Homeland Celebrates Achievements at Annual Meeting

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Homeland’s Board of Trustees in September held its annual meeting, during which the Board and Homeland staff celebrated several significant accomplishments and achievements that the organization experienced during the past 12 months.

“Overall, Homeland experienced both a very challenging and very successful year as we served in the best interest of our organization’s mission, heritage and, most importantly, our residents, patients and clients,” said Carlyn Chulick, the outgoing Chair of Homeland’s Board of Trustees.

Homeland Chaplain Rey Villareal in an opening meditation offered gratitude for “bringing together these caring, steadfast and gifted people for the purpose of serving at Homeland,” which enables the organization to carry forward its 156-year tradition of providing comfort, healing and care.

Among the achievements celebrated during Homeland’s annual meeting:

  • Skilled Nursing and Personal Care at Homeland Center, and Homeland HomeHealth and Homeland HomeCare, were all found to be “Deficiency Free” based on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s annual licensure and certification inspection. This is the first time all four service lines earned a “Deficiency Free” result in the same inspection year.
  • Homeland Hospice was named a 2023 Hospice Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Award recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst, a national provider of services for hospice and home health agencies. The Hospice CAHPS Honors Award recognizes the highest performing agencies that continuously provide a positive patient experience and high-quality of care as measured by the patient and caregiver point of view.
  • In May, Homeland graduated its inaugural Certified Nursing Assistant program The training program, which was designed using Homeland’s core principles and values while meeting Pennsylvania Department of Education accreditation guidelines, develops current talent at Homeland as well as trains new employees interested in becoming CNAs. To date, 13 students have graduated from the program.
  • Also in May, Homeland Center held a special ceremony to commemorate the installation of the first set of Tribute Medallions on the fence at the Sixth Street Kunkel Circle Entrance. The medallions serve as a tribute to loved ones who received Homeland services, as well as recognize individuals who make a difference through their volunteerism and dedication to Homeland. (Medallions are available on an ongoing basis. For more information, visit Tribute Medallions or call Myra Badorf at Homeland Hospice at (717) 221-7890.)
  • Homeland participated for the first time in the Historic Harrisburg Association’s annual Garden Tour. Over 100 guests visited Homeland Center’s gardens, many of whom were introduced to Homeland for the first time. Building on this relationship with the Historic Harrisburg Association, Homeland is a participant in the association’s Candlelight Tour schedule for December 10, 2023. A tour area will be designated in Homeland’s Personal Care area for guests to experience first-hand the quality living experience at Homeland.
  • Homeland held its 9th Annual Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk, which attracted over 300 walkers, runners, staff and volunteers – and event record – and raised over $50,000. The Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk raises funds for benevolent services for hospice patients and their families. Homeland Hospice depends on the generosity of donors for its enhanced care for hospice patients such as massage therapy, music therapy, and extra in-home-relief hours for caregivers, as well as for residents at Homeland Center whose financial resources have been exhausted.

In addition to celebrating these accomplishments during the annual gathering, Homeland appointed H. Glenn “Bub” Manning and Christopher Baldrige to its Board of Trustees and Andrea Freeman to its Board of Managers. Congratulations and thank you, Bub and Chris!

Those in attendance also expressed appreciation to Carlyn Chulick, who retired from the Board of Trustees at the conclusion of the annual meeting after 10 years of service. Carlyn will remain engaged with the Board as Immediate Past Chair.

Dr. Charles K. Fetterhoff, Jr. was appointed chair and Michael Thomas was appointed vice chair of the Board of Trustees for 2023-24.

Honoring Our Veterans

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It is Homeland’s privilege to say “thank you” to all of America’s veterans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We honor the sacrifices made, appreciate the protection of our rights and freedoms, and are grateful for the services and aid that is provided to those in need.

