On this Saturday morning, our class went out into the city to tour affordable housing options for seniors. We saw from a range of transitional housing with poor air ventilation to LGBT-friendly housing with exceptional attention to detail.
The places that stuck on my mind were the ones that were the first two we toured in detail. This included the Sara Francis Hometel & Potiker Family Senior Residence. We got the chance to peek inside a vacant room at the Sara Francis and I was shocked. Right when the door was unlocked, an extremely unpleasant smell, accompanied by around 10 flies poured out. In the 100 square feet space, there was a bed frame and a sink area. This was one of the many rooms in this residence that shared one toilet, one shower, and one washer & dryer. Some residents had aggressive notes and questionable items attached to their doors. Seeing these residents’ living situation made me sad and a bit mad. I wouldn’t want my grandparents or anyone to live in Sara Francis because of the lack of space, amenities, and safety. While looking around, a resident straightforwardly told us to not live there because “it’s disgusting.” That was heartbreaking to hear. Although this place is transitional housing, I would want the residents to feel safe and at home even if it’s temporary. I feel like if there were basic cleaning services, the hometel would feel a bit more bearable to live in.
At the Potiker Residence, I was glad to hear that the staff provides a variety of on-site services like the provision of two prepared meals a day. As a major foodie who’s interested in nutrition, I was curious to see what was on the menu. At first glance, I saw that the curated meals include healthier options such as whole grain-crusted fish, oven fried chicken, and brown rice in place of their less healthy counterparts. There are also plenty of vegetables and fruit incorporated into the meals. However, I saw that a good portion of what’s on the menu included typical American dishes like sloppy joes, macaroni and cheese, and whipped potatoes with gravy. Since the seniors who live at Potiker come from different cultural backgrounds, it would be nice to see more ethnic dishes on the menus. From my personal experience, I know that my dad and grandparents love their Chinese food, so I honestly cannot imagine them fully enjoying the dishes on Potiker’s menu. Food offers feelings of comfort and belonging in cultures, so the menu was something that stood out to me while touring the kitchen.
I remember one of the presenters Jennifer saying that they’re doing their best to improve and offer more services, but of course, resources are limited and they cannot do everything nor house everyone. I understand that, and it’s hard realizing that this country has so many resources but they’re directed in the wrong places.
The places that stuck on my mind were the ones that were the first two we toured in detail. This included the Sara Francis Hometel & Potiker Family Senior Residence. We got the chance to peek inside a vacant room at the Sara Francis and I was shocked. Right when the door was unlocked, an extremely unpleasant smell, accompanied by around 10 flies poured out. In the 100 square feet space, there was a bed frame and a sink area. This was one of the many rooms in this residence that shared one toilet, one shower, and one washer & dryer. Some residents had aggressive notes and questionable items attached to their doors. Seeing these residents’ living situation made me sad and a bit mad. I wouldn’t want my grandparents or anyone to live in Sara Francis because of the lack of space, amenities, and safety. While looking around, a resident straightforwardly told us to not live there because “it’s disgusting.” That was heartbreaking to hear. Although this place is transitional housing, I would want the residents to feel safe and at home even if it’s temporary. I feel like if there were basic cleaning services, the hometel would feel a bit more bearable to live in.
At the Potiker Residence, I was glad to hear that the staff provides a variety of on-site services like the provision of two prepared meals a day. As a major foodie who’s interested in nutrition, I was curious to see what was on the menu. At first glance, I saw that the curated meals include healthier options such as whole grain-crusted fish, oven fried chicken, and brown rice in place of their less healthy counterparts. There are also plenty of vegetables and fruit incorporated into the meals. However, I saw that a good portion of what’s on the menu included typical American dishes like sloppy joes, macaroni and cheese, and whipped potatoes with gravy. Since the seniors who live at Potiker come from different cultural backgrounds, it would be nice to see more ethnic dishes on the menus. From my personal experience, I know that my dad and grandparents love their Chinese food, so I honestly cannot imagine them fully enjoying the dishes on Potiker’s menu. Food offers feelings of comfort and belonging in cultures, so the menu was something that stood out to me while touring the kitchen.
I remember one of the presenters Jennifer saying that they’re doing their best to improve and offer more services, but of course, resources are limited and they cannot do everything nor house everyone. I understand that, and it’s hard realizing that this country has so many resources but they’re directed in the wrong places.