NAMI Nashville

Grandpa’s House offers basic tools of recovery from chemical dependency and other mental illnesses for those who are ready and willing to start again. It is based on a structured program and spiritual principals. We at Grandpa’s House provide family/group support systems in which each resident is required to participate in on a daily basis.

Residents meeting Grandpa’s House requirements receive many benefits. The house offers teaching of basic skills for living and personal growth in a supportive nurturing environment. Some of the issues addressed at Grandpa’s include: self-centeredness, anger management, power and control, fear, victim mindset, honesty, spiritual bankruptcy and self esteem. A human resources consultant provides job placement training for those needing to obtain work in order to fulfill financial responsibilities. The program focuses on forming the habits of showing respect and sensitivity to others, learning communication skills, following instructions, accepting criticism and/or compliments, disagreeing appropriately, and finding new behavior for conflict resolution. Developing relationships is a natural benefit of the family atmosphere in the House.

Grandpa’s House selection process admits persons who truly desire recovery. Once this is established, implementing the aforementioned principles along with developing respect for one’s self and others through the help of their higher power is absolutely attainable. We see people learn to love life sober - everyday!

Grandpa’s house Inc. is a realization of a dream by the founder, Rori Mason, in the year 2001. Rori, being a member of a Spiritual 12-step organization, wished to carry the message of recovery to suffering addicts and alcoholics. Knowing they needed a safe place to start their recovery, a location was chosen away from customary halfway house areas.

Rori knew the place she opened needed to offer more than just a place to live; it needed structure and discipline for alcoholics and addicts to succeed. She surveyed people in recovery to learn specifically what helped them to stay clean and sober, to make them want to change their way of life, and continue living a life free of the bondage of disease.

The dream took root. Rori realized in order for Grandpa’s House Inc. to work, more than just a place for shelter, food, clothing, emotional and spiritual support; counseling was necessary. She found counselors were a must for the house. Rori hired a certified counselor for drug abuse and a certified counselor in family matters.

As Rori’s investigation continued, it became apparent many people suffer from a second disease, mental illness. This is referred to as dual, two diseases, the addiction of drugs and/or alcohol and a mental illness—bi polar, schizophrenic, manic depression etc. Rori became involved in organizations that worked with the mental side of this dual disease. She learned about Dual Recovery Anonymous (D.R.A.). She attended many recovery seminars.

Rori surrounded herself with people that she trusted and who shared the same vision and passions. These people became the start up Board of Directors. Rori found the dwelling of her dream three blocks from the lake in a respectable neighborhood. With her own funds she opened her home in Antioch, Tennessee. Now she had a safe place for men to start their recovery, away from the drugs and alcohol. If she could help just one or two men, then her dream was worth the work and toil. The first year was many trials and a learning process. Out of the twelve men she started with, three still stay in touch with her and the house on a weekly basis. These men became friends for life. Of the next group of men, half of them still stay in touch. Now Rori receives numerous phone calls from people that have been through Grandpa’s House Inc., who just want to stay involved.

Monday: Employment Skills Tuesday Family Counseling and outside meetings Thursday: Nutritional Skills

Every Monday: Domestic Violence, Tuesday: Outside meeting, Wednesday: Drug Counseling, Thursday: Relapse Prevention, Friday: Outside Meeting, Saturday: Outside Meeting, Sunday: Sponsor Meeting

Initial In-take:
Newcomers Package
House Tour
Rules and Guidelines
Finances
Bedding
Expectation of Personal Items
Chore Duties
Introduction to Other Residents
Bed Making Skills
General Household Functions:

Applications
Résumés
Interviews

House Supervisor:
Food, Inventory and Purchase
Staples, Purchase and Inventory
Clothing Inventory
Hygiene Inventory
Paper Work
Applications for Residents
Interviews – Newcomers
Programs – Guidance – Assignments
Dual Recovery Assessment

Transportation:
Vehicle Gas & Maintenance
Work appointments
Doctor Appointments
Treatment Center Appointments – Hospital-Special Needs
Off-Site Meetings AA, NA, CA etc.
In-Take Interviews
Household Errands
Bus Stops
Various Scheduled Appointments DHS –Drivers License – etc.

Currently, Rori is collaborating with a local Correctional Facility, County Department Corrections, Davidson County, Tennessee. At their request, Rori implemented a relapse program for male and female convicts to establish self esteem and integrate them back into society. The majority of these convicts are alcohol and/or drug addicts.

Rori is an active member of Tennessee Association Alcohol Drugs and Other Addiction Services, TAADAS.

Grandpa’s House Inc. has grown in reputation due to its “caring” and successful program. Rori would like to extend the program to help more people by:

Opening more houses for men and women
Establish a business – provide residents education and job training,
Promote confidence and self-esteem and assist in funding Grandpa’s House Inc.
Being a resource center for addicts, alcoholics, dual diagnosis, domestic violence and convicts.

This takes time, people and financial resources. A non-profit status would allow Grandpa’s House Inc. to apply for grant money and perhaps hire others with the same passion to further the work.

Rori Mason - Executive Director of Grandpa's House will be the education speaker on 2/8/2008.