Perhaps a more fitting name of this entry would be “tour (part 2) of a decidedly not-as-affordable housing option” if this were to be a continuation from Saturday’s tour (which it is, in many ways). Casa de Manana is, without a doubt, a lovely community donned with spacious facilities, attentive staff, and a gorgeous view of the La Jolla coastline. From their fully-featured beauty parlor, personal trainers and gym, culinary team, gorgeous library, to their itinerary overflowing with outings, I do believe that Casa de Manana does great work at preserving independence and retaining the locus of control for its residents, which is proven to improve longevity and life satisfaction. While I am heartened that there does exist not-for-profit organizations (although few) like Casa de Manana that clearly understand and value the holistic aging process, the scale and relative inaccessibility for most seniors in this county is somewhat saddening. Should it really require nearly 300% of the FPL, and nearly 150% of the Elder Index to be eligible for such a community and elder-oriented attitude that may come default in other settings and/or sociocultural contexts? I suppose one could argue that those who can afford such an experience through their lifelong work and savings deserve such an experience if they so wish, but at the same time, how many other elders who have invested similar passion and work throughout their years, but do not arrive at the same intersection of resources and locational benefit simply because of the forces of privilege out of their control (and not in their favor). On the other hand, it is also interesting to wonder if there are similar institutions for older persons of color, complete with culturally-competent care, construction, and amenities. I can certainly envision how an increasingly minority-dominant (an oxymoronic phrase) country will (and currently) call for the implementation of Casa-like institutions that are more catered to those which difference cultural needs. And of course, the implementation of this caliber of care and thoroughness at lower levels of cost. Subsidization, optimization, and adoption of the Casa de Manana-model will certainly be a forthcoming topic in the future of senior living communities in America.
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Andrew NguyenWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
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