Nursing Care Facilities For Every Stage of Life
Chapala, Mexico
(Lake Chapala)
Why Mexico:
For 15 years I provided long term care through an Adult Family Home in WA state. With a staff of five, including an RN, and Certified Nurse Assistances we provided full service care and meals to three residents. Providing 24 hours care, supplies, food, salaries, insurance, taxes and rent for the facilities is costly. All the clients were private pay since state reimbursement for 24 hour care was a bit more than $100 per DAY.
Long term residential care is expensive no matter which type of facility is required. Assuming each caretaker was paid $22/hour that is $528 per day for 24 hour coverage.
Doing the math that is $15,840 per month. Long term care insurance pays maximum of $6000 per month with annual policy rates increasing as one ages.
Personally I could not afford to live in my own Adult Family Home should I require 24 hour care.
As a cohort of people over 75, reality sets in and looking for long term care facilities becomes realistically necessary. As such, talking with friends who had the same concerns and finding care facilities in Mexico was an eye opening possibility and reality.
Hence, after a reconnaissance trip to Chapala, Mexico where there was long existing industry of heath care facilities. The homes were diverse, caring for many foreigners with multiple needs. The Mexican culture, caring , concern and joy in care giving was pervasive.
Mexico is an extraordinary, reasonable, outside the box option for long term care, visitation and residence. (G.C. 7-24)
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Warm weather, reasonable cost of living, affordable housing, wonderful culture of art and music and many care facilities for persons in need.
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Infrastructure is charming with cobblestone roads, stucco buildings and tile roofs. About 15,000 expats live in the area.
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Lake Chapala is 30 minutes from Guadalajara via taxi. The coastline is 40 miles long with numerous towns, shops, nursing care facilities.
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The Lake Chapala Society is similar to our Chambers of Commerce. They produce a monthly activity calendar and information on rental properties. They are located in Ajijic, about 8 minutes by taxi from Chapala.
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Long term care cost from $10-15K monthly in US.
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In Mexico care facilities charge $2-4K for basic care and meals.
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Additional needs, meds, or a companion may be $1000 more.
General Notes
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Most places charge between $1500-3000 US per month. That includes everything except medications, personal items, or hiring a companion to be with the person, which is about 300-$700 per month.
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There is medical care available and usually a doctor comes to the facility on a monthly basis. There is a thorough medical assessment at the beginning of the stay. Many facilities are owned by RNs.
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Medical and dental care quality is excellent.
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Facilities are well staffed and staff very attentive and compassionate.
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All facilities are locked.
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Most are haciendas converted to private homes, then to care facilities. Most have 5-10 residents. Lake Chapala Nursing care has 18 rooms and La Casa Nostra 24 residents.
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Most rooms are private with own bathrooms, some with TV and wi-fi caring clients from ambulatory to bed ridden hospice. Internet can be set up for face to face conversations with family in US or phone with Face Time
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Many facilities owned by Mexicans and run by RN and have a large number of gringo residents. Owners speak English and some staff. Some have massage therapists on staff. Some facilities allow pets.
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Any time residents need to obtain medical care a designated person from the facility is assigned to be with the patient at all time..
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Many facilities have web sites. Call ahead to make appointments to make sure English speaker is also available.
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Medical and dental care in Mexico is excellent and considerably cheaper than in US. Medicare will not cover medical care outside USA.
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Mexico healthcare plans can be purchased or pay for medical care in advance.
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Hotels are available for short stay while rental properties are reasonable for short or long term use, arranged after client placement.
Caution:
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Everyone uses bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth.
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Used toilet paper goes in trash since poor septic systems.
