Meet Our Clients

Discover the inspiring journeys of our clients at Benjamin Rose, where each story reflects resilience, growth, and the positive impact of our services. From financial stability to enhanced well-being, our clients’ experiences showcase the transformative power of dedicated support and care.

Meet Our Client: Vanessa Jackson

In the early 2000’s, Vanessa Jackson was living in Atlanta, with a good job and a home of her own. But in 2012, as the U.S. economy struggled to recover from the Great Recession, Vanessa was also struggling. She lost her job, and the work she did find wasn’t lucrative enough to pay her mortgage, so she used funds from her 401k. Even that wasn’t enough – she lost her home. Read more

Meet Our Client: Pam Pack-Pappas

Throughout her marriage, Pam Pack-Pappas and her husband Bill had steady income, a well-kept home, and a strong credit rating. When Bill was diagnosed with dementia in the 1990s, things became a bit more challenging, and when he passed away in 2015, things got worse. Pam started living on credit cards, which led to significant financial challenges. Read more

Meet Our Client: Joyce Thomas

After having to retire early, Joyce Thomas found herself facing financial hardship, isolation and depression. Her mental health struggles eventually led to a hospital stay, where she was connected to Tahira Wilson, a case manager at Benjamin Rose. Tahira began working closely with Ms. Thomas to manage her care, rebuild her independence, and reconnect her to services that could improve her quality of life. Read more

Meet Our Client: Julie Rohrich

As her husband’s dementia worsened, Julie Rohrich retired to care for him and contacted Benjamin Rose to ask about caregiver support. Earlier this year, she was connected with Karen Peereboom, a Community Care Navigator with the WeCare…Because You Do℠ program, which provides individualized support and guidance for caregivers. Read more

Meet Our Client: Dorothy Campbell

Dorothy Campbell has always liked to go, go, go. She’s very social, loves to travel and try new things. In 2020, the COVID pandemic forced her to stay home. Then her husband became ill, and she took care of him until he passed away in 2021. She continued to stay home for a couple of months after that but began to feel like the walls were closing in around her. Read more

Meet Our Client: Dora Appling

Having worked with a group of doctors focused on providing preventive care to the community, Dora Appling was familiar with Benjamin Rose when she picked up a marketing flyer at a health fair she attended earlier this year. Upon reviewing the information about the services provided by Benjamin Rose today, she called to get information about computer classes for seniors. Read more

Meet Our Client: Trina Clark

Trina is able to live independently thanks to support from family members, and the help of aides. One aide arrives each morning to assist her with getting bathed, dressed and doing some light housework. An evening aide helps her get something to eat, then ready for bed. She also receives healthy meals Monday through Friday through her participation in the Meals on Wheels program of Benjamin Rose (which is a member of Meals on Wheels America). Read more

Meet Our Volunteer and Client: Linda Scott and Brenda Thompson

Shortly after completing the training, Linda Scott learned about a client who lived just a few minutes from her who had a dog and could use some help. That client is Brenda Thompson. She fell and broke her arm, which required surgery. That injury, combined with other existing health issues, made things challenging. Read more

Meet Our Client: Willie Wade

Retired City of Cleveland building inspector Willie Wade lived in a beautiful home in Lakewood for 16 years, and he thought this would be his forever home. Instead, when the Republican National Convention was held in Cleveland in 2016, his landlord saw the potential to make a lot more money renting the home, so even though Mr. Wade’s lease was not up, he was forced to move. Read more

Meet Our Client: Michael Matlock

As Michael Matlock’s 83-years-young mother, Connie Matlock, began experiencing problems with memory loss and vision (since corrected), she decided to stop driving. Mr. Matlock gradually became her sole caregiver and sought help from Benjamin Rose and the WeCare…Because You Do℠ program where he was connected with Lauri Scharf, MSHS, LSW, a master trainer and the program’s lead care consultant. Read more