The amount of clothes we received for donations was insane and it was uplifting to see how many people contributed to the clothing drive. It made me happy to see these older adults realize that the clothes were free. Even when clothes are donated to places like Goodwill, the prices may still be out of someone’s budget. I encourage everyone, including myself, to give their unwanted clothes and other essentials for free to those in need because it can really mean the world to someone else. It never hurts to give back to the community if you have the means of doing so. I also loved seeing some people going out of their comfort zone to try clothing items that they normally wouldn’t wear. There were a few items that are not typically worn by older adults, but seeing them give it a go was encouraging. The whole event created a sense of community and I feel like it was very special for people who may not get those types of interactions on a normal basis.
Although we did not get to tour Casa de Manana, it was shocking to just hear about the prices of the retirement home after seeing so many affordable housing options. Hearing about the monetary value differences based on just the outside environment was astonishing. I wish we were able to hear how some people afford this more luxury housing whether it be from other family members paying for it or from retirement funds. Although the environment of Casa de Manana was beautiful, I feel like La Jolla Cove isn’t very senior-friendly. There were a lot of places where you had to walk uphill with very little rest stops. The roads are also quite narrow for cars to pass through, which could be potentially dangerous for older adults who are walking on the sidewalk.