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2022 Mercedes Moment Tickets on Sale Now

February 9, 2022

Download the ticket order form and return today to get your ticket. The sole purpose of the Mercedes Moment fundraiser is to raise funds that will allow us (and you) to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families we serve who have tremendous needs beyond normal circumstances. What is Mercedes Moment? $100 per ticket 2019 Mercedes A 220 4-Matic Sedan* or $30,000 cash Based on the first 3-digit PA Lottery on Thursday, May

Family Hospice Offers Grief Support Groups throughout West Central Pennsylvania

February 8, 2022

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,

photo of Melody Ray, Healing Patch Coordinator and her mother in 2020

When the Grief Is Yours: Facing Death as a Grief Specialist

April 9, 2021

Shared by Melody Ray, Healing Patch Coordinator I would like to start with a disclaimer. This is my personal grief journey. Just as everyone’s relationship with the person who died is unique, so too is our grief. There is no exact right way to grieve no exact road map to follow… this is simply my path and perspectives gained. Over the past nine years, I have worked in the children’s bereavement field supporting children and families

allysha capps and her son patrick at a virtual therapy session

Milestone Makers

March 29, 2021

Early Intervention Therapists Facilitate Progress of Young Clients When Allysha Capps was pregnant in 2019, she was doing more than the usual preparations to welcome new life into her family. As her son Patrick was diagnosed prenatally with hypoplastic heart syndrome, she prepared for her newborn to undergo surgeries and face restrictions that would delay his development. “They told us even before he was born that therapy would be beneficial,” Allysha explains. Patrick had his

infographic - 1 in 12 PA children experience death of a loved one by 18

Growing with Grief

July 17, 2020

A Look at Childhood Bereavement Rates and Support for Local Grieving Children Long overlooked, childhood bereavement is a critical issue and an increasingly important national priority. Nationally, one in 14 children, or 5.2 million, will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18 based on the 2020 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM). By age 25, that number more than doubles to 13.2 million. The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) was developed by

Local Media Share Healing Patch’s “OK’s of COVID-19”

April 23, 2020

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.

The OK’s of COVID-19: Validating Our Responses to the Pandemic

April 22, 2020

1. It is OK to have many feelings at once. On any given day, you may experience a multitude of feelings, such as feeling overwhelmed by all of the daily changes, angry at cancelled events, disappointed by missed opportunities, sad that you cannot spend time with family and friends, wary when you cross someone at the grocery store, or too exhausted to even get out of bed. These feelings you are having are normal and

Early Intervention Manager Shares about Infant Development

November 1, 2018

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.

HNA 50th Anniversary Recognized in Altoona Mirror

July 2, 2018

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

Grief Specialist Authors Children’s Book, Publicized Locally

April 19, 2018

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

young adult comforting someone at a support group meeting

Family Hospice Offers Spring Grief Support Groups

February 11, 2025

Family Hospice, Part of UPMC, is offering free grief support options this spring throughout West Central Pennsylvania. Registration is required. Please see registration deadlines and contacts for each area. Bedford Groups will be held at Homewood at Spring House Estates (Chapel), 150 Victoria Ave., Everett. Groups will be held on Fridays from March 21-April 25 from 2-3 p.m. Family Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Jennifer Cox is facilitating this group for attendees to share their feelings with others who are grieving.

2025 Mercedes Moment Tickets on Sale Now

February 3, 2025

Download the ticket order form, and return today to get your ticket. The sole purpose of the Mercedes Moment fundraiser is to raise funds that will allow us (and you) to make a difference in the lives of individuals and families we serve who have tremendous needs beyond normal circumstances. What is Mercedes Moment? $100 per ticket 2025 Mercedes CLA 250* or $30,000 cash** Based on the first 3-digit PA Lottery on Thursday, May 29,

Flashlight Egg Hunt to Benefit the Healing Patch on March 28, 2025

December 26, 2024

The third annual Flashlight Egg Hunt will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025 at the Altoona Curve – Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, PA. Tickets are sold out. 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