Rosemary

With no family other than an elderly brother in Los Angeles with whom she no longer corresponds, 88-year-old Rosemary has lived in the same senior apartment tower downtown San Diego for more than 20 years. She came to America as a child from Czechoslovakia and is fiercely independent and refuses help at home.

A neighbor, who is also a client of ours, persuaded her to let us assist with taking her pet cockatiel “Polly” to the vet. Ordinarily, she managed to use the bus to run her errands, but she was becoming increasingly frail and prone to losing her balance. After reluctantly agreeing to let us take her, she realized how much easier it was and has become a regular client.

Fiercely independent and insisted she didn’t need help.

She’s distrustful of doctors and takes no prescription medications, but we did convince her to see a dermatologist to have a growth on her lip biopsied and removed.

Throughout the 18 months that we've been seeing her, Rosemary has managed to stay out of the hospital, however, due to her advancing age, it will be increasingly difficult for her to keep living independently. Although she meets the criteria to receive in-home assistance through the County, she is highly resistant.   We will continue to follow her and because we’ve earned her trust, we’ll be more effective helping her avoid and address any challenges that arise.