The Community Hospice

06/01/2026

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! Meet the new graduates of The Community Hospice's latest Volunteer Training Program. This class of 22 completed training in May. The group spans from college students to retirees, all bound by a common mission to care and help others.

Volunteer manager Amy Scarlett notes this class skewed “young," with about half the class being under 35, which she finds unusual. She says a third of the trainees are pursuing careers in medicine and wanted to build on their knowledge in end-of-life care, while another third of the class had personal hospice experiences that led them to volunteering.

Hospice volunteers can provide a variety of services, from companionship for patients by sitting and talking with them, listening to them, or just being a quiet presence. They can also help families by offering respite time so that family members can get a break from caregiving responsibilities or go to the doctor, or shop for groceries, and tend to other tasks.

Congrats to all our new grads and soon-to-be volunteers in service. We are grateful for your passion and dedication to helping others. You will never know the true extent of the lives you touch, or what you do for our patients and families! Thank you all! ❤

05/27/2026

His comforting words and his gift of music have helped Hospice patients and families heal for nearly three decades. Meet Will Hannah, a veteran bereavement counselor at The Community Hospice who recently marked 29 years of service guiding families that are coping with loss throughout our region. Will provides compassionate individual counseling and facilitates various support group meetings.

But Will isn't just a counselor. He knows about the pain of loss firsthand. He lost his own daughter, Sasha, in 1988. Devastated, Will harnessed his grief into strength to help others by focusing on bereavement counseling. "It's okay to be fully human, and initially, it can be daunting to breathe into how we feel, but it's a healthy thing to do, and sometimes having support to do that is a very important thing," says Will. He adds that grief may always be with us, but it won't always be as heavy. "It's important for people to know there's hope," he says.

With an early love of music, Will also plays the guitar and blends his beautiful songs into remembrance ceremonies to help families remember and celebrate their loved ones. Families say Will's music touches them and makes a difficult event easier. "We will forever be grateful to you," says one family member.

If you or someone you know is having difficulty coping with the loss of a loved one, please consider FREE grief counseling with The Community Hospice. There IS hope. Call 518-724-0200.

05/22/2026

Are you signed up yet? The Community Hospice invites you to join our 25th Annual "Walk for Hospice" fundraiser! Walk in honor or in memory of a loved one and help raise funds to support extra comfort services for hospice patients, including music & massage therapies, our Wish Fund to grant patients final wishes, a bereavement camp to help children grieving loss, and grief counseling to help all those in the community having difficulty coping with the loss of a loved one. All of these extra services are provided FREE of charge thanks to the funds raised at this annual event.

The walk steps off on Saturday, June 13 (check-in 9 am, kick-off 10:30 am, rain or shine), immediately followed by a BBQ luncheon provided by Wagon Train, at Siena University, Latham. Live entertainment by The Refrigerators.

Walk on your own, start a team, or join one of our teams! Everyone who registers for the walk and donates will receive a complimentary 2026 Walk T-shirt! New this year, those who raise $200 or more will earn their very own Route Sign to be displayed at the walk! To register, please visit https://www.walk4hospice.org/. Hope to see you there!

REGISTER GIVE FIND We Can’t Wait to See you! Kick-Off in… 2026/06/13 10:30:00 Fundraising Goal: $200,000 Progress 16% Everyone who donates and registers for the Walk will receive a complimentary 2026 Walk T-shirt, lunch from Wagon Train and entertainment by the Refrigerators! (We encourage all p...

05/21/2026

A resounding THANK YOU to all those who turned out for our annual "Swinging on a Star" gala. The tally is now official... the wonderful event raised a whopping $150,000 to benefit patient programs for The Community Hospice, Eddy Visiting Nurse & Rehab Association, and Eddy SeniorCare! We can't thank everyone enough for the incredible support. On behalf of our patients and their families, our heartfelt gratitude to Presenting Sponsor Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and all the individuals and businesses that helped make the event possible. You are ALL stars!

