Before the start of winter quarter, on January 6th, 2024 my Life Course Scholars cohort attended our retreat at the Martin Johnson House near the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. When we arrived, my friends and I were shocked by how beautiful the view was. We had seen photos of the venue online but actually standing there, in front of the ocean and breathing in the crisp, cool air was an incredible experience. After receiving a warm welcome by Professor Lewis and enjoying a delicious breakfast, we mingled with other students during a fun icebreaker activity. This allowed us to get better acquainted with one another and establish a community within our initial meeting.
Later, we delved into a series of lecturettes and learned about aging demographics, creating an age-friendly environment, and how to conduct an oral history interview. I especially liked the lecture delivered by Professor Bussell, as she discussed the need for more “complete streets” to be implemented into our society. Complete streets are designed to be pedestrian friendly, with wide tree-lined sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks. Unfortunately, there are not enough complete streets that currently exist in major cities so many older adults are forced to stay home and cannot easily commute to essential services. Becoming aware of the numerous challenges that face older adults today was truly eye-opening and sparked an interest in me that I hope to explore further throughout this course.
On January 17th, 2024 my cohort visited the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center in the heart of downtown San Diego. Upon our arrival, Paul Downey (CEO) gave us a brief overview of the demographics of seniors that regularly came to the center and subsequently provided a tour of the rest of the facility, along with all of the amenities that it offered. It was saddening to hear that many unhoused older adults sleep on the street right outside the center and rush in as soon as doors open to use the restrooms and eat a hot meal. He noted that while they are able to provide breakfast and lunch to older adults 365 days per year, dinner is not an option as there is not enough funding to cover three meals a day.
Additionally, older adults rely heavily on the media room inside the facility as it also functions as a napping space. It is critical for unhoused older adults to utilize this area because there are not enough shelter beds for them to sleep on during any given night. Hearing this was absolutely devastating, and made me realize how impactful the center’s services are for a multitude of older adults living downtown. Another surprising discovery is that this center is one of the only Senior Wellness facilities that has an onsite dental clinic. This is an amazing feat since older adults who rely on Medicare or Medi-cal do not receive dental coverage, which often prompts them to neglect their oral health, leading to the development of other health issues.
My favorite part of the visit, however, was getting to speak with some of the older adults during the lunch period. I vividly remember my conversation with Mary, a woman who has lived in San Diego for the past 27 years. She loves the proximity of the center to the local farmer’s market, grocery stores, and recreational spots. We even chatted about our shared passion for traveling, understanding peoples’ stories, and celebrating small wins in life. To sum up, I never expected to gain so much insight within the first two weeks of the quarter but through the LCS program, I have already met and engaged with numerous individuals who have enhanced my desire to serve the community as well as make a difference in the lives of older adults.
Later, we delved into a series of lecturettes and learned about aging demographics, creating an age-friendly environment, and how to conduct an oral history interview. I especially liked the lecture delivered by Professor Bussell, as she discussed the need for more “complete streets” to be implemented into our society. Complete streets are designed to be pedestrian friendly, with wide tree-lined sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks. Unfortunately, there are not enough complete streets that currently exist in major cities so many older adults are forced to stay home and cannot easily commute to essential services. Becoming aware of the numerous challenges that face older adults today was truly eye-opening and sparked an interest in me that I hope to explore further throughout this course.
On January 17th, 2024 my cohort visited the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center in the heart of downtown San Diego. Upon our arrival, Paul Downey (CEO) gave us a brief overview of the demographics of seniors that regularly came to the center and subsequently provided a tour of the rest of the facility, along with all of the amenities that it offered. It was saddening to hear that many unhoused older adults sleep on the street right outside the center and rush in as soon as doors open to use the restrooms and eat a hot meal. He noted that while they are able to provide breakfast and lunch to older adults 365 days per year, dinner is not an option as there is not enough funding to cover three meals a day.
Additionally, older adults rely heavily on the media room inside the facility as it also functions as a napping space. It is critical for unhoused older adults to utilize this area because there are not enough shelter beds for them to sleep on during any given night. Hearing this was absolutely devastating, and made me realize how impactful the center’s services are for a multitude of older adults living downtown. Another surprising discovery is that this center is one of the only Senior Wellness facilities that has an onsite dental clinic. This is an amazing feat since older adults who rely on Medicare or Medi-cal do not receive dental coverage, which often prompts them to neglect their oral health, leading to the development of other health issues.
My favorite part of the visit, however, was getting to speak with some of the older adults during the lunch period. I vividly remember my conversation with Mary, a woman who has lived in San Diego for the past 27 years. She loves the proximity of the center to the local farmer’s market, grocery stores, and recreational spots. We even chatted about our shared passion for traveling, understanding peoples’ stories, and celebrating small wins in life. To sum up, I never expected to gain so much insight within the first two weeks of the quarter but through the LCS program, I have already met and engaged with numerous individuals who have enhanced my desire to serve the community as well as make a difference in the lives of older adults.