As we headed toward Case de Manana Retirement Home locating in La Jolla, the building itself and the location are just stunning and beautiful. This is a wonderful place for elders to spend their retirement, but the minimum cost for living here is $3300 per month. I am not very good at remembering numbers, but hearing about the cost is enough to let this number to stay in my brain for a pretty long time. The fancy hallway led us to the community room and the library. The library that faces the ocean, the exceptional restaurant for elders to enjoy their daily meals, each rose that represents each individual, and every design in Case de Manana attract people and make them feel warm and comfortable to be living here during retirement. This place gave us way too many surprises in one day.
When talking to one of the elders in a small group, I learned that she was the Dean of Women when she was young. She was such a lovely and energetic lady that all of us were very surprised to know that she was already 90. She taught me the importance of history and how we have come very far to have all the resources that are available to us. Back in her time, she could not even purchase her own house without her brother’s name because her husband had passed away. It is my first time talking about an elder who was perhaps involved or presented in the famous event that was documented in our history. Hearing her story was fascinating, and even now, the idea of aging does not stop her from pursuing something she enjoys.
Gary and Mary West Senior Center has limited resources and funding to help every elder. Some elders can easily pay their rent every month, but some struggle in food insecurity. Comparing with Gary and Mary West Center, Case De Manana offers better resources for elders. In addition, what I realize is that Case De Manana even has their own club, and staff welcome feedbacks and suggestion from residents. However, it is undeniable that both places create a very welcoming community for many elders. Both places broadened my perspectives because I have never visited retirement home before. I have seen elders in nursing homes, but spending the rest of the time in a nursing home can be very miserable for elders because they prefer being independent. Therefore, as long as they have a comfortable home in which they can always go back, many elders would be very happy about it regardless where they live.
When talking to one of the elders in a small group, I learned that she was the Dean of Women when she was young. She was such a lovely and energetic lady that all of us were very surprised to know that she was already 90. She taught me the importance of history and how we have come very far to have all the resources that are available to us. Back in her time, she could not even purchase her own house without her brother’s name because her husband had passed away. It is my first time talking about an elder who was perhaps involved or presented in the famous event that was documented in our history. Hearing her story was fascinating, and even now, the idea of aging does not stop her from pursuing something she enjoys.
Gary and Mary West Senior Center has limited resources and funding to help every elder. Some elders can easily pay their rent every month, but some struggle in food insecurity. Comparing with Gary and Mary West Center, Case De Manana offers better resources for elders. In addition, what I realize is that Case De Manana even has their own club, and staff welcome feedbacks and suggestion from residents. However, it is undeniable that both places create a very welcoming community for many elders. Both places broadened my perspectives because I have never visited retirement home before. I have seen elders in nursing homes, but spending the rest of the time in a nursing home can be very miserable for elders because they prefer being independent. Therefore, as long as they have a comfortable home in which they can always go back, many elders would be very happy about it regardless where they live.