space is limited. Registration is required by contacting Bereavement Secretary Charlene Ebersole at 814-947-7060 or ebersolec@upmc.edu. Bedford Groups will be held at the UPMC Home Healthcare/Family Hospice office, 227 Hospital Drive, Suite 2,

As Healing Patch staff Melody Ray and Shalen Steinbugl recognized the great losses we face related to COVID-19, they authored a blog post called “The OK’s of COVID-19: Validating Our Reponses to the Pandemic.” Various media outlets shared the resources the Healing Patch is offering to grieving children and families, as well as these statements validating the difficult emotions everyone is facing in this time.

Diane Ringler, Early Intervention Manager, recently shared her experiences with infant development as part of WTAJ’s positive parenting series. This story focused on babies’ ability to predict behavior of others through their social interactions early in life. Click here to view the story on WTAJ’s website.

Altoona Mirror staff writer Walt Frank featured Home Nursing Agency’s 50th anniversary in a recent story. HNA celebrates milestone50 years of in-home care JUL 1, 2018 WALT FRANKStaff Writerwfrank@altoonamirror.com From its humble beginning in 1968 with six part-time nurses, Home Nursing Agency has grown into a trusted leader in the community health network, with nearly 1,000 employees serving more than 23,000 people throughout western and central Pennsylvania. Home Nursing Agency — then called Blair County Collaborating Home Nursing

Accidental overdoses continue to rise across our country, leaving families at a loss as to how to assist the children who are grieving. When Melody Ray, Volunteer Coordinator/Grief Specialist for Home Nursing Agency and Family Hospice and Palliative Care, sought resources to help local children and families cope with losing a loved one to an overdose, she came up short. The lack of resources prompted Melody to author a book, Someone I Love Died from a Drug

In observation of World AIDS Day on December 1st, Jerry Rice, AIDS Intervention Project Manager, and Donna Gority, AIDS Intervention Project Advisory Committee member, were featured guests on Central PA Live. Jerry and Donna shared about how the program began and encouraged viewers to be tested for HIV/AIDS, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Click here to view the segment.

Bedford Gazette shared a story about the cooperative effort to improve the physical and mental health of seniors in Bedford County. Rod Burket, HNA Home Health Psych Case Manager has played a significant role in the initiative and is quoted about the effectiveness of the program. UPMC hospital noted for meeting local needs By the Gazette staff UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital has been recognized by a national association for its “best practices,” as part of the

Family Hospice Social Worker Shannon Chille and Bereavement Coordinator Jennifer Cox recently joined Central PA Live host Dawn Pellas to share how hospice care supports the families and caregivers – not just patients – throughout the hospice journey and beyond. Click here to view the segment. 

Nurse-Family Partnership®, a national evidence-based program for first-time moms, was featured on a recent segment of Central PA Live with Director Lisa Ritchey and Blair County Supervisor Arlene Wojno sharing how the program can positively impact families in our region. Click here to view the segment.