Mary Ellen Carollo and Our Family’s Experience By Frank Carollo My wife, Mary Ellen Carollo, was a resident in Hospicare from September 2014 until her death in May 2015. Our family is convinced that the wonderful care she received there is what kept her alive for those nine months. Mary Ellen was diagnosed with an…
The Hospicare Blog
Hospicare Turns 40!
2023 marks Hospicare’s 40th Anniversary! All year long we will be honoring 40 years of care while working to ensure the future. We have an important announcement for our community! 40 years ago, a group of concerned citizens, seeing a need in our community, formed Hospicare as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Ever since that day,…
40 Years of Compassion at Hospicare
By Jane Baker Segelken, MA, MSW With the 40th anniversary of the founding of Hospicare coming up in 2023, I thought this might be the perfect time to offer a little history of the organization, with a focus on its residence. Recognizing an unmet need In the early 1970s, soon after Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ best-selling book…
Hospicare Patient Care Volunteer Training
Want to Make a Difference? Become a Hospice Volunteer! Volunteers are an essential part of the hospice team; both in assisting our patients and families and in assisting our staff. Hospicare & Palliative Care Services is looking for: • Volunteers to help assist our staff in the Ithaca office answering phones and greeting visitors• Volunteers…
Dogs Bring Love and Comfort to Hospicare

By Emily Hopkins “Animals aren’t judgmental, they don’t care what you look like, what you sound like, who you are. They reduce anxiety and heart rate, and they ease depression,” explains Hospicare volunteer Janet Gray, who directs Cornell University Veterinary College’s Cornell Companion Program. The program, which marks its 25thyear in 2023, makes regular visits…
Feeling, Honoring, and Releasing Our Stories of Grief
By Kathy Lucas, Holistic Movement Coach, Dancer, and Steel Club Specialist Dance had always been a home that I could retreat to in times of joy, frustration, hope and healing. It has given me permission to explore the pit of inner crises and became my personal processing tool that had no rules or filters. I…
Finding Ways to Mourn Your Loss
by Jane Baker Segelken, MA, MSW, part of the Social Work team at Hospicare & Palliative Care Services People who are grieving often hear all kinds of advice about the best way to mourn. All the suggestions we receive may have some semblance of helpfulness, but the fact is there’s no right or wrong way…
Nineteen Years of Women Swimmin’ for Hospicare
by Jane Baker Segelken, MA, MSW, part of the Social Work team at Hospicare & Palliative Care Services With planning for Hospicare’s Women Swimmin’ in full swing now, excitement for the event is growing. This year the event will be in person with all its splash. Joan Brumburg and Ann Costello, two of the event’s…
Hospicare 101: It’s All About Living
by Jane Baker Segelken, MA, MSW, part of the Social Work team at Hospicare & Palliative Care Services Many of us are familiar with the statement “hospice isn’t about dying, hospice is about living.” But what does that really mean? When I first became involved with hospice, I quickly realized it’s about quality of life,…
Welcoming Our Newest Board Member
Emily Papperman recently joined Hospicare’s Board. She is currently employed at Finger Lakes Independence Center as an Advocacy Specialist and has been in that position for 13 years. Last year, she got her Certification as a Work Incentive Practitioner for the Ticket-to-Work Program through the Social Security Administration. This professional development plays into her role…