Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk Set for Oct. 4

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Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit outreach program of Homeland Center in Harrisburg, will host its 11th annual 5K and Memory Walk on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 9 a.m. at the Rossmoyne Business Center at 5000 Ritter Road in Mechanicsburg. The event serves to remember loved ones lost and raise funds to support those who need care today.

“The purpose of the Homeland Hospice 5K and Memory Walk is to remember,” said Homeland Hospice Assistant Director of Development Myra Badorf. “It’s a day for families to honor and celebrate the lives of their loved ones, and for Homeland, as an organization, to remember and pay tribute to the incredible community we are blessed to care for each day. We are deeply grateful to the local businesses and individuals whose generosity makes this meaningful tradition possible year after year.”

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.

Runners and walkers of all ages – and their four-legged companions – are welcome. The top three 5K male and female champions will receive cash prizes – $250 for 1st place, $150 for 2nd place and $100 for 3rd place. Cash prizes will also be presented to the top three male and top three female finishers in eight different age brackets. Additional prizes will include largest team, oldest and youngest participants, and treats for all the adorable dogs. After the 5K and Memory Walk, Homeland will honor loved ones, provide light refreshments, and award the event prizes.

The event is open to the public and online registration is open now until midnight on Tuesday, September 30. In-person registration will be available on race day from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. All participants must register. The fee is $25 for anyone 13 and older. Children 12 and under are free.

Homeland Hospice is grateful for the generous support of its 2025 event sponsors. Securewire Technologies serves as the Trilogy of Trust sponsor, with Lamar, Fulton Bank and The Nativity School of Harrisburg as the Rosemary sponsors. Journey sponsors include AFR Foundation, First Commonwealth Advisors and Senior Helpers. The rest of our generous sponsors can be found on our 2025 sponsors page.

Homeland Hospice continues to welcome additional 5K and Memory Walk sponsors. Visit the event page for more details.

Spring fling: High tea makes residents feel special

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Bygone days of elegance and refinement made a return at Homeland Center, as residents filled the main dining room for a spring tea.

Kettle-shaped cards printed with flowers invited residents, and a pianist playing “Tea for Two” and other standards set the right tone, as did the tables adorned in white linens, flowers, and embroidered handkerchiefs.

Residents embraced the mood, with the ladies wearing cheerful fascinators or headpieces and the gents boasting boutonnieres.

The tea was one of the quarterly events hosted by Homeland’s Board of Managers, the unique, all-women volunteer board is responsible for maintaining Homeland’s renowned home-like feel. Always presented with flair and creativity, events have included a casino night, a “Sound of Music” party, and a sock hop featuring an Elvis Presley impersonator.

Residents Ellen and Bill Wismer eagerly anticipated the tea.

“For our 45th anniversary, we had the good fortune to have high tea at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and I was really looking forward to this because I said it’s going to be just as nice,” said Ellen Wismer. “And it is. Everything’s to perfection.”

“[The Board of Managers] really put a lot of work into this,” she said. “Everything the board does is absolutely to perfection. They make you feel so special.”

Bill Wismer agreed: “It’s wonderful to be here with my beautiful wife.”

Board of Managers members freely devote their time and talents to plan and stage their events, said Chair Nancy Hull. For the tea, they organized a party of their own to create the boutonnieres and flower-bedecked fascinators, which gave the residents a sophisticated air.

Board members often have creative ideas about their future events, she said.

“That’s the neat thing about the women on our board,” Hull said. “Everybody has ideas. Everybody is willing to express their opinions.”

On the afternoon of the tea, Board of Managers members circulated, serving cookies, a choice of finger sandwiches – cucumber, egg salad, and pimento – and scones with jam and clotted cream. Wearing white shirts and black pants, just like restaurant servers, they carried colorful teapots they had brought from their own collections. One depicted – what else? – the Mad Hatter’s tea party from “Alice in Wonderland.”

Offered a choice of Earl Grey or raspberry tea, resident Joyce Muniz chose the raspberry.

“They make everything lovely,’’ Muniz said of the Board of Manager-planned events. “They go over the top for the residents.”

Resident Shirley Winfield is one of several Winfield family members living in or working at Homeland, including Director of Nursing Jennifer Tate-DeFreitas, who upholds Homeland’s standards of excellence in health care; Jennifer’s daughter Malani Tate-DeFreitas; and Kristen Tate, one of Homeland’s cheerful receptionists.

