Upon arriving at Casa de Manana Retirement Community, I immediately felt refreshed and energized by the breathtaking view of the La Jolla Cove. Originally a hotel, the beachfront retirement center is aesthetic in its location in La Jolla, its adorned ceiling, and its hallways showcasing the artwork of many artistic residents. Like the rose bushes dedicated to every single resident, Casa de Manana blooms with activities and services that accommodate individual needs of the elderly residents. The on-site wellness clinic, the dining hall overlooking the ocean, the resident-run library and trading post, the musical and exercise programs, and the frequent outings to local concerts and theater performances, to name but a few, enhance both physical and mental well-being of the residents by encouraging them to be actively involved and engaged in their community. “Because the worst thing about aging is the feeling of loneliness and not doing anything productive,” commented a resident who is happy to volunteer at the trading post and participate in a variety of activities offered at Casa de Manana. Another resident we met in the hallway recently participated in a swimming contest against other seniors in the 90-year-old group. The energy and youthfulness of the residents make Casa de Manana a truly vibrant home.
After our cohort split into small groups, each having chance to chat with one or two residents at Casa de Manana. Our group had a conversation with two lovely ladies and heard their stories – their occupations before retirement, their families and children, and how they came to choose Casa de Manana as their home. Both ladies exuded radiance as they revealed the many activities they are involved in after retirement, expressed their gratitude for the opportunities life has offered, and shared their words of wisdom with us, one of which was to be flexible because you’ll never know where life will take you. When we invited the ladies to the tea dance to be held at Casa de Manana in March, they showed a little nervousness because “I danced with the same partner for 50 years and cannot dance with anyone else because I don’t know their moves.” I found this remark as sweet as the way they delivered it with charming laughs.
The residents at Casa de Manana defy the stereotypical image of seniors that mainstream media portray. At age sixty and above, these seniors lead independent and productive lives as they play sports, volunteer in the community, and organize and participate in the women’s march to voice their opinions on important sociopolitical issues. There is obviously more to aging than just watching your body and health decline!
On the other hand, the cost of living at Casa de Manana is not affordable for a lot of our seniors, including those who live in poverty. Despite the tremendous amount of effort and dedication that many non-profit organizations like Serving Seniors put into improving the lives of low-income seniors, finite funding and financial support, which is heavily influenced by political decisions and public policies, limits the services and resources they can provide as well as the number of seniors they can serve. How we can provide a larger population of seniors with services and activities like those at Casa de Manana remains a riddle to be solved.
After our cohort split into small groups, each having chance to chat with one or two residents at Casa de Manana. Our group had a conversation with two lovely ladies and heard their stories – their occupations before retirement, their families and children, and how they came to choose Casa de Manana as their home. Both ladies exuded radiance as they revealed the many activities they are involved in after retirement, expressed their gratitude for the opportunities life has offered, and shared their words of wisdom with us, one of which was to be flexible because you’ll never know where life will take you. When we invited the ladies to the tea dance to be held at Casa de Manana in March, they showed a little nervousness because “I danced with the same partner for 50 years and cannot dance with anyone else because I don’t know their moves.” I found this remark as sweet as the way they delivered it with charming laughs.
The residents at Casa de Manana defy the stereotypical image of seniors that mainstream media portray. At age sixty and above, these seniors lead independent and productive lives as they play sports, volunteer in the community, and organize and participate in the women’s march to voice their opinions on important sociopolitical issues. There is obviously more to aging than just watching your body and health decline!
On the other hand, the cost of living at Casa de Manana is not affordable for a lot of our seniors, including those who live in poverty. Despite the tremendous amount of effort and dedication that many non-profit organizations like Serving Seniors put into improving the lives of low-income seniors, finite funding and financial support, which is heavily influenced by political decisions and public policies, limits the services and resources they can provide as well as the number of seniors they can serve. How we can provide a larger population of seniors with services and activities like those at Casa de Manana remains a riddle to be solved.