For Maryann, a registered nurse, and Jules Canete, a doctor of physical therapy, Homeland is a family affair. The Mechanicsburg couple share their talents and passion for helping others as
Felicia Foster’s reason for working at Homeland Center for 25 years is simple: The residents. “I love the residents,” she said. “You feel so close to them.” Foster is a
On a crisp, sunny October morning, a record crowd of more than 400 walkers and runners laced up their sneakers for the Homeland Hospice 11th Annual 5K and Memory Walk. This
Bill Wismer, a cherished resident of Homeland Center, passed away on November 7, 2025. We remember him with deep affection and gratitude for the passionate spirit he shared with our community. Ellen and Bill Wismer are lifelong gardeners whose passion
Anna Hicks is a medication technician whose compassionate approach enhances the lives of residents far beyond dispensing medications. For example, one Homeland resident wakes up achy every morning, so Hicks massages her knees with pain cream and makes her coffee,
Bygone days of elegance and refinement made a return at Homeland Center, as residents filled the main dining room for a spring tea. Kettle-shaped cards printed with flowers invited residents, and a pianist playing “Tea for Two” and other standards
Antonia Gomez chose a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant because she loves helping people. “That’s my biggest thing,” she said. “Even outside of Homeland, I’m always helping friends, family, everybody.” In her 14 years at Homeland Center, Gomez formed
“You, my brown eyed girl.” The lyrics of “Brown Eyed Girl,” Van Morrison’s nostalgic and catchy song from 1967, is familiar to many and a portal to another time for others. For anyone growing up in the 1960s, this song and others from this era evoke memories of times with
World War II came directly to Pino Filardo’s childhood hometown of Catanzaro, Italy. The beautiful capital of Calabria, known as “the City of the Two Seas,” was under siege from bombings. Even his school was bombed, but young Pino wasn’t there that day because he was home sick. Most of
What do social workers do? At Homeland, they help families navigate the complexities that are often involved with caregiving. “The hard work shouldn’t be on the family,” said Homeland social worker Amanda Williams. “They should just be coming to visit their loved ones. They shouldn’t have to worry about the
“When was the last time you went through and cleaned out your pantry?” It was an excellent question, posted on the first Homeland Community Outreach Pantry Cleanse flier. Most people have extras or unwanted items in their pantries. The taco mix packet purchased when there were three at home. The
A. Wendy Warner felt a sense of oneness with art and nature as a little girl. “It sounds sort of crazy, but I felt like I could almost touch things that were beautiful in the sense that I would drive down a mountain and lift my arm and feel as
When Homeland Employee Wellness Coordinator Roxane E. Hearn, PhD sees Homeland Center staff wearing scrubs that have grown baggy from weight loss, it warms her heart. “You see them moving faster,” she said. “They say they’re not as tired on their shift or feel they have more energy to spend
A love connection often begins at the most unexpected time. An ordinary day can be the start of an extraordinary relationship. Call it destiny or luck, 40 years ago on a cold and wintry day, Phil Talarico saw his now wife Barbara waiting for the bus to go to work.
After 65 years of marriage, Loretta Colestock lost her husband to Alzheimer’s in 2015. It was a challenging time. In the years after his death, she got tired of rambling around alone in the house, but she also wanted to retain her independence. Loretta had heard about Homeland Center’s stellar
“Time to crown the king and queen!” Every prom needs a king and queen, and Carl Barna and Loretta Colestock entered like royalty – which they were! The first Homeland Masquerade Senior Prom was underway. Created by the Homeland Activities Department to brighten up a late January day, the prom
When buying Homeland equipment — from large purchases down to the right chair a resident needs to live and move comfortably — Kelly English makes one thing clear. “I will never sacrifice quality to get a better price for something,” he said. “I’m never going to skimp on quality just