05/19/2026

Calling ALL sewers, crafters, and quilters! The Community Hospice is in need of washable bibs and/or gowns for our patients. Our nurses have received requests for these items which help greatly in feeding or mealtime. We have received donations of these in the past which have been beautiful and a tremendous help to families. If you can sew, please consider making some for our patients. And if you know someone who can sew, please share this post and spread the word. Those interested in a pattern can contact Volunteer Coordinator Cindy Guess at 518-724-0282. Donations can be dropped off at our Albany office at 455 New Karner Road, or any of our other locations. On behalf of our patients and families, we are grateful for your kindness!

05/12/2026

In rain or shine, snow or storm, Hospice nurses brave all kinds of elements to be by the sides of the patients and families we serve.

As we wrap this National Nurses Week today, we honor all our nurses and nursing teams who travel in all kinds of conditions across nine counties to provide care, guidance, and support to those who are navigating life's most difficult journey. In recognition of all that our nurses face to care for their patients, we gifted all our nursing colleagues umbrellas as a symbol to protect and shelter them through all that they weather to care for others. THANK YOU to all our nurses! ❤

05/11/2026

The Community Hospice is proud to introduce our latest Sunflower Award recipient, CNA Isabella "Bella" Maroncelli.

Bella was nominated by a patient's husband who says, "From the moment she walked through the door and lit up the room, I knew (wife) is in good hands as she journeys to eternal life." He adds, "Bella has a quiet and gentle personality that explodes into action while she is caring for her patient. Her work ethic is off the charts. The way she assists (wife) confirms that she is not only well trained, but also loving and compassionate in a way that exceeds what is normally expected of a CNA." Additionally, the patient's husband noted how Bella showed up on her day off "with pride and joy to brighten the day of a dying person under her care. She is a treasure!" Congratulations, Bella!

05/08/2026

The Community Hospice is especially proud, during this National Nurses Week May 6-12, to introduce our latest DAISY Award Winner, Missy Cornell, an LPN on our West Team. Missy was nominated by the wife of a patient who says that every day, Missy "walks in with a smile on her face and a happy greeting that brightens (her husband's) mornings, even when he is in pain or not feeling well. She has a way about her that calms him and gives him the assurance to feel supported and cared for." She adds, "her devotion, knowledge, and skills have made a great impression on us both. When she is here, I can mentally relax and know that he is in great care. We both consider her as part of our family and are grateful she is his nurse."

The DAISY Award is an international honor that recognizes nurses who provide extraordinary, compassionate, and skillful care. Recipients are seen as role models who heal the body, mind, and spirit, while demonstrating respect and dedication to patients and families. Congratulations, Missy!

05/07/2026

Behind every moment of comfort for a Hospice patient, there is a Hospice nurse with a heart of compassion...

During this National Nurses Week May 6-12, please join The Community Hospice as we honor all our amazing Hospice nurses and nursing teams for the care and compassion they provide to our patients and families every day.

To our nurses and nursing teams, thank you for your gentle hands, your kind hearts, and all that you do to lift the spirits of those who are going through life's most difficult journey. Thank you for your dedication to our mission -- bringing comfort, peace, and dignity to our patients and their loved ones. Your kindness and dedication are simply extraordinary! ❤

05/04/2026

There was a constellation of the brightest stars Friday night as The Community Hospice, Eddy Visiting Nurse & Rehab Association, and Eddy SeniorCare hosted their annual "Swinging on a Star" gala fundraiser at the Rivers Casino Schenectady. More than 240 guests turned out for the fabulous bash that included delicious cocktails, a scrumptious dinner, followed by live performances by Big Sky Country and dancing. The event also featured a 360 Photo Booth with fun videos for guests, and great silent auction items.

Our heartfelt gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, whose generous support made the evening possible. Thanks also to all our other sponsors and everyone who turned out to support our patients and families. You are ALL stars! Check out all the fun!