banner of a woman with her arm around another and the word 'trusted'

All Home Nursing Agency News

young adult comforting someone at a support group meeting

Family Hospice Offers Fall Grief Support Groups

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is offering free grief support options this fall throughout West Central Pennsylvania. Registration is required. Please see registration deadlines and contacts for each area. Bedford Groups will be held at the UPMC Home Healthcare/Family Hospice office, 227 Hospital Dr., Ste. 2, Everett (rear entrance of Pennwood Family Medicine). Groups will be held on Fridays from Sept. 6 – Oct. 11 from 2-3 p.m. Family Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Jennifer Cox is facilitating this group for attendees

Read More »
winners of the 2024 mercedes moment with their new car

2024 Mercedes Moment Winner Announced

State College residents Jim and Mary Ellen Kelly held the winning number – 316 – for Home Nursing Agency Foundation’s Mercedes Moment fundraiser held on May 30.  The winner was announced as part of Mercedes Moment Night at the Altoona Curve after the first Pick 3 Pennsylvania lottery number at 7 p.m. As the winners, the Kellys were offered the choice of the Mercedes GLB 250 or $30,000 cash prize. If you would like to be

Read More »
mercedes moment sold out

2024 Mercedes Moment Sold Out

Tickets for the 2024 Mercedes Moment drawing on May 30, 2024 have SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for a chance to win Mercedes BLA 250 or $30,000. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for next year, please complete this form.  Thank You to Our Generous 2024 Sponsors! GLE SUV Sponsor S-Class Sponsors C-Class Sedan Sponsors Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Altoona Mercedes-Benz of State College, A Ciocca Dealership Sheetz,

Read More »
volunteers will always be the heart of hospice - national volunteer week - april 21 - 27, 2024

A Special Thank You to Our Volunteers!

April is Volunteer Recognition Month! We are grateful for the commitment of those who volunteer with the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program and Family Hospice. Healing Patch Volunteers are the heart of the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program. Without them, these free services could not exist for the grieving children and families of our community. It takes a special type of person to absorb the tragic stories children share at the Healing Patch. While volunteers must understand they are unable to “fix”

Read More »
Cambria Teen Room Volunteer Madison Follansbee

Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program Invites New Volunteers

The Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program is now recruiting volunteers to serve at family group sessions at the Healing Patch centers in Altoona and Ebensburg. Volunteers serve as facilitators for groups of grieving children aged 3-18, young adults aged 18-25 or adults who bring children or adolescents to the program. Tales of Two Volunteers Blair Adult Room Volunteer Joe Bilka “I am there to guide discussions,” explains Adult Room volunteer Joe Bilka. “It takes a

Read More »
group of mournful attendees at a bereavement support session

Family Hospice Offers Grief Support Options This Spring

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is offering free grief support options this spring throughout West Central Pennsylvania. Groups are open to any community members grieving the loss of a loved one. Space is limited, so registration is required. Please register with facilitator as listed below for each location. Bedford County Location: UPMC Home Healthcare/Family Hospice office, 227 Hospital Dr., Suite 2, Everett (rear of Pennwood Family Medicine)Dates: Mondays from March 18-April 22Time: 3-4 p.m.Facilitator: Family Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Jennifer CoxRegister by

Read More »
flashlight egg hunt square thumbnail

Flashlight Egg Hunt to Benefit the Healing Patch on April 5

The second annual Flashlight Egg Hunt will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024 at the Altoona Curve – Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, PA.  Buy tickets online. The Flashlight Egg Hunt welcomes adults 18 years of age and older to don a headlamp, grab a bag or strap on a backpack, and scurry to gather as many eggs as possible in the dark. Once the lights are turned back on, participants can open their eggs to

Read More »
lights of love thumbnail

Lights of Love 2023 Invites You to “Shine a Special Light” for Loved One

The joy of the holiday season can be marked by sadness for those with loved ones who have passed away. Remembering our loved ones and including them in our observances keeps them alive in our hearts and celebrates their legacy that continues to live on. For the 13th year, the Home Nursing Agency Foundation Lights of Love tribute event invites you to “shine your own special light” for someone you love. Selected trees at the UPMC

Read More »

Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program Observes Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November, Invites Participation

In recognition of Children’s Grief Awareness Month this November, the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program is joining other members of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief to “flip the script” on grief. Throughout the month, we are collectively committed to providing essential tools and resources aimed at fostering a more grief-informed society. This initiative seeks to address the common challenges people face when supporting those who are grieving, aiming to replace potentially hurtful statements or

Read More »

Family Hospice offers free webinar with world-renowned grief expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt on Nov. 29

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is pleased to offer a live webinar featuring world-renowned author and grief educator, Dr. Alan Wolfelt. Offered in partnership with Stevens Family Funeral Home, this webinar is titled “Understanding Your Grief: Touchstones for Hope and Healing” and will be held on Wed., Nov. 29 from 5-8 p.m. at UPMC Altoona. A virtual option is also available. Dr. Alan Wolfelt has been recognized as one of North America’s leading death educators

Read More »

Family Hospice Offers Free Webinar with Grief Expert Dr. Alan Wolfelt on Dec. 4

The community is invited to this informative workshop to help enhance your knowledge and skills related to supporting people experiencing grief and loss. The webinar will be offered in-person in the UPMC Altoona Rotunda (6th floor) or virtually. Anchored in Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s “companioning” model of grief care, there will be a recognition of how grief and mourning are normal and necessary experiences that are fundamentally a journey of the heart and soul. A critical

Read More »

Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program Observes Children’s Grief Awareness Month in November

This November, in recognition of Children’s Grief Awareness Month, the Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program is joining with members of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) to launch the annual Flip the Script campaign. This initiative, created by NACG with support from national childhood grief organizations, Dougy Center, Eluna, Experience Camps, and Judi’s House, focuses on raising awareness and providing education about childhood bereavement—flipping the script on how we, as a society, understand and

Read More »

2025 Decades Club Basket Winners

1-Vicki Good2-Danielle Geis3-Denise Mason4-Michelle Miller5-Brad Becher6-Ethan Hullihen7-Greg Morris8-Clay Horton9-Suzanne Koziel10-Katrina Lang11-Jason Boser12-Liz Hetrick13-April Sprankle14-Dave Lafferty15-Stephanie States16-Michelle Burk17-Liz Hetrick18-Lynn Caskay19-Beverly Hicks20-Johnna Ritchey21-Warren Edwards22-Daniel Noye23-Ben Campbell24-William Green25-Katrina Lang26-Vicki Good27-Tammy Mincin28-Rob Rhodes29-Betty Polito30-Ashley Noye31-Johnna Ritchey32-Jami Hall33-Warren Edwards34-Mike Mincin35-Brett Hullihen36-Shawn Harr37-Nancy Mincin38-Shalen Steinbugl39-Patty Hanlin40-Felicia Herman41-Tyler Glunt42-Shalen Steinbugl43-Greg Morris44-Betty Polito45-Tyler Glunt46-Johnna Ritchey47-Craig McCall48-Johnna Ritchey49-Dave Lafferty50-Felicia Herman51-Brett Hullihen52-Pam Hettinger53-Tyler Glunt54-Sharon Green55-Heather Zeoli56-Rick Hettinger57-Georgiana Horell58-Lynn Caskay59-Michelle Miller60-Ben Campbell61-April & Zach S.62-Josh Dom63-April & Zach S.64-Kristen Lansberry65-Beverly Hicks66-Greg Morris67-Ryan Glunt68-Steve Simon69-Shawn Harr70-Beverly Hicks71-Jack

Read More »