“They do an excellent job here,” Winfield said. “I love the many, many activities. It’s wonderful. It really is.”

Among all the activities – from musicians to bingo — the spring tea stood out, she said.

Residents Robert Zimmerman and Lynda Vinton, agreed the spring tea was a particular treat.

“It’s fun,” Vinton said. “It’s a nice thing to be out and about.”

Homeland Center (www.homelandcenter.org) offers levels of care including personal care, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Homeland also provides hospice, home care, home health and palliative care services to serve the diverse and changing needs of families throughout central Pennsylvania. For more information or to arrange a tour, please call 717-221-7900.

1867 Society reception toasts a renowned “fan club”

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Beneath the glowing chandeliers and soaring ceilings of the Mediterranean-style King Mansion, more than 65 members of the 1867 Society gathered together, forming a life-sized tableau of the values that inspired the formation of the precursor to Homeland Center 158 years ago: compassion and trust.

As guests dined on fine hors d’oeuvres from JDK Catering, sipped chilled drinks, admired the Mansion’s elegant architectural handiwork, and conversed with friends, the larger message of the gathering soon became evident: Homeland could never have thrived for 158 years without the members of the Society and their generous support.

After an hour of mingling, with the soft sounds of Aaron Gainer, Homeland Hospice’s music therapist, playing softly in the background, the gathering moved to the expansive ballroom for brief remarks from five speakers who all echoed common themes.

Much like the 18 women from nine churches who founded the “Home for the Friendless” 158 years ago in post-Civil War Harrisburg, these guests took action to show the true heart of Harrisburg.

Barry Ramper II, Homeland’s CEO, noted, “Trust and care are the hallmarks of our history. We cannot maintain this goal without you.”

Director of Development Troy Beaver noted that he joined Homeland’s leadership team last summer, and Homeland instantly felt like home, just as it rapidly does for its residents. He also mentioned Homeland’s national recognition of excellence from U.S. News and World Report.

Bob Light of Securewire Technologies, the sponsor of the appreciation reception, said his company and Homeland are built upon and operate on a “foundation of trust.”

“It’s a huge honor to be part of this,” Light affirmed. “Customer service is what we do.”

Rev. Karin Pejack of Zion Lutheran Church noted that local historic icons, Mrs. Cameron and Mrs. Dock, rented a pew in her church decades ago. Her 19th-century church had included a box for contributions for the Home for the Friendless when Zion was located at 4th and Market Streets.

Rev. Pejack applauded the four chaplains now serving at Homeland and the church cooperation that allowed the Home for the Friendless to “serve neighbors in the city with love and compassion.”

“Many of our supporters have had a friend or relative who was cared for either by the staff at Homeland Center or by someone who worked for one of the Homeland at Home service lines,” Beaver said. “These people have experienced firsthand the caring and passion that each staff member brings to the job every day, and this is what makes Homeland the top provider of quality care.”

Dr. Charlie Fetterhoff, Chair of Homeland’s Board of Trustees, said he was a charter member of the Society thanks to the outstanding leadership of Betty Hungerford, Homeland’s well-known retired Director of Development, and now a Homeland resident and member of the Board of Managers.

“For those who had never heard of Homeland, I would ask them, ‘How many institutions have lasted 158 years and excelled at the highest level that long?’ There is a total commitment to the residents,’’ Fetterhoff said. “You can feel what sets Homeland apart as soon as you walk through the doors.”

He recalled how his mom spent her last three years at Homeland, first in Personal Care and then Skilled Care. His sister also spent her last seven years in Skilled Care.

Fetterhoff and the other members of the 1867 Society at the gathering reflected on quality care and compassion the organization’s efforts help make possible.

“In my hundreds of visits there over those years, I only encountered staff rendering loving care of the highest quality.” Fetterhoff said. “They are all great and caring people.”

Homeland Center (www.homelandcenter.org) offers levels of care including personal care, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Homeland also provides hospice, home care, home health and palliative care services to serve the diverse and changing needs of families throughout central Pennsylvania. For more information or to arrange a tour, please call 717-221-7900.