Events to celebrate and honor our Veterans are varied and individualized, both at Homeland at Home and Homeland Center. Some of these include:

A Veteran Appreciation Ceremony  held at Homeland Center Chapel Tuesday November 7th at 10:30 AM. This Ceremony included the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) from Harrisburg High School serving as Color Guard and Richard Burton, who served in the Army in Vietnam and is now with Vietnam Veterans of America, the Central Pennsylvania Vietnam Round Table, the Hershey Civil War Round Table.

A Missing Man Table, sometimes referred to as the “Fallen Comrade Table” is displayed in the Homeland Hospice office. This poignant table is meant to remind us of those fallen, missing or imprisoned US military soldiers. Each item on the table represents the emotions and feelings reserved for those who did not come home and symbolizes that they remain with us in spirit.

Planters and thank you cards will be delivered to veterans residing at Homeland Center and veterans receiving Homeland Hospice services. Volunteers will deliver the items on Friday, November 10th.

Wreaths Across America – Each year, Homeland Hospice coordinates a wreath-laying ceremony at Dauphin County Cemetery, also known as Potter’s Field to “Remember, Honor, and Teach” about the sacrifices made by our veterans. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, December 14th at 11:30 AM.

Holiday Stockings for Heroes – All were involved in helping Homeland stuff stockings for military heroes. In early fall, goodies and essential items were donated by staff and board members. Then, during the October Vet-to-Vet Café at Homeland Center, 12 residents (veterans or family members of veterans) filled 25 stockings! These festive stockings will be distributed to deployed military personnel throughout the globe, with the hope of bringing them a little holiday cheer. To learn more, visit soldiersangels.org/stockings.

For more information, please contact Laurie Murry, volunteer coordinator, at 717-221-7890 or lmurry@homelandhospice.org.

Homeland HomeHealth Named 2023 Home Health Care CAHPS Honors Recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst

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National honor distinguishes Homeland for quality care for patients and caregivers

Harrisburg, PA (Oct. 2023) – Homeland HomeHealth, a nonprofit program serving Central Pennsylvania that provides physician-ordered medical treatment in the comfort of a patient’s own home after illness or injury, has been named a 2023 Home Health Care CAHPS Honors Award recipient by HEALTHCAREfirst, a national provider of services for hospice and home health agencies.

The Home Health Care CAHPS Honors Award recognizes agencies that continuously provide a positive patient experience and high-quality of care as measured by the patient and caregiver point of view. The award acknowledges the highest performing agencies by analyzing their results of the Home Health Care Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey, a nationally recognized tool that home health agencies use to assess and improve patient care and patient and caregiver satisfaction.

“Homeland HomeHealth recognizes that every patient’s needs are different, which is why we customize the care and treatment we provide to promote healing, independence and the best possible quality of life,” said Lora Bierce, RN, WCC, director of Homeland HomeHealth. “We’re proud to receive the CAHPS honor as a testament to the dedication of our entire team to provide an exceptional patient and caregiver experience.”

Ronda Howard, vice president of revenue cycle and CAHPS at HEALTHCAREfirst, said, “We began our award program more than ten years ago as a way to shine a positive light on those agencies that are truly leading the way in providing and demonstrating quality patient care. We are thrilled to congratulate top performers on their success and are so proud and honored that they have chosen to partner with us in helping drive success for their agency.”

Homeland HomeHealth provides physician-ordered medical treatment in the comfort of a patient’s own home after illness or injury. Home medical care is more convenient, and can be just as effective, as care received in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. The Homeland HomeHealth team includes nurses; physical, occupational and speech therapists; a nutritional counselor; social workers; and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).

Homeland HomeHealth is part of Homeland at Home, a community outreach program of Homeland Center, which provides a full continuum of home-based services to care for patients and to support families as their needs change. In addition to home health care, Homeland at Home services include Homeland Hospice (compassionate end-of-life care), Homeland HomeCare (in-home non-medical daily living assistance) and Homeland Palliative Care (comfort and relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness).

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