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