Homeland Honors its Veterans at Annual Event
December 1, 2025
“Should old acquaintance be forgotten, keep your eye on the grand old flag.” The refrain of the song “You’re a Grand Old Flag” reminds us of the enduring spirit of
“Should old acquaintance be forgotten, keep your eye on the grand old flag.” The refrain of the song “You’re a Grand Old Flag” reminds us of the enduring spirit of
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
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
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
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
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
Homeland’s 2025 Lottery Calendar is on sale! The calendar honors the service and sacrifice of local Veterans served by Homeland Hospice and residents of Homeland Center. This heartfelt piece includes photos and stories of bravery and patriotism from Veterans who put country above self, as well as family members and volunteers
Homeland Center, a licensed not-for-profit Continuing Care Retirement Community occupying a full block in uptown Harrisburg, has been named a Best Nursing Home by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025 nursing home ratings. Homeland Center is the only facility in Dauphin County that U.S. News awarded high-performing ratings for both long-term care and short-term
Learning how to navigate the unchartered waters of grief after the death of a loved one requires a strong support system and the development of coping mechanisms to find hope for the future. Homeland Hospice provides a holistic approach to grief support using a team of compassionate counselors. Homeland Hospice
Angie Bucci of Shippensburg has a heart for hospice work. She enjoys connecting with her patients and their families to provide the most compassionate care possible. For more than 12 years she has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit hospice program that serves communities
When Aimee Schmoltze’s mother began receiving hospice care, she saw the impact of the program on their family. Over a 14-month period, Aimee, her mother and their family developed emotional bonds with the hospice staff who provided compassionate care during a very difficult time. This was a formative experience for
Anniversaries remind us of meaningful moments in time that shaped our history and guided our future. Fifteen years ago, Homeland launched Homeland Hospice as an outreach program to provide compassionate care to patients on their end-of-life journey. The years have been filled with an overarching theme of love. Hundreds of
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 came that she would need care. “It’s a very friendly, homey atmosphere,” she said. “There’s no place quite like it.”
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 store or at milestone events when there is an empty seat at the table where our loved one used to
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 years, she has provided compassionate end-of-life care as a hospice nurse and administrator. The road to her current role with
When residents learn that their nurse at Homeland is the daughter of Homeland Center Director of Nursing Jennifer Tate-DeFreitas, they say to Jennifer, “Your daughter is such a great nurse!” “One resident will ask me, ‘Did you take Malani out to lunch yet? Make sure you take her out to
