Some lives Are Shaped By Chance. Others Are Shaped By Calling.
My Life Has Always Belonged To The Latter.

Some journeys are not chosen. They begin with a responsibility, a quiet promise, or a moment that asks someone to step forward. Homer L. Hartage’s story is rooted in that calling, a life shaped by service, family, caregiving, and the belief that helping others is not just work, but purpose.

My Story

I was raised in Orlando, Florida, as the eldest of six children by a single mother.

I learned early that responsibility is not an abstract value, but a daily practice. From a young age, I learned how to listen, how to protect, and how to remain steady when others needed support. Caring for people was never a career decision; it was woven into who I was becoming. That foundation quietly guided me.

Throughout my life, I have been drawn to moments when people feel overwhelmed, unheard, or alone. Guided by faith and a deep sense of purpose, my work has always centered on clarity, compassion, and protection. For decades, I advocated for individuals and families navigating some of life’s most vulnerable seasons—helping them find dignity, understanding, and peace when it felt hardest to do so.

When I retired at sixty‑two, believing it was the conclusion of my professional journey, I found instead that it was the beginning of my truest calling. From a guest bedroom in my home, I founded AgedCare, a Professional Guardianship Company. I didn’t imagine that it would grow into one of Florida’s most influential professional guardianship organizations.

What began as a second career revealed itself as my true way to show clarity, compassion, and protection to others.

I was able to stand in the gap for those without a voice, preserving dignity when it mattered most, and guiding families through the complexity of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease with care and humanity.

This calling is deeply rooted in legacy. I am the great‑great‑grandson of Webster Joshua Hartage, a slave, freed by the Emancipation Proclamation at nine years of age, and the great‑grandson of an AME pastor whose faith and leadership shaped generations. The values passed down through my family—Christian faith, service, a good education, and responsibility—have shaped not only what I do, but why I do it and who I am.

My service extends beyond guardianship. I am a former Orange County Commissioner, a recipient of two Congressional Citations for Outstanding Community Service, and the founder of The Hartage Foundation, Inc., where I continue my lifelong commitment to advocacy, education, and community uplift.

I began writing not to become an author but as a guardian to others. It’s funny, but I am still learning to find comfort in being called an author. My writing is inspired by the many lives at risk that I serve as a guardian. Some of them are forgotten, souls. My books exist to preserve memory, protect dignity, and ensure that every story of those I serve leaves an echo. The Memory Box, Charlotte’s Big Surprise enshrines this heartfelt belief.

Every role I have held, every life I have been entrusted to care for, and every story I have witnessed led me here—a calling fulfilled and a legacy unfolding.

Explore Resources & Knowledge Centers

If you’re here because you’re supporting a child through memory change, you may want to explore the Parent Discovery Resource Center:

If you’re here as an educator or professional, the Curriculum & Educator Resource Centeroutlines how this work is used in practice.

The Mission Writing With Purpose

My writings are to ensure that no life is reduced to just paperwork, no story disappears without being told, and no family is left navigating responsibility alone.

My work resonates with caregivers, families, professionals, and anyone who believes that memory, dignity, and responsibility are essential.

My current book catalog includes

Helping Children Understand Memory & Change

Provides useful information for individuals, families, and professional guardians, so they can make informed decisions about the guardianship and care of their loved ones.

The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Big Surprise

A charming children’s book. The perfect tool to help families lovingly share the meaning of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with young children—through compassion, understanding, and endearing memories.

Parentification: Caregivers In Crisis

Coming fall of 2026. What you should know when children carry adult responsibilities.

Please Don’t Let Me Be Forgotten

Years into my work as a professional guardian, I was assigned to an elderly woman with no close family. On paper, she was just another case number.

But as I sat with her and listened, I noticed a small cardboard box tucked beneath her bed. Inside were a few photographs, old political flyers, handwritten recipe cards, and notes yellowed with time. Most surprising, among this cluttered box was a financial record; her deceased husband had left an annuity, enough to care for her for the rest of her life. Alzheimer’s had nearly taken this from her.

“Please don’t let me be forgotten, care for me, remember me. This is the call of so many.”

My Promise: To bring clarity, compassion, and protection to the most vulnerable moments of life—informing, comforting, and empowering across generations.

This is the world of Homer Hartage.

A place where stories matter, dignity is protected, and memory becomes legacy. Here, writing is not separate from life’s work. Each book grows from decades spent protecting vulnerable individuals, guiding families through uncertainty, and standing in the gap when clarity and compassion are needed most. This website brings together the stories, the books, and the mission that define Homer’s work.

"Please don't let me be forgotten. Care for me, remember me. This is the call of so many."

Library

Books By Homer

My writings ensure that no life is reduced to just paperwork, no story disappears without being told, and no family is left navigating responsibility alone.

Family & Professional Guardianship

Provides useful information for individuals, families, and professional guardians, so that they can make informed decisions about the guardianship and care of their loved ones.

Guidance for Guardians

Are you navigating the fog of guardianship responsibilities? This book offers practical solutions grounded in laws and factual insights, ensuring you are never caught off guard.

The Memory Box & Charlotte’s Surprise

A heartwarming story seen through the eyes of a child, exploring the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease, family bonds, and the profound impact of memory loss on young lives.

Story Blurb

When Charlotte’s beloved grandpa no longer recognizes her face, her world crumbles. Armed with a Memory Box filled with photographs, Charlotte embarks on an emotional journey of rediscovery.

Parentification: Caregivers In Crisis

Every day, countless children step into roles meant for adults. Behind that strength lies a hidden cost: the loss of childhood, unspoken stress, and emotional wounds that can last a lifetime.

When Children Carry Adult Responsibilities

This book shines an unflinching light on the emotional and psychological weight carried by children who are forced to grow up too soon.

Partner Bookstores

Homer L. Hartage’s books are available through the AgedCare Guardian website and trusted bookstore partners across the United States and internationally, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, eBay, BAM (Books-A-Million), and ThriftBooks.

Distributed by Ingram