Rosie--A DAKC Centigenarian

Born in July of 1904 in Mississippi, Rosie Russell has experienced much and seen many changes in her 103 years.  She came to Grand Rapids in 1942 with her husband and three children (she had two more in Grand Rapids).  In addition to raising five children she sewed parachutes for Hayes manufacturing during WWII, worked in housekeeping for the Rose Hotel and Blodgett Hospital, and owned the Golden Way Café with her two sisters.  She moved into her current home in 1961 and became widowed in the 1970’s.  To stay active, she went to the United Methodist Community House to paint and do ceramics.  She even painted a portrait of her beloved home which hangs on her living room wall. 

In 2002 Rosie began having problems getting in and out of her claw foot tub (22" high side) due to her arthritis.  DAKC was called in to do an in home assessment with our Occupational Therapist (OT).  She still needed to soak in the tub to relieve arthritis pain so did not want a shower installed.  The OT recommended a standard height tub with grab bars in the wall that she could reach sitting in the bottom of the tub and also in standing and sitting.  Home Repair Service (HRS) installed the grab bars, standard tub with wall kit and a hand held shower. On days she couldn’t get down into the tub a shower seat was provided as well.

In addition to arthritis, Rosie has also diabetes, wears glasses, uses hearing aids, recently had pneumonia (now uses a nebulizer four times a day) which left her very weak.  In the spring of 2007, her daughter called HRS and DAKC as Rosie could no longer walk up and down steps.  It required three people to help her out of the house for doctor appointments.  An OT evaluation was completed.   Due to her weakness, Rosie had a difficult time getting in/out of chairs, and off the toilet.  An electric lift chair was needed as well as an electric outlet to plug it into.  She also needed a ramp, higher toilet, and a bedrail for her bed and a shampoo tray to allow her to sit in her wheelchair and have her hair washed at the kitchen sink.  Her bathroom door needed to be widened to allow her walker and wheelchair into the room as she could no longer walk into the room unaided.  She also needed some repair items as her front eaves trough was breaking and ice was building up and landing on her front steps.

HRS installed the ramp and is working on the other repairs needed.  DAKC received a donated lift chair from a generous family and it was delivered and set up by our Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Renee and AmeriCorps VISTA, Mary.  Renee also set up a bed rail and showed Rosie and her family how to use the shampoo tray.  Some of the equipment was provided with funds from the Kent County Senior Millage Equipment loan closet.  The additional things were provided from the DAKC equipment loan closet

“We think it is great that she can grow old in her own home” states her daughter Birdean.  “She does so well ‘cause she’s in her own home.  It’s a blessing all that everyone has done for her.”

Rosie says, “I appreciate living in my own home. I like it ‘cause it’s my own house.  I can sit out on the porch in the summer.  I think it’s wonderful” that people (like HRS and DAKC) have been so helpful.  I appreciate that they have helped me out.”

Her secret to a long life?  “I don’t’ smoke, don’t drink and don’t run around.  Don‘t worry about thing’s, think about it a little while.  Don’t forget it, but forgive everybody.” 

She wants to be around to enjoy her three remaining children, 23 grandkids, 36 great grandkids and 32 great great grandkids.