What’s the secret to living to 100? “Good mother, good father,” said Helen Fridirici, who came to Homeland in 2025. “My mother was an angel. Nobody ever told her that,
In an age when many health care facilities are increasingly depersonalized, Homeland focuses on the residents. “Homeland made me believe in nursing again,” said Mary Ellen Roberts, one of Homeland’s
Sally Klein has been a pioneering leader in central Pennsylvania policymaking, human services, and nonprofits for decades. Since joining the Homeland Board of Trustees around 2015, she has come to
Sally Klein has been a pioneering leader in central Pennsylvania policymaking, human services, and nonprofits for decades. Since joining the Homeland Board of Trustees around 2015, she has come to know and admire another landmark institution deeply rooted in community
Mary Deibler believes in service to others. For 15 years after her retirement, she volunteered at Bethesda Mission, a Harrisburg-based provider of housing and services for the homeless. “I like to help people who need help,” she said. She found
An annual calendar signifies the start of a new year with endless opportunities. Holidays and special occasions give us something to look forward to as the year unfolds. The 2026 Homeland Lottery Calendar provides this as well as a step
Our life’s calling is often connected by the seeds planted in our youth. Experiences we face and people we meet help guide our career choices as we enter our adult years. For Symira Waters, BSN, RN, helping care for her
The life we lead can be reinvented by taking chances and following our heart. Nearly 15 years ago, Elizabeth Terekh took a chance and moved to the United States to explore our great country and pursue her love of medicine. Today, Elizabeth is a registered nurse with Homeland HomeHealth and treats every
While James and Helen Smith became Homeland Center residents earlier this year, their ties to Homeland go back decades. Helen met her longtime friend, Homeland resident Loretta Colestock, when she first moved to Harrisburg. James coached Homeland President/CEO Barry Ramper II in Little League. “Everybody here is very friendly and very
A young artist’s mischief turned her family’s world purple when Kelly Charlesworth, a perfectly behaved child by all appearances, left behind an unexpected canvas — her bedsheets, transformed with a single crayon. What began as a childhood mystery would spark a lifelong artistic journey. “She said, ‘Kelly would never do
Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit outreach program of Homeland Center in Harrisburg, will host its 11th annual 5K and Memory Walk on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 9 a.m. at the Rossmoyne Business Center at 5000 Ritter Road in Mechanicsburg. The event serves to remember loved ones lost and raise funds to support those
In the height of the lunch rush, Registered Dietitian Meghan Sechler popped into the Homeland kitchen to ask the cook to make a special sandwich for a new resident. “And she did it,” Sechler said. “She actually did it for me.” Plus, she adds, “We have a really good kitchen
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 followed them to Homeland, where the grounds are lush and
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, which the resident deeply appreciates. “She loves me,” says Hicks.
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 set the right tone, as did the tables adorned in
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 friendships with residents and colleagues and experienced the many ways
Beneath the glowing chandeliers and soaring ceilings of the Mediterranean-style King Mansion, more than 65 members of the 1867 Society gathered together, forming a life-sized tableau of the values that inspired the formation of the precursor to Homeland Center 158 years ago: compassion and trust. As guests dined on fine hors d’oeuvres
