In the early 2000s, Nancy VanKirk’s mother and stepfather lived at Homeland Center. From the attentive care they received, VanKirk knew that Homeland would be her home when the time
Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one knows the journey through grief doesn’t have a timeline. Memories can flood our minds at inopportune moments at the grocery
Kristine (Kris) Crockett, RN, CHPN, Director of Homeland Hospice and Homeland Palliative Care, approaches life with an open mind, always looking for opportunities to serve others. For more than 25
“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
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
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
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
We all have a story to tell filled with memories and experiences of our life. Like a good book, our story is cataloged into chapters, with recollections of our childhood, youthful dreams, careers and families of our own. These memories can fade quickly with the passage of time. To honor
With a stitch of a needle or stroke of a paintbrush, Amy Zecha of Harrisburg is finding creative methods for channeling her grief following the death of her mother Angelyn. With the help of Homeland Hospice’s bereavement program, Amy has found productive ways to discuss her grief and reconnect with
Sadie Hawkins was commuting between home and work when her doctor issued a warning. If she kept riding the train back and forth every day, she wouldn’t last long, he said. In October, Sadie turned 106 years old. “He died, and I’m still here,” she says. The day after her
World Kindness Day, celebrated annually on November 13, promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. It is a reminder that compassion for others is what binds us all together. When working with patients through their end-of-life journey, compassionate guides and partners are vital.
Candy corn and apples. Pumpkins and witchy cupcakes. Welcome to Homeland Center’s first “Homeland Fall Fest” – a celebration of autumn that brought residents and staff outside to enjoy a crisp day and fun with friends. “You could tell what it meant to them,” says Activities Coordinator Emma Lengyel. “Even
After four years as a social worker with Homeland Hospice and nearly two decades of working in the profession, Angie Smyser has earned her certification as a licensed clinical social worker, which refers to social workers who have obtained their master’s degree in social work and completed the requirements in
This article is re-posted with permission. We thank Gabrielle Elise Jimenez, hospice nurse, end-of-life doula, and conscious dying educator, for sharing her experiences at thehospiceheart.net blog. ____________________________ How much time do we have? Where did the time go? I wish we could go back in time. Remember that time? Time
The sign Sandy Daily held out of the car window said it all. “From Peggy, Rusty, and the Dailys, thanks for caring.” Homeland Center celebrated National Assisted Living Week 2021 with style, putting extra-special touches into a show of appreciation for employees who have performed heroically since the COVID-19 pandemic
Charles Fetterhoff has seen the inside of many nursing homes, visiting friends and his sister, born with cerebral palsy, as she went in and out of rehab. He also knows Homeland Center from the years that his mother and his sister – both named Mary – lived there. “You couldn’t
Hannah Sprow is Steelton born and bred, but her heart belongs to a cabin in the woods. From childhood, Hannah and her family would spend summers amid the forests of Pine Grove Furnace. “I loved that place,” she says. “It was more like a home to me than my own
