I observed and enjoyed the community aspect of the Senior Wellness Center as there were multiple activities going on throughout the day and I saw many people coming in and out or having conversations with one another. As we toured the site, it was great to hear about all of the different resources they provided such as breakfast and lunch, social activities and workshops, and even the computer lab and dental office (which were quite a surprise). I also really appreciated the case managers who came and spoke to our group because it sh
The most impactful moment during this visit took place right before breakfast was served when I spoke with Terry, an older man experiencing homelessness. In the beginning, we had a bit of an awkward start as we tried to figure out things that we could talk about. I definitely felt the generational gap as he would mention artists or shows that I wasn't too familiar with, and I would do the same thing as well. At some point, I complimented his denim jacket and Terry proudly showed off the back, which sported the words "Death Wish Coffee" and a skull and crossbones right in the middle.
This catapulted us into a more intimate conversation where Terry shared more about his life. Originally, he was born and raised in Oregon, but he frequented San Diego throughout his life because he loved coming down for concerts. When he was in college, he loved to go on road trips to San Diego—oftentimes, he would hitch hike and end up staying at fraternity houses so he could save his money for the concerts and festivals he would attend in San Diego. Eventually, one of his friends convinced him to move down to San Diego, but Terry shared that sadly his friend passed away after he was finally able to make the move.
He shared that he had lived in Hillcrest, where he and his son would feed and take care of the cats in their neighborhood. Although I didn't get to ask what led him into homelessness, Terry shared how sad it was when he and his son had to leave their house and cats behind. He mentioned that he went back to Hillcrest at some point to reclaim their cats, but the cats didn't remember him anymore.
Something that resonated with me was when Terry mentioned that he feels overlooked as an older adult experiencing homelessness. There aren't many resources out there nor is there enough housing, but it was really disheartening to hear him say that some people simply don't care enough about older adults in general. He comes to the Senior Wellness Center a few times a week because the food is better than the shelter (?) he stays at, but sometimes he and his son will dip into the little savings they had to buy some better quality groceries.
Our conversation came to an abrupt end as I had to leave, but I am wishing Terry and his son positive energy and manifesting that their situation can improve soon.