Dr. Jack Clausen Enjoys the Music of Friendship

Posted on November 2, 2021

When Casa de Mañana resident Dr. Jack Clausen was five years old, his parents introduced him to the piano. "I wasn't forced to play but encouraged," Jack said. "My father was a music professor and department chair at Los Angeles City College, so in that sense I was motivated. He and my mother were the primary forces responsible for instilling the self-discipline of daily practicing needed to attain sufficient skills to play for a lifetime of fun." Jack soon switched to the violin and then at…

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Front Porch Chaplains Help Residents Explore the Many Facets of Spirituality

Posted on October 25, 2021

Samuel Schaar had not planned to be a chaplain. Prior to joining the team at Sunny View in Cupertino as the director of spiritual life, he served as a pastor in a local Methodist congregation. "I had served as a chaplain for one year in a hospital," he said. "I cherished the experience of that year, because it was a tremendous season of growth and learning for me. My time spent as a chaplain in this community has continued that learning journey and I have come to love the role more and more." …

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Residents and Their Canine Companions Have a Dog-Gone Good Time at Casa de Mañana’s Yappy Hour

Posted on October 13, 2021

During a recent "yappy hour" at Casa de Mañana, resident Betsy Jordan said it best … "Most of the time, the people talk to the people and the dogs talk to the dogs, but sometimes it's the other way around," she said with a grin, keeping one eye on her chocolate lab Bella, while enjoying some refreshments with her neighbors. For an hour each month, Casa's putting green, overlooking the Children's Pool near La Jolla Cove, is transformed into a virtual "dogtopia," a canine para…

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Demystifying Resident Contracts

Posted on September 21, 2021

For people who are considering moving to a community, many of the benefits are obvious: a beautiful location, friendly neighbors, great amenities, and supportive staff. But moving to a senior community is a big decision, and one that can raise many questions - especially when it comes to signing a contract or resident agreement. The resident agreement may seem imposing at first, but it also holds the answers to many questions prospective residents may have, such as: What's included and n…

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Guided Meditation Helps Make Mind and Body One

Posted on September 20, 2021

Residents use weekly sessions to reduce stress Inhale the inspiration, exhale the stagnation. Inhale the relaxation and exhale the tension. Guided meditation at Casa de Mañana is all about creating mindfulness. "I give each meditation session a theme but I don't have a script," said Veronicah Cohen, Casa's director of life enrichment. "I try to be spontaneous with my words with the goal of taking residents to a peaceful place in their minds to rest, recuperate and to be grounde…

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Recycling from the Heart, for HEART

Posted on August 23, 2021

Casa de Mañana staff teams with residents to support employee assistance fund As the old saying goes, one person's trash is another person's treasure. Especially when that trash is recycled and used to help people in need. A few years ago, Casa de Mañana Housekeeping Supervisor Juan Martinez and his team noticed an abundance of aluminum cans and plastic bottles filling up trash cans around the community, mostly from staff who would purchase drinks from vending machines in employee break ar…

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Legally Blind Casa de Mañana Residents Ron and Alicia Inspire Others With Their Art

Posted on July 20, 2021

It could be said that although Casa de Mañana residents and legally blind artists Alicia Haughney and Ron Landells may have lost much of their sight, they have never lost their vision - or their passion for painting. "To me, art is making something better," Alicia said. "Not being able to see well presents challenges but that just means embracing larger canvases and more vibrant colors. I love experimenting with them and putting them together." Alicia, a retired nurse, moved to…

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Casa de Mañana Serves Up Chef Curtis

Posted on October 16, 2020

During his storied career as an executive chef at luxury spas and hotels, Chef Curtis Cooke catered to many celebrities. But his belief in a work-life balance and a desire for more interaction with those he cooked for, recently prompted him to leave that glitz and glamour and bring his clean, smart, delicious and healthy cuisine to Casa de Mañana. "Coming here is a change from previous positions but I felt it was time I did something for my own soul," Chef Curtis said. "Gett…

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Alice Yee: A Life of Service and Action

Posted on September 22, 2020

"The power, passion, and purpose of ancient female wisdom." This phrase is the credo of the Crone's Counsel, a non-profit organization that honors and advances the aging woman's value to society. The description could also easily describe resident Alice Yee, a pioneer for women's equality for more than three quarters of a century. Born in the spring of 1919, in Spokane, Washington, Alice grew up in what she described as a "very traditional household." Her mother was a homemaker and was c…

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A Rose for Each Casa Resident

Posted on September 19, 2020

As Juliet professes in Shakespeare's famous play ... "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." That could not be more apropos for the dozens of rose bushes planted at Casa de Mañana, each named for a resident. Planted near a popular walking path along Coast Boulevard South, nearly 175 rose bushes explode with color nearly year-round as they dot the landscape. Small identification tags bear the names of individuals or couples given to them by the seaside community with affec…

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