Homeland Hospice CNA Thrives on Helping Others

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Chaz SpencerSince she was a child, Chastity (Chaz) Anderson Spencer has found joy in helping others. Her kind heart and keen ability to put her compassion into action led Chaz to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) nearly 20 years ago. For the past 11 years, Chaz worked as a CNA for Homeland Hospice, a nonprofit hospice program that serves communities throughout central Pennsylvania.

Chaz connected with Homeland after she and her family relocated to central Pennsylvania from Bronx, New York. From the start, Homeland’s mission to provide high-quality, compassionate care aligned perfectly with how Chaz interacts with patients and their families. More than a decade later, Chaz still thrives on helping others.

“My patients lift me up,” Chaz says. “They give me more than I could ever give them.”

Over the years, Chaz has formed deep relationships with many patients and their families. She fondly remembers a woman who was in her last few weeks of life, and reminded Chaz to show herself grace and forgiveness when life gets challenging. For Chaz, this memory has become a mantra for life’s ups and downs.

Chaz enjoys participating in the Homeland Hospices 5K and Memory Walk which provides a safe and supportive event for families to honor their loved ones, while supporting the work of Homeland Hospice. The event gives Chaz an opportunity to reconnect with families she has worked with over the years.

“I love seeing the warm smiles and friendly faces,” Chaz adds. “It feels good to know I have helped others through my work.”

Homeland Hospice CNAs are an integral part of the care team and often get to spend the most time with patients. They provide personal care with tasks like bathing, grooming, reminding patients about medications, and assisting with light housekeeping. All services are customized to meet the individualized needs of patients and their families.

Over the years, family and friends have asked Chaz if her work weighs on her heart. She is quick to remind them of the beauty she sees in the love of families and the peace and comfort she brings to those in need. She highly recommends the CNA profession to anyone with a kind heart and open mind.

“Treat patients with dignity and always listen,” Chaz says. “Sometimes all a patient needs is a friend.”

The role of CNAs and the importance of increasing the number of people in the profession has skyrocketed as the Baby Boomer generation ages. To help meet this need, Homeland has an accredited CNA training program to develop current talent at Homeland as well as recruit and train new employees for all of Homeland’s work.

For more information about Homeland Hospice, call (717) 221-7890.

Board of Managers member Sandee O’Hara: Focusing on quality of life

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Sandee O'HaraSince joining Homeland’s Board of Managers in October 2024, Sandee O’Hara has been deeply impressed by the power that 18 committed women can generate.

“The board’s focus is on how to make Homeland truly home,” she said. “I’ve heard that so many times since I started. These women are caring, giving, creative, and not stopping. The sky is the limit, and they focus on making this home.”

O’Hara is one of the newer members of the Board of Managers, the unique, all-women volunteer group devoted to maintaining Homeland’s renowned homelike feel. As O’Hara discovered, the board takes its responsibility seriously, never letting up on the ideas and energy that fill Homeland with music, laughter, and grace.

Among its activities, the Board of Managers leads redecoration projects, decks the halls for the holidays, and installs planters.

To help keep residents entertained and engaged, the board hosts themed parties, from a dazzling casino night to a “Sound of Music” party with a singer performing songs from the classic musical.

The “Sound of Music” party also featured movie-inspired décor, from brown paper packages tied up with string to goat marionettes. O’Hara marveled that those marionettes were hand-crafted by board members from toilet paper rolls.

One crafty-genius board member designed the project. The rest contributed the materials and got together to recraft them into goats. Some members and former members mailed saved toilet paper rolls from out of state. O’Hara’s daughter even brought some when she visited from California.

“We all played with toilet paper rolls,” she said. “It became a different object. It was pretty funny.”

O’Hara learned about the Board of Managers from two friends, Board Treasurer Janet Young and former Chair Susan Batista.

“They’d been on the board for years and years, and when we went out, they would always chitter-chatter about it,” she said. “I always felt like the odd man out.”

She also knew of Homeland’s reputation as a respected continuing care retirement community, which treats residents with dignity and provides an excellent quality of life.

The timing was right when Young asked if she would be interested in joining the board. O’Hara had just retired after 27 years in law — almost 20 years as a prosecutor in the Dauphin County juvenile division and seven as a hearing officer for children and youth.

O’Hara entered the law mid-career. She initially enrolled in a Washington, DC, paralegal training program, but then felt a pull toward becoming an attorney. She earned her bachelor’s degree at age 55 and her law degree at 58, bringing her passion for children to the Dauphin County courthouse.

