This past week was filled with adventurous, informative moments that continue to shape my perceptions on healthy aging. Our week started off with a book presentation on Arelene Weintraub’s “Selling the Fountain of Youth”, by some of the students from this class. My fellow classmates presented their findings on this book that tackled the topics surrounding aging. This book churned my thoughts encompassing how society has been shaped to view aging. Aging is to be seen as a disease that must be eradicated through efforts that milk money out of insecurities that are just part of the natural life process. By the end of this novel, I began to wonder what other systems in the upper echelons of societal norms are complete nonsensical marketing schemes.
My journey on understanding healthy aging was further supported by our recent outing that toured the affordable housing options around San Diego. The Potiker Family Senior Residence, Sara Francis Hometel, Talmadge Gateway, and North Park Seniors were the four areas of living we were lucky enough to visit. These home tours represented a struggle of housing that exists within a certain elderly population in San Diego. To see the efforts of people who care deeply about the lives of those who have struggled to find a proper home to thrive in gave me a better sense of the elderly niche found within San Diego’s homeless population. These affordable housing options gave these people a chance to feel safe in a home; no matter which location we visited each resident showed a sense of gratitude, which was a truly humbling experience. City-funded efforts and the well-thought-out plans of those in charge of these projects are a type of service that is much needed not just in San Diego but in other areas that have a demand for housing.
From learning about the systems that market aging to the great need of housing for the underserved geriatric population, this week has shown me two facets of healthy aging I was privileged enough of learning more about in detail. I know there are more topics surrounding healthy aging and the personal stories that make these topics even more real, motivating me to take advantage of future opportunities that can help me learn how to be an advocate for healthy aging.
My journey on understanding healthy aging was further supported by our recent outing that toured the affordable housing options around San Diego. The Potiker Family Senior Residence, Sara Francis Hometel, Talmadge Gateway, and North Park Seniors were the four areas of living we were lucky enough to visit. These home tours represented a struggle of housing that exists within a certain elderly population in San Diego. To see the efforts of people who care deeply about the lives of those who have struggled to find a proper home to thrive in gave me a better sense of the elderly niche found within San Diego’s homeless population. These affordable housing options gave these people a chance to feel safe in a home; no matter which location we visited each resident showed a sense of gratitude, which was a truly humbling experience. City-funded efforts and the well-thought-out plans of those in charge of these projects are a type of service that is much needed not just in San Diego but in other areas that have a demand for housing.
From learning about the systems that market aging to the great need of housing for the underserved geriatric population, this week has shown me two facets of healthy aging I was privileged enough of learning more about in detail. I know there are more topics surrounding healthy aging and the personal stories that make these topics even more real, motivating me to take advantage of future opportunities that can help me learn how to be an advocate for healthy aging.