Christine Roberts was so grateful for the care her husband, Gary, received from Masonic Village Hospice, she decided to pay it forward and become a Hospice volunteer.

She completed the required training and hopes to begin working with patients as soon as she recuperates from knee surgery.

“The volunteers with Masonic Village Hospice — particularly one of them who sat by my husband’s bedside — definitely stood out and made a huge difference,” Christine said. “His name was Clint, and he was 92 years old. He was a great comfort to me. I wanted to give back to the place that gave so much to me in my time of need.”

Gary Roberts was living at another facility when he was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare, degenerative neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, speech and vision. PSP is a progressive disorder, meaning that symptoms gradually worsen over time. While there is currently no cure for PSP, treatments can help to manage symptoms.

“At the time, Gary was mentally erratic and exhibiting negative behavior,” Christine said. “We had been married for 53 years, and he was rejecting me completely.”

Medical staff at the other facility said Gary’s behavior was to be expected, and there was nothing else to do, which frustrated Christine.

“I met with and toured Masonic Village and felt comforted that it would be a better choice,” she said.

Gary was transferred to the skilled nursing neighborhood (unit) in the Masonic Health Care Center, where he was assigned to a nurse named Bob Heim. Bob was instrumental in advocating for Gary to start taking a psychiatric medication that would help him to act more “like himself” again, Christine said.

“That made a huge difference,” she said. “We were able to spend more time together.”

Since Christine lived in Lancaster, about 30 minutes from Elizabethtown, health care staff gave her peace of mind by making sure Gary was well taken care of and socialized with him when she was unable to visit.

As Gary’s illness progressed, staff at Masonic Village made the decision to move him to Evergreen within the Masonic Health Care Center. Patients there receive end-of-life care in a dedicated unit featuring private rooms and specially trained staff. Patients and families may choose to receive hospice services through Masonic Village Hospice or another approved hospice provider. Visitors can use the dining area, library, kids’ room and a chapel right on the unit.

“When it [Evergreen] opened, I was one of the first people to tour the space, around Thanksgiving of 2022,” Christine said. “They presented all the amenities and a care plan for my husband. I felt strongly that this was where he needed to be. He was on hospice for two months and died in March 2023.”

Gary and Christine were childhood sweethearts, having met at a local park in Baltimore, Maryland. When Gary became sick, the couple moved to Lancaster to be closer to their son, Jason.

Gary owned a construction company and was an avid fisherman who enjoyed fly fishing. The couple had a boat on the Chesapeake Bay. They traveled in their later years throughout Europe and other places with friends. Gary loved playing poker, often competing in tournaments in Atlantic City. Spending time with his only son and grandchildren were also very important to him, Christine said.

During the last two difficult months of his life, everyone with Masonic Village Hospice, especially Dr. John Mast, were fantastic, offering steadfast comfort and care for a disease with many twists and turns, Christine said.

“It was such a relief to have the proper care needs addressed correctly,” she said. “Masonic Village offered everything Gary needed. Every aspect of his care was taken care of.

“Dr. Mast was one of the first physicians to look my husband in the eyes and speak to him like a person. He knew my husband was aware of the encounter and could comprehend what he was saying. He treated him like a family member. I’m grateful to everyone for their help.”