As those of us who have chosen to move to Mexico age, it becomes something we think about. What happens in this country when you get very old and have no family? Is going back to your home country an option you want to consider? If you needed help here how do you get it? If there comes a time when you need to be taken care of in a facility, are those available here? And what are they like?

Recently “heard” on the internet:

“Personally for me I have set myself up nicely with a small casa single level. I have a doctor who comes to my home. There are trained nurses that can be hired, also the same for cook/housekeeper aids etc. I have zero intentions of returning to the US. I plan on staying in my home and hiring the help I need. It is so much cheaper than a nursing home and the care is superior. The idea of laying in a nursing home waiting to die is abhorrent to me. Here I can be surrounded by my things, my pets, plants hobbies friends and I can choose to be around people I like and enjoy. There is nothing special about a nursing home that can not be provided in your own home. I recommend you do not buy a home here but rent. That will leave you capital to live your life as you see fit. If you are still in the states go visit a few nursing homes talk to people who have had to place a family member in one about the quality of care and their relatives contentment. Nursing homes are simply a form of profit warehouse for bodies. In my opinion.”

“My mother is in what is called in the states an adult foster home (AFH). Here they’re around $6k a month minimum. In Mexico the one my mom is at is $1600 per month. There’s only about 6-7 patients, the food is amazing and she it’s run mostly by a family.” 

“Returning to the US is not an option for us. When it becomes necessary, we will downsize from our 3 story condo. Care homes are so much nicer, different than that in the US. They will become more prevalent as the population ages. Until that option is necessary, we will bring in help.”

Getting help and facility care:

COPRISJAL ( Comisión para la Protección Contra Riesgos Sanitarios del Estado de Jalisco) is the agency who regulates and registers care facilities.

Spencer McMullen is an attorney living in Mexico and he helps people with any legal or immigration needs in or near the Guadalajara and Chapala areas.

“I made a request under the transparency laws to COPRISJAL asking for the names of all the facilities registered in the Municipality of Chapala.” speaking about registered elder care facilities in the area.

1) Ancianitas de Santa Clara as Asis AC Carretera a Morelia KM 89

1) Casa de Descanso el Paraiso on Paseo de la Loma in La Floresta

2) Alicias on Paseo del Lago in La Floresta

3) Asilo   on Colinas del Manglar in Colinas del Manglar

4) Alicias on Calle del Lago in La Canacinta

5) Casa de Ancianos de Chapala Alicias on Zaragoza in Chapala

6) Casa de Descanso para Ancianos Desamparados on Santa Margarita in Riberas

(This info is from 2016 so most likely is different now)

“There are facilities registered with COPRISJAL and this is the state health agency.  If a facility isn’t licensed then it is just a dorm with mess hall area (like for college students) and not a regulated medical facility.  There are municipal business licenses but they really mean little and their purpose is tax revenue and no real medical oversight or standards to be followed.” he said. 

“People who want more than a dorm setting should use a business that is registered with COPRISJAL as there are inspections and for violations they can lose their registration which hopefully will deter violations.”

SPENCER RICHARD Mc MULLEN – Attorney & Jefe
Cédula Federal 7928026 / Estatal #114067

Office (376)765-7553 / (376)765-6900 https://www.chapalalaw.com