The trip to the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center has been the most anticipated visit on my list. I have been so excited to meet this place and see how we could contribute to the people who utilize this resource. For some brief history, this center opened in 2010 and remains open 365 days a year. Not that I know how many as well do, but I was glad to hear this because that means these individuals who may find themselves alone are still able to have one another during the holidays. The director who gave us a tour informed the group that it would take 11 years for these individuals to receive a voucher (which assists in paying for housing) and 7 years to wait to get a room and a voucher. This all points to the idea that it is extremely difficult to find housing for these seniors. He also informed us that single room occupancies (SROs) are being torn down. He also added that they have a transitional program for homeless elderly but it becomes difficult to transition them when there is no housing available. However, he did emphasize that no matter the situation, the goal is always to get people off the streets and healthy despite their financial status.
Although, this center is not housing for seniors. It is a wellness center where they provide case managers, registered nurses, psychiatric nurses for mental wellbeing, and dental care that is not covered in medicare. The only senior center in the country to have dental services embedded in!! The dentists don’t even use Denti-Cal, they said it’s easier to do things pro bono. He explained how when they designed this center, they had too much space; therefore, the reason this free system works is because he offers these businesses to have the space for free so long as they are able to treat the people who go to these resources. They partnered with 3 other organizations to build this safety net for this community. Despite the reason this building came into existence, he claims the #1 reason people came in 20 years ago was for the meals, but the reason has now shifted to the social aspect. The care services and meals are now seen as an “add-on.” He told us that most of these individuals live alone and will check in on each other because they have regulars that come daily and they know if someone is missing. It is easy to build family bonds in this space. This space was very diverse. I noticed they had their menu in English and Mandarin. The director had told us they provided Mandarin speaking attorneys and case managers, Tagalog-speaking mental health nurses, and phone translation options for languages they don't have.
When we got to interact with the people, I met Greg, a man who was originally from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a character and so much fun to talk to. I was so happy to have visited Maine and New Hampshire in my past and planning on visiting Washington, DC and New York this Fall, so we had a lot to talk about. We laughed about things only East Coast people would know, bonded over our experiences cabinning and fishing, as well as how life is so drastically different there than here. He has many siblings, but no wife, no children, and his dream is to travel all of America. He has visited mannny states, but he wants to see more. He told me that Boston got too expensive to live in and he had to leave. He visits very often though, his family still stays there. But he’s thoroughly enjoyed his new home in San Diego. Meeting him was a pleasure and I am so grateful I got to get to know him. I hope to see him at prom!
Although, this center is not housing for seniors. It is a wellness center where they provide case managers, registered nurses, psychiatric nurses for mental wellbeing, and dental care that is not covered in medicare. The only senior center in the country to have dental services embedded in!! The dentists don’t even use Denti-Cal, they said it’s easier to do things pro bono. He explained how when they designed this center, they had too much space; therefore, the reason this free system works is because he offers these businesses to have the space for free so long as they are able to treat the people who go to these resources. They partnered with 3 other organizations to build this safety net for this community. Despite the reason this building came into existence, he claims the #1 reason people came in 20 years ago was for the meals, but the reason has now shifted to the social aspect. The care services and meals are now seen as an “add-on.” He told us that most of these individuals live alone and will check in on each other because they have regulars that come daily and they know if someone is missing. It is easy to build family bonds in this space. This space was very diverse. I noticed they had their menu in English and Mandarin. The director had told us they provided Mandarin speaking attorneys and case managers, Tagalog-speaking mental health nurses, and phone translation options for languages they don't have.
When we got to interact with the people, I met Greg, a man who was originally from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a character and so much fun to talk to. I was so happy to have visited Maine and New Hampshire in my past and planning on visiting Washington, DC and New York this Fall, so we had a lot to talk about. We laughed about things only East Coast people would know, bonded over our experiences cabinning and fishing, as well as how life is so drastically different there than here. He has many siblings, but no wife, no children, and his dream is to travel all of America. He has visited mannny states, but he wants to see more. He told me that Boston got too expensive to live in and he had to leave. He visits very often though, his family still stays there. But he’s thoroughly enjoyed his new home in San Diego. Meeting him was a pleasure and I am so grateful I got to get to know him. I hope to see him at prom!