Earl Soliday kicks a foot in lively fashion. “I couldn’t even move my leg before, but look at that now,” he said. “I feel good. They’re treating me well in
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
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
Homeland Hospice recently earned its fourth star out of a five-star ranking system for its quality of care for veterans through the national We Honor Veterans program. We Honor Veterans, created by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
If you need to find Homeland Director of Nursing Jennifer Tate-Defreitas, her desk isn’t always the place to look. “I still work the floor, and I still work every shift,” she says. “It’s important as a director to know the
Lois Hartman grew up in Philadelphia, but after moving to a slightly more rural setting, she enjoyed life amid the greenery. There was just one problem. “In Philadelphia, we roller-skated on the streets because they were smooth,’’ she recalled. “When
Dennis Dinger and Tina Jones are a father-daughter duo with divergent careers but a shared passion for Homeland Center. Dennis is a career financial services executive who serves as treasurer for the Homeland Board of Trustees. Tina started working in
Love was all around Homeland Center on Valentine’s Day. Visitors were greeted with a cheery “Happy Valentine’s Day” and the sight of red streamers, balloons, and flowers at every turn. In the Main Dining Room, a volunteer dressed in red handed out felt hearts to residents having lunch. Throughout the
Sometimes, high school sweethearts blossom into sweethearts for a lifetime. Colleen and Lester Grotzinger knew each other from around their high school in the northcentral Pennsylvania town of Renovo. At a New Year’s Eve Party, they started talking, which led to their first date. Today, the recent Homeland residents savor
In her sixth-grade yearbook, Jennifer Murray wrote that she hoped someday to be married with two children and have a job as a nurse. Today, she is married, with two children and a stepson, and her entire 18-year career has been in nursing. “Ever since I was a little girl,
Home health is a physician-ordered plan of care available to patients after a hospital stay, the onset of a new diagnosis, or in the event an existing illness becomes worse. It is a way you can recover in the comfort of your own home with the support of your family
Anne Jessee and her American Kennel Club therapy bulldog, Franklin, have been volunteering with Homeland Hospice for nearly a year. Therapy dogs (like Franklin) go with their handlers (like Anne) and volunteer in different settings such as schools, or in this case, hospice programs. Spending time with pets has been
Is keeping up with daily tasks harder than it once was? Do activities such as doing the laundry, dusting, and yard work now require lengthy breaks? Are chores that once took you five or ten minutes now taking an hour or two – or even more? You can receive the
Some of the greatest stars the music world has ever known descended on Homeland on the final Friday of 2017. Residents heard from The Supremes, Doris Day, Michael Jackson, and the Chairman of the Board himself – Frank Sinatra, singing some of his greatest hits. Of course, the legendary performers
When Elaine Golembiewski and her friends had good government jobs, they had enough money for cars and freedom. From her home in Wilkes-Barre, she would take out-of-town excursions or have some fun at local spots. “My girlfriends and I would never sit at home,” she says. “We liked to go
The resident didn’t want breakfast. Her worried son told Aprile Greene that his mom wasn’t eating her oatmeal and eggs, but Aprile had an idea. She went into the kitchen for some applesauce. It did the trick. “You get to know the residents and what they like,” says Aprile. “I
Delectable appetizers. Made-from-scratch desserts. Traditional comfort food like grandma used to make. Last year, Barbara Cleeland, a volunteer at Homeland Center, spearheaded the creation of a cookbook to commemorate the non-profit’s 150th anniversary. “Since we created one for the 125th anniversary, I suggested the idea at one of our development
