When Susan K. Getty was studying in Messiah College’s studio art program at age 44, younger students would ask if she was sad about wasting all those years before pursuing
Tara Roland and the Homeland Center’s housekeeping team often hear the same thing from the families of residents: “Thanks for taking care of my mom. You have my mom’s room
It was a Friday the 13th, but red was the color of this lucky day in the Homeland Center Diner. “It’s good to be spending any time with my husband,”
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
On a frigid December day at a nondescript tract of seemingly barren land, Homeland Hospice volunteers placed ceremonial wreaths and flags throughout Dauphin County Cemetery in honor of Wreaths Across America Day. This annual event brings together more than two
With a lifetime steeped in art, Nancy Stamm still enjoys first-time experiences, including her exhibit in Homeland’s Florida Room gallery. It’s nice when people “see art where they don’t expect it.” “I like the idea that people walking in their
When Joe Pulaski enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, he wanted to maintain B-52 bombers, and he got his wish. As Homeland Center honors its residents and staff veterans for Veterans Day, he spoke for many who cherish their service.
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
Taking the wrong step or losing balance, even for a brief moment, can cause a debilitating fall. For adults 65 years and older, a simple fall can have a lasting impact. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury for this
Is Kitty Deaven enjoying her time at Homeland? “Oh, yes,” she said. “Yes, yes, yes, yes.” Kitty loves everything about Homeland, and so do her daughters. “It’s given us peace of mind not to worry about her,” said her eldest daughter, Judy Deaven, of Susquehanna Township. Kitty came to Homeland
