Stories

The Power of Music in the Lives of Hospice Patients

April 22, 2024

“You, my brown eyed girl.” The lyrics of “Brown Eyed Girl,” Van Morrison’s nostalgic and catchy song from 1967, is familiar to many and a portal to another time for others. For anyone growing up in the 1960s, this song and others from this era evoke memories of times with…

Homeland Resident Pino Filardo: From Italy to Pennsylvania

April 4, 2024

World War II came directly to Pino Filardo’s childhood hometown of Catanzaro, Italy. The beautiful capital of Calabria, known as “the City of the Two Seas,” was under siege from bombings. Even his school was bombed, but young Pino wasn’t there that day because he was home sick. Most of…

Homeland Social Workers Make the Puzzle Pieces Fit

March 28, 2024

What do social workers do? At Homeland, they help families navigate the complexities that are often involved with caregiving. “The hard work shouldn’t be on the family,” said Homeland social worker Amanda Williams. “They should just be coming to visit their loved ones. They shouldn’t have to worry about the…

Staff Pantry Cleanse Fills Pantries, Bellies, and Hearts

March 21, 2024

“When was the last time you went through and cleaned out your pantry?” It was an excellent question, posted on the first Homeland Community Outreach Pantry Cleanse flier. Most people have extras or unwanted items in their pantries. The taco mix packet purchased when there were three at home. The…

Artist A. Wendy Warner Brings Verdant Scenes and Charming Portraits to Homeland

March 7, 2024

A. Wendy Warner felt a sense of oneness with art and nature as a little girl. “It sounds sort of crazy, but I felt like I could almost touch things that were beautiful in the sense that I would drive down a mountain and lift my arm and feel as…

American Heart Month at Homeland: Healthy staff, happy residents

February 29, 2024

When Homeland Employee Wellness Coordinator Roxane E. Hearn, PhD sees Homeland Center staff wearing scrubs that have grown baggy from weight loss, it warms her heart. “You see them moving faster,” she said. “They say they’re not as tired on their shift or feel they have more energy to spend…