The Gary and Mary West Senior Center is one of the senior centers of San Diego that offers plenty of services particularly targeted towards those who are low-income or low-resourced. However, anyone over the age of 65 is allowed to partake in their programs. Some of the available amenities include exercise classes, a game room, a computer room, dental services upstairs, and case managers. Prior to this visit, I was unaware of how large of an issue oral hygiene/care was for the elderly population. As a result, it was good to see the center trying to make an impact on that issue. Partnered with serving seniors, another one of the key highlights of the center are the regular meals it provides to its patrons. During lunch, they go through three rounds to ensure everyone is able to get a meal.
Prior to the start of lunch, I was able to get acquainted with a pair of sisters who were waiting on their meals. Compared to some of the other seniors who frequented the center, they were quite yet regulars as they had just moved to San Diego recently. I learned they were currently living out of their car, coming to the center to get help from case managers to find housing. Some of the key pieces of advice they gave me were to be prepared for the future as you never know what will happen. Alternatively, they also told me to have fun in life and create good memories to look back on when I get older. The younger sister had told me that despite the hardships she’s currently facing, she felt she had lived a full life. Some of her wild experiences she described were when she lived in Chile for a year as a teenager and tried to bring back tens of bottles of wine her friend had given her. She was also quite an animal lover as she raised over 10 horses and 10 dogs on their family farm. The womens’ stories gave me a first-hand perspective on how sudden life events can dramatically change lives, but also how to remain hopeful in dire situations.
Prior to the start of lunch, I was able to get acquainted with a pair of sisters who were waiting on their meals. Compared to some of the other seniors who frequented the center, they were quite yet regulars as they had just moved to San Diego recently. I learned they were currently living out of their car, coming to the center to get help from case managers to find housing. Some of the key pieces of advice they gave me were to be prepared for the future as you never know what will happen. Alternatively, they also told me to have fun in life and create good memories to look back on when I get older. The younger sister had told me that despite the hardships she’s currently facing, she felt she had lived a full life. Some of her wild experiences she described were when she lived in Chile for a year as a teenager and tried to bring back tens of bottles of wine her friend had given her. She was also quite an animal lover as she raised over 10 horses and 10 dogs on their family farm. The womens’ stories gave me a first-hand perspective on how sudden life events can dramatically change lives, but also how to remain hopeful in dire situations.