As Dallas entered the beautifully decorated foyer of his apartment building, his gaze lingered on an elegant Christmas card pinned to the bulletin board that read “Tis the Season of Peace.”
A deep emotional sigh unexpectedly escaped him; for the first time in a long while, he realized he was no longer afraid to enter his own home.
Dallas, a kind-hearted elderly man, had recently navigated a turbulent chapter in his life.
For years, he endured a tumultuous and abusive relationship with his adult son, facing financial, emotional, and physical harm that prompted him to reach out to Catholic Social Services’ (CSS) Elder Abuse Resource & Supports (EARS) program.
Tragically, after his son passed away, Dallas found himself grappling with a new but familiarly cruel relationship with his grandson.
One evening, tensions escalated, resulting in a serious injury to Dallas’ arm. The echoes of past abuse resurfaced through his grandson’s behavior, but Dallas discovered his inner strength. With guidance from EARS and local authorities, he bravely told his grandson to leave and sought an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) to secure his safety and home.
His immediate safety assured, Dallas was connected with an EARS Senior Resource Coordinator (SRC) who recognized the importance of communication. As Dallas was hard of hearing and unable to write due to his injury, the SRC passionately advocated for Dallas’ needs, ensuring he received American Sign Language (ASL) translation services for not only health matters, but for referrals, assessments, social groups, transportation and more. The cost was significant but being able to express himself in his first language, ASL, enabled Dallas to access counseling and learn about healthy boundaries and elder abuse resources.
For the first time in over a decade, Dallas lived independently in his apartment, free from the intimidation and abuse that had once surrounded him.
Studying the words “Tis the Season of Peace,” Dallas realized that it’s never too late to change and heal. Not long after, he reached out to his grandson, initiating discussions about developing healthier communication patterns. It was a small step, yet it felt monumental. As Dallas rebuilt his connection with his grandson, he understood that Christmas also signified new beginnings, second chances, and the enduring power of love.
Last year over 400 vulnerable seniors accessed services and resources through our CSS EARS program. The EARS program provides support, referrals, information and presentations to elderly adults at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect. But this program can only continue with your help and generosity. Please help someone in their time of need. It only takes a click of a mouse to change someone’s world for the better. Please donate today!
