End of Life Decision Making – recording now available

Thank you to the many community members who attended our free educational presentation, “End of Life Decision Making,” this spring! This event was originally scheduled for Fall 2025, and we appreciate everyone’s flexibility with the rescheduling. We were honored to have Homer Medical Center’s Dr. Giulia Tortora, local estate planning attorney Lindsay Wolter, and Hospice of Homer death doula Morgan Laffert lead this important conversation. Together, they covered key aspects of end-of-life planning, including living wills, medical power of attorney, legal and medical decision-making, and emotional considerations.

Direct link to video

Slides (compressed version) 

Presentation Handout

Estate Planning Handout

Alaska POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Form

Alaska Advance Health Care Directive

The Five Wishes Document

Planning for your Pet’s Future

Healthy in Homer April Newsletter

March Wellness Wednesday

Join us for Wellness Wednesday, we’ve got a great line-up this month!

Navigating Health and Resources

Community members are invited to this free public event on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Homer Senior Center Cafeteria.

This event is designed to help residents connect with local health services, community supports, and resource navigation, all in one place.
During the lunch hour, attendees can visit information tables, ask questions, and pick up resources from a variety of local organizations, including:
  •  South Peninsula Hospital: offering flu shots, blood pressure screenings, and information on living wills, POLST forms, and legal document
  • Independent Living Center: providing guidance on enrollment and waiver processes
  • Public Health: sharing available local resources and supports
  • Hospice of Homer: offering information about local services and support
  • Laurie Deakins: offering information regarding Medicaid waivers
  • Homer Senior Center: sharing details on community programs
Free lunch prepared by the Homer Senior Center kitchen will be available.
Everyone is welcome, and there is no cost to attend.
For more information, community members can contact the Homer Senior Center at (907) 235-7655.

Community Resource Connect



Community Resource Connect (CRC) is a free community event designed to connect individuals and families with local support and resources. If you or someone you know is experiencing financial hardship, housing instability, or could use extra help with basic needs, we invite you to join us.

Location: SPARC: 600 Sterling Highway, Homer
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public

More than 20 local service providers will be available to share information and help connect you with:
• Housing and homelessness support
• Public assistance and benefits
• Food resources
• Clothing and supplies
• Employment and job support
• Child and family resources
• Behavioral health and recovery support
• Community programs and referrals

This is a welcoming event for anyone who could benefit from support, guidance, or connection to services in our area. You can come to ask questions, gather information, and meet organizations that serve the Homer area and surrounding communities. Transportation assistance is available: call or text 907-435-1103 to learn more.Thank you to the SPARC for their generosity in supporting and housing this event

Wellness Wednesday – January Schedule

Kick off 2026 with Wellness Wednesdays at Kachemak Bay Campus. Join us this January for a weekly evening of learning, nourishment, and movement. Each night includes an engaging health talk, homemade soup and bread, followed by an hour of guided movement. Free to all, everyone welcome. 

January Schedule:

All Wellness Wednedays at the Kachemak Bay Campus, Room 202 from 5;30pm – 7:30pm. For questions, contact wellness@sphosp.org.

Wellness Wednesday – December Schedule

We’re excited to share an excellent December lineup at Kachemak Bay Campus! Each week features a health talk, homemade soup and bread, and an hour of movement to follow. 

December Schedule:

All Wellness Wednedays at the Kachemak Bay Campus, Room 202 from 5;30pm – 7:30pm. For questions, contact wellness@sphosp.org.

Brake for Breakfast: October 1

Grab a FREE breakfast bag with treats and lifesaving breast health information at one of three convenient locations while supplies last!

  • Homer: Alaska Islands and Ocean Parking Lot (95 Sterling Hwy) Hosted by South Peninsula Hospital
  • Fritz Creek: Fritz Creek General Store Parking Lot (55770 East End) Hosted by Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic
  • Anchor Point: Rise N’ Grind Coffee Shop (33810 Sterling Hwy)

For more information, please email wellness@sphosp.org or call 907-235-0285.

Senior Wellness Day

Calling all seniors citizens! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon hosted by South Peninsula Hospital in collaboration with local agencies. Participants can expect a presentation on “Frailty, Fractures, and Reducing Falls” with Dr. Joe Llenos, lunch, freebies, blood pressure checks, resources from local organizations, followed by a beginner level fitness activity!

 – 
September 10, 2025

Kachemak Bay Campus

RSVP here

Wellness Wednesday – February Schedule

FEBRUARY 

Yoga Instructor: Taylor Kendal Chandler

Bio: Taylor Chandler is a holistic wellness guide and movement instructor who draws on her unique background in environmental public health and communications. As a 500-hour certified yoga teacher and female core + pelvic floor specialist, she creates classes that blend yoga-based movement, strength conditioning, and restorative practices in a mindful flow format.

Drawing from her expertise in whole-body wellness and women’s pelvic health, Taylor guides both experienced yogis and newcomers with compassionate presence and deep anatomical knowledge. Her classes cultivate physical vitality and inner balance while meeting each student’s unique needs and goals.

Contact: hello@seedsandspells.com

 

February 05 

Heather Forbes CDM, CPM, BSM, Mountain Sea Midwifery and Wellness

Circadian Wellness

Join us for an informative talk from local midwife Heather Forbes to gain a foundational understanding of how light/dark impacts our health. 

 

February 12 

Jay Bechtol, CEO, SPBHS 

Talking with Your Children About Mental Health

Come enjoy a presentation designed to help anyone navigate sensitive conversations about emotional well-being with kids, parents, or primary care-givers. Experts from South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services will cover strategies for creating an open, supportive environment where children feel safe expressing their feelings. The presentation will also provide guidance on recognizing signs of mental health challenges, addressing stigma, and fostering resilience. Aimed at empowering families, this talk will equip parents with tools to communicate effectively, normalize mental health discussions, and offer the necessary support to children from 0 to 99

 

February 19 

Taylor Kendal Chandler 

The Language of Living Well

Drawing from a unique blend of environmental public health, yoga-based movement and communications expertise to explore how we can rewrite our understanding of wellness beyond conventional metrics. Through insights from longevity studies, lived experience and nature’s own rhythms, participants will be guided toward an authentic, sustainable definition of wellbeing that honors both individual needs and our interconnected world.

 

February 26 

Morgan Laffert, Hospice of Homer

Walking Each Other Home: a conversation on death

A conversation on death with Hospice of Homer staff and volunteers. Learn about the process of death, how our community supports the in-home end-of-life transition, and hear from our volunteers and their client’s loved ones about their experiences.