Today we saw ourselves in Downtown SD, at the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, teeming with an incredible amount of energy and activity even in the early morning. We were given a tour around the complex, which had been renovated from a prior existence as a car dealership. There were an abundance of specialized rooms designed to facilitate a communal space, including a large dining area, game room, computer cafe, community lounge, and learning center. I had the pleasure of talking to a gentleman who was waiting for an information session on Alzheimer’s and Dementia in the learning center shortly after our own introduction session, which I found heartening - it’s not a fun subject for sure, but there were many individuals who were enthusiastic and proactive about being educated on a possible and potentially negative health development that can affect any of us. There was also a free dental clinic, a rarity, located upstairs and outfitted with modern technology and a staff of care managers and providers alike. I feel like having access to this, especially for many of the elderly there who lacked a stable and/or sufficient income, is of extreme benefit as better dental health (which historically has been overlooked as an essential health care right, either blatantly or by monetary barrier) is highly correlated with overall wellbeing. After the tour, we had a chance to interact one-on-one (some of us LCS-er’s discovered the art of puzzling with some pros) and then to serve them lunch, which was another impressive part of the wellness center - a full breakfast and lunch provided at no cost, with seconds and thirds for those who wished. Overall, however, the one aspect I found most compelling about the Senior Wellness Center was the vibe of community, especially after interacting with some of them; almost all of the elders I had the privilege to talk to said they loved coming (in many instances, everyday) to the center and that it was the highlight of their days. Many of them were situated in affordable housing and SROs in and around Downtown SD, so the Senior Center was very accessible and represented a community gathering place for all around. I could easily see myself coming to this facility, or one like it, in the future, and I’m so glad that there is such a thoughtful and well-implemented center to provide hundreds of seniors a social, health, and wellbeing epicenter.
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Andrew NguyenWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
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