The Gary and Mary West Center was often mentioned during the previous class meetings as the venue of activities this quarter, and so I was excited to visit the place and compare it to other senior housing centers that I had come across. We were first greeted by the CEO of Serving Seniors, who did a meticulous and thorough job of explaining the purpose of Serving Seniors and information, including specific data, about the aging population of San Diego. I was very impressed by the work of Serving Seniors for the elderly men and women who are restricted in their access to basic needs and services, such as healthcare. On the other hand, I was quite shocked that most were living in poverty, earning only around $900 per month for housing, food, clothing, etc. We learned that affordable housing is the central problem facing this population and a need that outweighs others. However, we were also told that the situation was even more dire, since the availability of housing itself, not just affordable housing, is so limited. We were taught this information and more in context of current issues in government and policy that allowed us to look into future problems and situations that not only the elderly population but also my generation was likely to face. It was an enlightening opportunity to learn so much about the community that we live in.
Afterwards, the students were allowed to interact with the seniors during lunchtime, which provided me the opportunity to have small conversations with various people from multiple different backgrounds and countries. We also served food for the elderly, which was a completely new and enjoyable experience for me that, at the same time, helped me realize the extraordinary amount of work that goes into providing services and care for such a large number of people. I developed an even deeper admiration for the people who work in the Gary and Mary West Center and the purpose of the non-profit organization.
I value everything that I learned from this class visit, and I am sure there will be many more to learn in the future.
Afterwards, the students were allowed to interact with the seniors during lunchtime, which provided me the opportunity to have small conversations with various people from multiple different backgrounds and countries. We also served food for the elderly, which was a completely new and enjoyable experience for me that, at the same time, helped me realize the extraordinary amount of work that goes into providing services and care for such a large number of people. I developed an even deeper admiration for the people who work in the Gary and Mary West Center and the purpose of the non-profit organization.
I value everything that I learned from this class visit, and I am sure there will be many more to learn in the future.