Professors Bussell and Lewis also went over the Neighborhood Assessment and the Healthy Aging projects. For the Neighborhood Assessment project, each group will walk in a neighborhood in San Diego and evaluate the age-friendliness of that neighborhood based on physical construction (such as sidewalks, benches, and street lights) and public policies. Prior to this class meeting, I did not realize that something as seemingly simple as walking to a grocery store could be stressful for seniors with physical and/or cognitive impairment. Through this project, I hope to become more mindful of how our environment and society promote or hinder healthy aging.
Finally, we discussed some logistics and plans for the Healthy Aging projects/events that will take place in Spring quarter. We also had a chance to learn about different Healthy Aging projects executed by previous Life Course Scholars cohorts, and these intergenerational projects were very inspiring! I look forward to attending all events hosted by this year’s cohort and contributing to the effort of promoting healthy aging in my community.