Each year Hospice of Chenango County profiles patients so the public has a keener understanding of the end of life care provided to those in our community. We’d like to share a few of these stories before our Annual Dinner & Silent Auction coming up on Nov. 3. If you would like information about the event call the Hospice office at 334-3556 or visit the agency’s website at www.hospicecheango.org.

The Story of Evelyn Johnson

Everyone should have daughters like Carol and Gayle and a daughter in law like Linda. The women are dedicated to caring for their Mom Evelyn Johnson as she slips deeper into a world of confusion. “We promised my parents that we would always take care of them so they wouldn’t have to go to a nursing home,” explains Gayle. And these are women of their word.

Today Evelyn is only partially aware of her surroundings. “She has lucid moments when she can communicate with us,” says Gayle. “But most of her time is spent in the past. I try to get her to reminisce about relatives I didn’t know because I want to hear all the family stories before it’s too late and they’re lost forever.”