“If you think about famous people, they say they remember how Mrs. Jones in fourth grade influenced their life, but Mrs. Jones never knew about it,” she said. “I think if I helped one child, it’s a pretty good contribution.”

Since retiring, O’Hara spends time with her son and twin granddaughters in California, and her daughter and grandson in West Chester.

“They’re special,” she said. “My world revolves around my grandchildren.”

After a career helping children grow, O’Hara agreed to join the Homeland Board of Managers and serve the elderly because she wanted to keep contributing.

She is especially honored to uphold the legacy of the 18 women who founded Homeland in 1867. Representing nine Harrisburg churches, they collaborated to create the “Home for the Friendless” as a refuge for destitute children and women left orphaned and widowed by the Civil War.

O’Hara said that history is amazing, including the fact that the original home the women were determined to build remains part of Homeland, complete with a “Home for the Friendless” plaque.

Their creation adapted with the times, transforming to provide respectful, loving care for older adults. In their honor, today’s Board of Managers includes 18 women following in their footsteps.

“I can’t believe I’m now part of the Board of Managers,” said O’Hara. “It’s an honor. I have never seen such a devoted, caring, kind group of women.”

Homeland Center (www.homelandcenter.org) offers levels of care including personal care, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Homeland also provides hospice, home care, home health and palliative care services to serve the diverse and changing needs of families throughout central Pennsylvania. For more information or to arrange a tour, please call 717-221-7900.

Transitioning from a Hospital Stay to Hospice Care: Homeland’s Nurse Liaisons Help Build Bridges for Patients

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Arranging end-of-life care for a loved one following a hospital discharge is often confusing, filled with fear, and sometimes urgency. In difficult times like these, Buffie Finney, Nurse Liaison for Homeland Hospice, is there to help patients and families.

For nearly 30 years, Buffie has worked in the nursing profession helping to meet the diverse needs of patients in and out of the hospital setting. For the past decade, Buffie has been part of the Homeland team, which helps patients navigate their end-of-life journey by providing compassionate, high-quality care and support for family members. Buffie is a subject expert on hospital discharges and the pressure it places on patients and families.

“Sometimes patients enter the hospital with an unknown illness and receive a diagnosis of a terminal disease,” Buffie says. “No one anticipates hearing the end is near.”

Buffie and the Homeland team have built strong working relationships with local hospitals who often refer patients to Homeland. In other cases, friends or loved ones of the patient recommend Homeland based on their experiences.

“Homeland’s word-of-mouth reputation is strong,” Buffie adds. “We strive to provide excellent care and are honored to be top-of-mind in the community.”

The first step for the Homeland team begins by meeting patients, family members and physicians in the hospital to assess the patient’s needs. This initial meeting is informational to give options for patients and their families to consider.

Sometimes shift changes and early rounds make it challenging for families to connect with the patient’s physician. Clear and consistent conversations are so important for families to be able to make the best choices for their loved ones. With emotions and frustration levels running high, Buffie finds the most important thing she can do to help is simply listen.

“We want patients and families to share their emotions, ask questions and vent their fears and anger,” Buffie says. “In that moment, they need a friend.”

For patients who choose Homeland Hospice’s services, a care plan is quickly enacted for a seamless transition from hospital to home. All supplies needed are ordered to be delivered and set up at the patient’s home. Depending on the patient’s needs, the Homeland team can include a physician, nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain, therapist and volunteers. Homeland provides a holistic plan of care to allow families to spend quality time with their loved ones during this emotional time.

“We understand how difficult these conversations can be,” Buffie says. “We encourage everyone to talk about end-of-life care with their loved ones before they are in a difficult situation.”

Conversations had during non-stressful moments allow time for research, reflection and planning to bring everyone comfort. End-of-life will come for everyone so planning now can ensure a continuum of care for patients and peace of mind for family members.

Despite the emotional situations her job may bring, Buffie finds beauty and love in her work and great admiration for the Homeland staff who deliver outstanding service with heart. She became a nurse as a second career after her corporate job ended abruptly. She was a single mom with two small children balancing classes to earn her nursing degree.

“It was the hardest time of my life,” Buffie adds. “It was all worth it because I love this work and the families I meet.”

For more information, visit Homeland Hospice or call (717) 857-7400.