When Jennifer Murray gives tours to potential personal care residents and their families, she shares Homeland Center’s amazing 156-year history of devotion to the community. “We’re not going anywhere,” she
Margo Konetski didn’t initially think of herself as an artist, but as a child, “everything had doodles on it.” Teachers would chide her for being inattentive, but now, she knows
Baubles, bangles, and beads. Plus, an Avengers puzzle and candy. Who doesn’t want a cheery gift for the holidays? Even better, it was all packaged into one-stop shopping, with the
Babs Phillips is a longtime Board of Managers member who has seen Homeland grow to meet the community’s needs while maintaining its status as a premier care facility. “It’s the employees,” she said. “They maintain a caring attitude. It starts
by Laurie Bassler, MSW, Homeland Hospice I have an uncle who asked me “why anyone would want a social worker present when their loved one is dying?” Typically, a social worker’s job is to assist with concrete needs, like helping
With his decades in food service, George Shum has learned that the small details make a big difference. “We ensure our plates are preheated to keep the food warm,” said Homeland Center’s chef manager. “It’s simple but important.” George joined
Rita Van Meter of Lewistown was known as the “miracle lady” by staff at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital after she survived a medical episode in August of 2022. During her hospitalization, Rita suffered a heart attack and received last rites from her
Name an animal you wouldn’t kiss. That was the question. Team 2 debated it among themselves. Gorilla, someone said. Or a monkey? “I’d kiss a monkey,” one teammate objected. They decided on “frog,” but that brought up a red X on the screen and a loud buzzer. This was Family
Before she joined the Board of Managers, Alicelyn Watson Sleber knew Homeland Center well through her work in local social services and visits to fellow church members living here. “I like that Homeland is in the community,” Alicelyn says. “They involve the community in their undertakings, and they give back
The songbook on the Roland keyboard in John D’Orazio’s personal care suite at Homeland is open to “Stranger in Paradise.” It’s a testament to John’s lifelong love of music. “I was never very good at it,” he admits. “I’m a frustrated musician. I tried to teach my son the guitar,
Being healthy is its own reward, but that doesn’t stop Homeland Center from sweetening the pot, so to speak, with incentives and challenges encouraging employees to take charge of their health. “For us to be the best we can be for the group of residents, patients, and clients who’ve entrusted
In good times, friends share laughter, create memories and plan for the future. They celebrate special occasions and inside jokes. In challenging times, they listen to each other’s heartache and provide stability and guidance. Cathy Paul and Carol Wood are such friends. Their lives are forever intertwined by the joys
We all have them. Special memories of time spent with a loved one. With perfect clarity, we remember the sounds, scents and feelings of the moment. Sometimes the collection of these moments play like a slideshow in our mind. After the death of a loved one, these memories sustain us.
From noon to 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday between June 12 and July 24, each of Homeland Center’s six care areas will have their own picnic in the Chet Henry Memorial Pavilion, located in the lush Fifth Street gardens. Organized by the staff and Board of Managers members, the picnics are
Music has been a constant note through the lives of Ray and Dann Caldwell. Ray is a resident of Homeland Center, and his son, Dann, is Homeland Hospice chaplain with an expanding array of responsibilities overseeing the spiritual wellness of Homeland residents. Father and son love to share their love
Beth Stoner loves to paint flowers, and though her artwork isn’t on display at Homeland, her artistry is on view in another sense. At the entrances to Homeland are colorful planters that Beth helped create. Brimming with flowers, they extend a cheery welcome to residents and visitors alike. Homeland has
At age 20, Lillian Rappaport’s parents hadn’t met yet. Both were living poor but normal lives in the Warsaw-area Jewish villages called shtetls. It all changed in September 1939 when the Nazis invaded Poland, the start of the Second World War. “Neighbor turned against neighbor,” Holocaust educator Rappaport told Homeland
