Seniors Total Quality of Life is beyond Senior Housing

By Wiggs Mendoza

I learned from my parents that senior total quality of life is beyond having a paid home or living within a senior community. Rather, living as a senior is about the total quality of life. Seniors total quality of life includes concerns like affordable housing, acute health care, long-term care, income support, transportation and mobility, safety, health promotion, hearing seniors' voices, access to information, recreation and cultural issues.

When I think of the senior population I automatically think about my mom and dad. A product of the Second World War generation-- the greatest generation-- my mom and dad, instilled very important values that my family continues to practice today. "Respect your elders and protect the young" was the governing rule of the Mendoza home. It was a same rule that we baby boomers have learned and carried on through our lives.

In their waning years I dropped everything in my life to make sure I can be of service to my mom and dad. There were many things going in my life then: higher education, law school, a career and even family. But nothing I believed was more important than to make sure that my parents know that I will be there for them to help, until their last moments.

Although they owned their own homes, I learned that being a senior is merely beyond having a paid home or living within a senior community. Rather living as a senior is about the total quality of life. Seniors total quality of life includes concerns like affordable housing, acute health care, long-term care, income support, transportation and mobility, safety, health promotion, hearing seniors' voices, access to information, recreation and cultural issues. Seniors are telling me the municipal, state and federal governments are not considering seniors' needs and are not listening to them to find out what they need.

My parents are now long gone but has always as my inspiration to commit myself to protect the total quality of life of seniors in Hemet. When elected I will have the pleasure to serve this greatest generation and address their needs.

To protect the total quality of life of seniors Vote Wiggs Mendoza and make a difference this time!