Today we went to the LGBTQ Center in Hillcrest. Initially, I felt a bit shy because there were so many seniors compared to the number of us students, but the seniors there were so open, welcoming, and thoughtful. I mainly spoke to Alan and a senior who was from Italy (I’m not typing out his name since I don’t want to butcher the spelling). The two of them had strong opinions on what they wanted to see in an age friendly community based on what they have seen in past experience. Alan wanted a community center that would facilitate ways to make the elderly useful by holding classes or consultations so that seniors could share their knowledge with the rest of the community. He said that when you are old, you have nothing to do anymore, so you want to feel useful. Using community centers in this way would be helpful for all ages. The senior from Italy said that in Italy, some houses build an extra unit for an older family member to live in. He said that he liked having the three levels of generations: grandparents, parents, and children, and that it is beneficial for everyone. He also said that intergenerational housing is a good idea only if it is with family or with people with shared interests. I had a fun time at the center and listening to the elders talk and also learning about how they embrace their culture. The two men I was speaking two were also a part of FOG (Fellowship of Older Gays) and it was really inspiring to see how involved they were even at an old age. They take pride in their identity and they also volunteer with kids regularly. They both constantly keep themselves busy with many different activities and it was really nice to see how happy they are with their lives.
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Micah BanawisArchives
June 2018
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