As a little girl, Jessica Budd was walking through the halls of Homeland to visit her great-grandmother. “Mom, this is what I want to do when I grow up,” she
“Welcome to our home away from home.” That’s how Dan Barber greets visitors to his comfortably arranged personal care suite. Since he and his wife, Carolyn, have moved to Homeland
At Homeland, titles and job descriptions don’t matter when a resident has a problem. If someone’s TV is stuck on the wrong channel, a Homeland staffer will step up, said
At Homeland, titles and job descriptions don’t matter when a resident has a problem. If someone’s TV is stuck on the wrong channel, a Homeland staffer will step up, said housekeeper Christine McClucas “The employees are friendly, and they will
David McBride first showed his artwork at Homeland Center in 2019. This year, he jumped at the chance to exhibit his pieces again. “I was so pleased to come back out here and hang stuff again; it was nutty,” he
As the solemn sound of “Taps” filled Homeland Center’s chapel, residents and visitors who were able stood at attention. After the last note sounded, two veterans stepped up and folded an American flag. When they were done, each handed the
As Homeland Center looks toward its 160th anniversary in 2027, members of the 1867 Society of Homeland play a key role in sustaining the legacy of 18 remarkable women whose determination and tenacity launched an enduring institution. Homeland recently hosted
Homecooked meals often take us back to simpler times when we were young and our parents tended to our cold or soothed our bad day. Delicious ingredients made by someone we love brings us comfort and lets us know we are not alone. Janice Zaring of Newport thinks about this
A visit to Homeland Center by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday — educating residents about preventing identity theft — brought things full circle. Sunday is a Harrisburg native whose grandmother had lived in Homeland, and “I know this place inside and out,” he said. “She loved her time here, and
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 her passion. Her answer: “No.” “I wasn’t ready for this then,” she said. “Now, I was loving it. It was
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 looking like home.” As a housekeeping supervisor, Tara ensures the Homeland environment remains clean, neat, and organized for residents, visitors,
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,” said Claire Zeiters as she enjoyed Homeland’s Valentine’s Day luncheon and a visit with her husband of 42 years. Claire
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, but she was just an angel on earth. Imagine that.” From Helen’s airy room in Homeland’s skilled care, her son,
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 assistant directors of nursing. “People here pay attention to the residents.” While Mary Ellen treats residents like family, she can
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 care. “It is amazing to me to watch a group
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 her niche there at the mission’s youth center, helping in
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 back in time to meet the courageous 18 women who
