Photos: Caregivers | Providing connection and compassion in the last years of life
Caregiver Didi Salcedo baths Evelyn Corsini. Evelyn later said, “I don’t like the idea of having to be dependent on anybody. But if I had to be, I couldn’t have picked a better person to help me.” Evelyn’s family have stitched together 24-hour care so that she can stay in her own home. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Francine Orr documents caregiving and the last years of Evelyn Corsini’s life. Her interest were journalistic but also personal: She was the caregiver for her father, who was also dying of cancer.
Caregiver Didi Salcedo baths Evelyn Corsini at her home in La Verne. Following Evelyn’s stoke and craniotomy due to a brain tumor, she requires 24-hour care. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Rosemary Campa, left, 75, of Pomona sings to Evelyn Corsini, 83, middle, as Evelyn’s daughter Marguerita Albis, right, 53, of Riverside, listens. Evelyn is now bedridden, and Rosemary is singing to comfort her. Evelyn attempts to join in, but is too weak now. Rosemary and Evelyn have been friends since 1968. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Corsini eats breakfast at home in June 2012. Due to a stroke, Evelyn lost the use of the left side of her body and requires 24-hour care. Later she would say in an interview, “ I feel like jumping rope. Going rollerskating. I can’t anymore. I’m sure that a lot of kids, I mean seniors feel the same way.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Daughter Marguerita Albis leans down to kiss her mother Evelyn Corsini. Marguerita and her husband are dropping off groceries at Evelyn’s home. Each night Margarita -- Evelyn calls her “Mugzie” -- calls her and asks for a nightly blessing in Spanish. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Corsini gets help sitting up from her primary caregiver Didi Salcedo. Evelyn is slowly growing weaker. She can no longer walk. Evelyn says, “I feel very helpless now because I can’t do anything. I’m paralyzed, 24 hours a day. I can’t cook, I can’t clean. I can’t do anything. It hurts. It hurts terribly.” (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Corsini laughs and bumps heads with her primary caregiver Didi Salcedo. Didi has worked with Evelyn for six years as her caregiver. They trust one another, and they say they are like family.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Caregiver Didi Salcedo and Evelyn Corsini shop for lipstick at a Target store in La Verne. The pair enjoy the freedom of getting out of the house, and going shopping. It’s not easy. They need to arrange a minivan for transportation because of Evelyn’s electric wheelchair. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Corsini is hospitalized with sepsis, a severe blood infection, at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton in October 2012. She falls asleep wearing lipstick next to her primary caregiver Didi Salcedo. Evelyn was later released from the hospital and placed into hospice care at home. She has many problems, including an autoimmune disease, diabetes, 10% kidney function and paralysis from a stroke. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Corsini is lifted out of a hospital bed by paramedics at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton in October 2012. She has been hospitalized with sepsis, a severe blood infection, and is being sent home. She will be placed into hospice care at home. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Daughter Marguerita Albis, left, Dave MacDonald, middle, and Pastor Jim Redden, right, with pastoral care at Grace Church, pray with Evelyn Corsini at her home in La Verne on March 20, 2013. Evelyn is bedridden and would pass away two days later. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Daughter Maria Corsini-Reden, right, of Irvine, and caregiver Didi Salcedo, middle, work together to push Evelyn Corsini to a doctor’s appointment in Fullerton. Maria and Didi work closely together trying to provide care for Evelyn, who has many serious health issues. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Daughter Maria Corsini-Reden, right, and longtime caregiver Didi Salcedo, left, talk with Evelyn Corsini, about end- of-life choices in Evelyn’s living room in La Verne. Evelyn chooses to stay on hospice. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Caregiver Didi Salcedo wraps Evelyn Corsini in a blanket in Evelyn’s living room in La Verne. Evelyn is tired, and her kidneys are failing. She is considering coming off hospice care and starting dialysis. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
My father Frank Orr, 78, and cousin Rae Ann Boston sit together at “The Point” in Oceanside. My father is dying of cancer, and his last wish was to get out of bed, and go to the “point,” one last time. He would pass away two days later.
(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
My father Frank Orr, 78, insists on being taken to “The Point” in Oceanside. He has faced long-term health issues with courage. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
My father Frank Orr in his bed holding a little bear I had given him for comfort and wrapped in a friend’s handmade afghan in Oceanside. He has Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
My father Frank Orr in his bed. His neighbor Pat Vaszorich brings her dog Toby for a last visit. Frank reaches out and holds Toby’s paw. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Corsini laughs with her longtime caregiver Didi Salcedo, at home in La Verne, Calif. Evelyn’s kidneys are failing and she is spending more time in bed. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Corsini’s legs are wrapped to reduce the swelling. She is paralyzed on her left side following a stroke and the removal of a brain tumor. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
