A health crisis brought Ed and Marlene Sickora to Homeland in the fall of 2024, but they knew immediately that they were in the right place. “We’ve met so many
When members of the Homeland community were invited to decorate canvas hearts to celebrate Homeland Hospice’s 15th anniversary, many chose to depict hands. “What comes out of our hands exudes
Nicol Brown, NHA, chief human resources and compliance officer for Homeland Center, has been named a 2025 YWCA Greater Harrisburg Woman of Excellence. YWCA’s Tribute to Women of Excellence program
Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit outreach program of Homeland Center in Harrisburg, will host its 10th annual 5K and Memory Walk on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 8:30 a.m. at the Rossmoyne Business Center at 5000 Ritter Road in Mechanicsburg. The event
Even as her job gets busier and she takes on more responsibilities, Latashia Simmons makes sure to spend time with Homeland Center’s residents. “When I’m going around and seeing who needs vaccinations, that’s one way I can socialize,” she said.
John Scunziano spent the first two decades of his career cooking for celebrities and high-end restaurants. Now that he’s cooking in health care, he says the work feels more meaningful. “You’re going to have these residents three times a day,
As a young woman, Tamara Jaroszewski of Harrisburg experienced the profound impact of hospice services when her sister died of breast cancer at age 40. For Tamara, hospice work became a beacon of hope and inspiration. She felt called to
We all have a story to tell filled with memories and experiences of our life. Like a good book, our story is cataloged into chapters, with recollections of our childhood, youthful dreams, careers and families of our own. These memories can fade quickly with the passage of time. To honor
With a stitch of a needle or stroke of a paintbrush, Amy Zecha of Harrisburg is finding creative methods for channeling her grief following the death of her mother Angelyn. With the help of Homeland Hospice’s bereavement program, Amy has found productive ways to discuss her grief and reconnect with
Sadie Hawkins was commuting between home and work when her doctor issued a warning. If she kept riding the train back and forth every day, she wouldn’t last long, he said. In October, Sadie turned 106 years old. “He died, and I’m still here,” she says. The day after her
World Kindness Day, celebrated annually on November 13, promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. It is a reminder that compassion for others is what binds us all together. When working with patients through their end-of-life journey, compassionate guides and partners are vital.
Candy corn and apples. Pumpkins and witchy cupcakes. Welcome to Homeland Center’s first “Homeland Fall Fest” – a celebration of autumn that brought residents and staff outside to enjoy a crisp day and fun with friends. “You could tell what it meant to them,” says Activities Coordinator Emma Lengyel. “Even
After four years as a social worker with Homeland Hospice and nearly two decades of working in the profession, Angie Smyser has earned her certification as a licensed clinical social worker, which refers to social workers who have obtained their master’s degree in social work and completed the requirements in
This article is re-posted with permission. We thank Gabrielle Elise Jimenez, hospice nurse, end-of-life doula, and conscious dying educator, for sharing her experiences at thehospiceheart.net blog. ____________________________ How much time do we have? Where did the time go? I wish we could go back in time. Remember that time? Time
The sign Sandy Daily held out of the car window said it all. “From Peggy, Rusty, and the Dailys, thanks for caring.” Homeland Center celebrated National Assisted Living Week 2021 with style, putting extra-special touches into a show of appreciation for employees who have performed heroically since the COVID-19 pandemic
Charles Fetterhoff has seen the inside of many nursing homes, visiting friends and his sister, born with cerebral palsy, as she went in and out of rehab. He also knows Homeland Center from the years that his mother and his sister – both named Mary – lived there. “You couldn’t
Hannah Sprow is Steelton born and bred, but her heart belongs to a cabin in the woods. From childhood, Hannah and her family would spend summers amid the forests of Pine Grove Furnace. “I loved that place,” she says. “It was more like a home to me than my own
