According to the internet on May 16th 1920 (exactly 98 years ago) Joan of Arc canonized a saint. On the other hand, on May 16th 2018, the Life Course Scholars had the privilege to visit and socialize with the LGBT community center in Hillcrest. Majority or all of the beautiful individuals we socialized were elders who visit the LGBT center. One of the individuals I socialized the most with was named Robert (I Will attach a picture of him). I cannot describe how amazing Robert is! I reallyyyy loved talking with him and taking advice as well. Robert described his beauty career, he worked in New York and even Europe were he got to meet several artists, actors, singers, sports individuals and many more. He began his career with makeup but as time went on he specialized in hair color and that is where he met several famous people. The most beautiful story he told me was when he met his husband. Robert describes being friends with someone who wanted to attend a program in which people were serious about meeting others and starting a future relationship (if it worked out). Robert did not want to go at first but his friend insisted, upon getting to the site, Robert sat down with someone else whom he seemed not to be very interested in and when he was about to leave he turns around and bam! Love at first sight, he turns to see this handsome individual with the brightest and most beautiful smile just staring at him. He knew at that moment that he would be the one. I had never heard a love story like this and I just thought it was so beautiful, usually in movies or t.v. they make this love at first sight thing happen but it also happens in reality. I have always believed in love at first sight therefor it was just so beautiful hearing Robert tell me this. His husband (Chris) was not present because he was getting ready to fly out to visit his family but usually they come together to these sort of events. Robert went on to ask me if I had children (since I mentioned I was married) and he told me that someone once told him not to open or pick up a book until 35 years of age. A philosophical verse to tell me that whenever I am ready I will be ready, not to rush anything because everything will come at its time and I will know when that time is. Little by little I will reach my goals in life but in order to do that I have to take it step by step, His words were very touching and I am thankful to have heard this from him because I feel like we are in a society were today we rush things but in reality we should take it slow at a time and enjoy as much as we can because eventually we will get to were we want to be. I really enjoyed speaking with Robert but I also enjoyed discussing other topics with the other elders around me. The following are some topics that the elders had a lot to say.
Civic Participation
• Many elders reported the desire to have more libraries in which they could engage more with the youth.
• They also described the need to put more effort to communicate with the youth and come together as a whole and engage in different activities.
• In general, have more intergenerational activities
• Many also expressed the idea to have a community in which all ages can come together and have an input about with is happening in their communities.
Health Services
• Several elders expressed that when their health services are taken away they feel as if they are not valued, therefor work harder in order to prevent this from happening.
• Have different places (hospitals) to offer different types of surgeries that are not only covered but are not limited through their health insurance.
• Another idea was to have RESEARCH in nursing homes because that is where a lot of elders are at
o The idea is to give in order to receive
o Knowledge is power!
Transportation
• More shuttles to take people from apartments to places such as grocery stores
• In general, have more transportation
• Possible transportation needs a lot of improvement
o Many said it was easy to get around Hillcrest with busses but for example getting to the other
side of San Diego can be very difficult because its one bus after another and another
• Uber/lyft can be expensive o Not only expensive but as of today technology is so advanced that several elders do not know how to use their phones to get an uber/lyft
Housing
• Having more housing for homeless
o Several of the elders described that the Alpha Project was suppose to help with homelessness
but the program has done NOTHING to help with this problem.
o Therefor the Alpha Project needs to be improved
• More affordable housing
o There have been new apartments in Hillcrest for LGBT community that are affordable but it was
a raffle
o Other affordable housing have long wait list
• More places for seniors to rest
o Living or resting in the streets is horrible
• Senior housing is sometimes to far from certain locations or community places.
Overall
• Many elders expressed that they would like to have more intergenerational events like the one we had with them.
• It is important to have the youth communicate with not only elders but all age ranges
• Some elders are isolated from the youths at places like nursing homes therefor it is important to have youth go into places like that because a lot of them appreciate it o Elders do NOT always want to be isolated
• Diversity, intergeneration, and open communication is key
• Many elders reported the desire to have more libraries in which they could engage more with the youth.
• They also described the need to put more effort to communicate with the youth and come together as a whole and engage in different activities.
• In general, have more intergenerational activities
• Many also expressed the idea to have a community in which all ages can come together and have an input about with is happening in their communities.
Health Services
• Several elders expressed that when their health services are taken away they feel as if they are not valued, therefor work harder in order to prevent this from happening.
• Have different places (hospitals) to offer different types of surgeries that are not only covered but are not limited through their health insurance.
• Another idea was to have RESEARCH in nursing homes because that is where a lot of elders are at
o The idea is to give in order to receive
o Knowledge is power!
Transportation
• More shuttles to take people from apartments to places such as grocery stores
• In general, have more transportation
• Possible transportation needs a lot of improvement
o Many said it was easy to get around Hillcrest with busses but for example getting to the other
side of San Diego can be very difficult because its one bus after another and another
• Uber/lyft can be expensive o Not only expensive but as of today technology is so advanced that several elders do not know how to use their phones to get an uber/lyft
Housing
• Having more housing for homeless
o Several of the elders described that the Alpha Project was suppose to help with homelessness
but the program has done NOTHING to help with this problem.
o Therefor the Alpha Project needs to be improved
• More affordable housing
o There have been new apartments in Hillcrest for LGBT community that are affordable but it was
a raffle
o Other affordable housing have long wait list
• More places for seniors to rest
o Living or resting in the streets is horrible
• Senior housing is sometimes to far from certain locations or community places.
Overall
• Many elders expressed that they would like to have more intergenerational events like the one we had with them.
• It is important to have the youth communicate with not only elders but all age ranges
• Some elders are isolated from the youths at places like nursing homes therefor it is important to have youth go into places like that because a lot of them appreciate it o Elders do NOT always want to be isolated
• Diversity, intergeneration, and open communication is key