Chula Vista senior fair connects community and resources

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — A new senior resource fair in Chula Vista is helping connect South Bay seniors with services, activities and community programs, organizers said.

The first edition of the Senior Resource Fair was held at the Norman Park Senior Center, bringing together local organizations and residents in an effort to keep older adults informed, engaged and active in their community.

For some attendees, the event came as a surprise. Cynthia Rodriguez, a Chula Vista resident, said she originally planned to attend a line dancing class at the center.

“I actually was supposed to go to a line dancing here at 9:00. I didn’t know they canceled,” Rodriguez said. “so I said, well, let’s see what’s happening over here.”

Organizers said the fair was designed to address the needs of Chula Vista’s growing senior population, particularly on the city’s west side.

Rose Rugama Inocente, owner and founder of Next Step for Downsize Living and organizer of the fair, said outreach to older residents was a key goal.

“Chula Vista is, has a dense population of elders and seniors. So, bringing awareness to the community center was important, but also reaching out to them was even more so important,” Rugama Inocente said.

Rugama Inocente said the city’s growth over the decades contributed to disparities in resources between neighborhoods.

“Initially the west side, which is what we call it now, grew back from like the 40s and the 50s when all the plants started opening, opening offices and plants in where the Marina is now,” Rugama Inocente said.

“Organically, you know, some years later, maybe like in the 80s, Eastlake was born and then Otay Ranch. And so that area grew, we grew so west, I mean, so east that the west side was kind of almost forgotten because it was older, but also that older was a demographic that we are trying now to address and help.”

Rodriguez said the fair helped her discover useful services, including estate planning resources.

“For me, I’m going to go to the legacy file for trust because I haven’t done my trust yet, which I should have already done,” Rodriguez said.

Even though she missed her dance class, Rodriguez said it’s something worth coming back for.

“We had so much fun. You know, a beginner class. But I wouldn’t call it a beginner class. You know,” Rodriguez said.

She added that staying active through dancing, playing soccer in the Senior Olympics and spending time with her 13 grandchildren keeps her feeling young.

“Reach out, look for resources and you’ll find them,” Rodriguez said.

Organizers said they hope to make the senior resource fair an annual event. Those who missed it can find activities and programming through the City of Chula Vista’s website here.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.