Expanding community-based services key to Homeland Center’s continued growth

As Homeland Center celebrates its 150th anniversary, its future lies in continuing to provide excellent care at its historic Harrisburg location as well as expanding to meet the growing healthcare needs throughout the Central Pennsylvania region.

Quality, continued growth and full commitment to Homeland’s founding principles was the message delivered by President and CEO Barry Ramper II at the recent annual meeting of the boards of Trustees and Managers.

“If we could go back and talk to the group of people from nine churches who had a vision it would be very interesting to hear, if even in their wildest imagination, they believed this day would come and that Homeland would be the organization it is today,” Ramper said.

“Our quality begins in the hearts of our staff,” Ramper said. “Homeland’s success begins with our staff and it’s your heartfelt actions that are most important in everything we do.”

Homeland’s commitment to quality was underscored when, for the sixth year in a row, Harrisburg Magazine’s more than 50,000 readers voted Homeland Center as Readers’ Choice for Best Long-Term Care Facility. The recognition came on the heels of Homeland a perfect 5.0 score in U.S News and World Report’s Best Nursing Homes 2016-17.

Highlighting its commitment to hiring and retaining talented and caring staff who represent the community it serves, in March, Homeland Center was named Business Diversity Award Champion of the Year by Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.

While there will always be the need for exceptional personal and skilled nursing care, Ramper stressed Homeland’s future lies in continuing to grow its community-based services that make it possible for people to remain independent in their own homes.

Last year Homeland unveiled two services to help seniors at home. Homeland HomeCare assists seniors with daily tasks such as meal preparation and transportation, while Homeland HomeHealth provides doctor-ordered medical assistance, ranging from providing intravenous therapy and other medications to physical therapy.

The community based services are part of a continuum of care that includes Homeland Hospice, which has a team of caring professionals certified in both adult and pediatric care.

“The future of Homeland is not 1901 North Fifth Street – it is the heart of why we exist, but as we know a body cannot live with just the heart. The future is HomeCare and HomeHealth,” Ramper said. “What we provide with our community based services is an opportunity to have the highest quality of life wherever you call home.”

In keeping with its mission to serve those in need, Homeland in the past year provided almost $3 million in charitable care. Much of this is spent to bridge the gap between the actual cost of care and shrinking public reimbursements.

To ensure that Homeland’s tradition of never asking a resident to leave because of financial reasons continues, Homeland is in the fourth year of its goal to increase its endowment by $20 million by the year 2020. As part of this aim, Homeland established The 1867 Society to recognize individuals and couples who have made significant, tax-deductible commitments to the endowment.

“We’ve come a long way toward reaching our goal, but we still have a long way to go, and each of us needs to renew our commitment to attaining that goal, said Morton Spector, chairman of the Board of Trustees. “The lives of those who cannot care for themselves depends on all of us.”

During the meeting, Ramper and Spector thanked all those who made Homeland Center’s 150th Anniversary Gala held in May at the Harrisburg Hilton a success. Generous donations by the John Crain Kunkel Foundation and John M. Arnold helped raise an unprecedented amount for Homeland’s endowment.

They also recognized Gail Siegel, who is stepping down from the Board of Trustees after six years, where she was an active member of the Financial Development, Long Range Planning and Nominating Committees. She and her husband, Conrad, are charter members of The 1867 Society.

“Thank you for all that you have done,” Ramper said to Siegel, adding that he is grateful for her willingness to continue serving as a non-voting member on numerous committees. “Your involvement makes us stronger.”

Homeland’s commitment to charitable, uncompensated care stands as a resource for the community. A nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, Homeland relies on the generous support of our friends and neighbors to continue helping the less fortunate. To find out how you can make a difference, call 717-221-7900 or go to homelandcenter.org/donate