Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County (CSSW): Aging Services
CCSW offers many services that help older adults maintain dignified, safe, and independent lives in their own homes: Medicare/ Medicaid Assistance Program (helps older adults obtain benefits); Neighborhood Senior Services (support and advocacy for low-income seniors, with programs dedicated to home safety, household maintenance/repair, transportation to health care, and companion services); Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (respite care for those caring for a chronically ill family member); Grandparents as Parents (support for seniors raising children not their own); Tax Assistance (helps low-income seniors and disabled adults file income tax returns); The Oaks ~ Adult Day Services (intensive respite day program for adults with physical, mental, and cognitive impairments); RSVP (places adults ages 55+ in volunteer positions with local non-profit organizations).
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This week, we share the story of Rosie, who is involved with the CSSW program, Grandparents as Parents (GAP):
In the school of life, Rosie is a great teacher. Her unending curiosity, boundless energy—and a rare level of compassion and optimism—have transformed the lives she has touched and the children she has saved. Now in her 80's, Rosie enthusiastically participates in monthly GAP meetings and offers encouragement to others who are raising their grandchildren.
By the time Rosie was 28 years old, she had nine children. In addition to her own children, she raised her grandson, Roderick, who (like his grandmother) is a role model for his nephews and nieces.
Her son Andre came to her in a much different way. After befriending a member of her church suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, Rosie learned that the woman's daughter had given birth to a very ill infant boy. So frail, in fact, that he was not expected to survive to his first birthday. The young mother did not want to keep the baby; doctors held out little hope. Rosie, being Rosie, took the rigid, malnourished infant into her arms and after months of struggling to get her baby to eat; exercising and massaging him, Andre began to thrive. Today, he is a strapping young man.
Rosie's daughter, Andrea, began life in an equally dramatic way. Rosie's drug-addicted granddaughter literally showed up on her doorstep one night, obviously sick, in pain—and pregnant. Andrea was born the next day and was legally adopted by Rosie through the CSSW Adoption program.
Whatever the challenge, Rosie has remains an idealist and serves as an inspiration for others in the GAP program.
This article was edited and organized by Kelly Gauthier, St. Francis Parish Peace & Justice Committee member
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