Visiting Casa de Manana felt like visiting an all-inclusive resort and in many ways, that’s exactly what this senior residence resembled. Rooms ranged from single bedrooms to “grand villas”, each with a wonderful view of the La Jolla coast. As we walked down the halls adorned with the residents’ own artwork, the place felt more and more like a luxury resort. But of course, after all, with this luxurious feel also comes a luxurious price... We passed through different rooms dedicated to different activities, from an exercise room where a physical therapist and personal trainer were assisting some residents, a fully-equipped beauty salon, to a dining room where the residents' names were typed on individual name cards and arranged on the tables. As the tour went on, we learned that Casa hosts a myriad of classes and activities for their residents, including painting and even Spanish classes. With all of these activities and resources available to them in such a bright, and welcoming environment, I wasn’t surprised to learn that many of their residents are quite independent and eager to pursue various interests. A resident who epitomizes the level of independence and agency that Casa residents have was a charismatic gentleman we met in the dining room (his name, unfortunately, eludes me). He shared with us a brief window into his life, starting with his early life in Wales and how he had eventually settled in the U.S. Some of the activities he participates in while living in Casa are the painting classes and the choir which he helped start. Casa’s choir began as a small group of residents who met occasionally to sing a few songs for fun. Some residents overheard their singing and asked to join. From there, the group grew from a handful of residents to about thirty today. They were even able to bring in a choir director to work with them! Another resident who also comes to mind when thinking about how independent Casa’s residents are, is Helen. We met Helen at the meet and greet portion of our visit. She told us about her life traveling around the world and I wish we had more time to hear her stories, and was well as those of the other residents who were present for the meet and greet. Naturally, as someone who loves to travel, Helen also wants to learn new languages. Today, Helen is attending Spanish classes provided and taught by the Casa staff. Through the residents we met at Casa, I was reminded that it is never too late to pursue and learn something new, no matter how “old” you are.
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Claudia MabantaWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
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