Senior Health, Housing, Hospice Consultations and Solutions for Mexico, California, and Beyond
Cuenca High Life just posted an article I wrote about the precious hospice nuns of Cuenca, Ecuador. They offer the energy of love and light, plus comfort and serenity to those who are gravely ill and making their transitions.
Here below is a link to the article…
I shall miss these remarkable ladies (eight total) but am looking forward to meeting up with others of their order in Guadalajara and suburban Los Angeles.
I am happy to say that an ode to one of my heroines, Sister Patricia Rodriguez, a nun with the Sisters of Charity, has been published. (See the highlighted link below) .
The City of Cuenca recently honored her amazing contributions not only to seniors but to the community at large.
I have had the pleasure of following Sor Patricia’s work since 2011. She is indeed inspirational, and, a lot of fun to be around.
The photo below was taken at an Italian restaurant in Cuenca.
In March, I published an article on the importance of End-of-Life Planning for North Americans and others who live overseas. Here is a link to the article in case you missed it.
http://cuencahighlife.com/why-creating-an-end-of-life-plan-in-ecuador-is-a-good-idea-for-expats/
There was quite a bit of response. Most responders asked for a seminar.
For those of you who missed announcements in Cuenca High Life, Gringo Post, and Gringo Tree the last few days, here below is the information for the event which will focus on three main subjects:
1. Why you need a physician ahead of time
2. Why you need a legal document (an Ecuadorian document if you reside in Ecuador) stating your end-of-life wishes
3. What the process is for cremation and why it is so difficult
Cuenca Chamber of Commerce Sponsors End-of-Life Planning Discussion Wednesday, May 6
Mark your calendars for 11:00 am Wednesday, May 6 for an important discussion on End-of-Life legal matters and cremation/burial options in Cuenca, Ecuador.
Senior care consultant Wendy Jane Carrel will moderate a panel with attorney Grace Velastegui and Camposanto Santa Ana Funeral and Cemetery General Director Simon Toral.
Presentations will be followed by a question and answer session to address your pressing concerns.
May 6, 2015 11:00 a.m.
Cuenca Chamber of Commerce 3rd floor (there is an elevator)
Federico Malo y 12 de Abril facing Parque de la Madre (view map)
Cuenca
☎ 07 284-2772 ext 233 attn: Gabriela Maldonado
Here below is a photo from the May 6 meeting, deemed a success by the Cuenca Chamber of Commerce. Almost 250 persons were in attendance. There are approximately 10,000 North Americans resident in Cuenca , Loja/Vilcabamba, and places in-between.
FASEC (Fundacion al Servicio del Enfermo de Cancer/Foundation Serving Those Ill with Cancer), together with Care Partners International of Washington state, and the University of San Francisco, Quito hosted a palliative care training in Spanish for five days, April 20-24, the first in a series of four trainings for physicians, nurses, psychologists, volunteers, and others. The well-attended event drew healthcare workers from Cuba, Cuenca, Europe, Mexico, and the U.S.
The main speaker was Dr. Susana Lua Nava, a highly regarded Mexican educator and nun who teaches throughout Mexico and at UAG (Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara). She runs a hospice, Juntos Contro El Dolor (United Against Pain), with three nurse nuns and a staff of volunteers. Dr. Lua and her team are dedicated to the alleviation of pain in all – no matter a patient’s background, religious belief, or economic position.
Dr. Lua, author of El Enfermo, Terreno Sagrada/The Ill, Sacred Terrain, offered several slides of her work in Mexico and Spain, gave stunning examples of patient care, and spoke about dying at home or in a hospital (advantages and disadvantages of both), myths and realities on the use of morphine, the art of sharing sad news, and preparing the spirit, among other subjects. The most riveting discussion was on ethical dilemmas, a subject she teaches often – why and who one tells or does not tell of their terminal condition based on socio-economic backgrounds, culture, expectations, and other factors.
The next FASEC trainings are scheduled for the second week of June, the third week of July, and a week in October.
For contact information and more story details please click on the link below.
Mayor Marcelo Cabrera, his wife, city dignitaries, employees, and approximately 150 seniors were present Sunday morning, April 19, as Cabrera proudly inaugurated one of Cuenca’s special projects, the “first free public senior center” also known at El Hogar del Abuelos (Home of the Grandparents). Eight other city senior centers are in the planning stages.
See Cuenca High Life article at link below
http://cuencahighlife.com/cuenca-mayor-cabrera-inaugurates-new-city-senior-center/
Here below is a link to an article I posted on http://www.CuencaHighLife.com offering 12 key guidelines for selecting a healthful living environment in Ecuador or wherever else you choose to be.
See http://cuencahighlife.com/choosing-the-right-environments-for-healthful-living/
Here below is a link to an article I wrote that was posted on CuencaHighLife. It’s about the importance of creating an end-of-life plan if you live in Ecuador. The bigger message is that it is wise to have such a plan in place where ever you chose to live.
Ecuador, is ruled by civil law. North America and England are ruled by common law. Different systems, different procedures.
Why creating an end-of-life plan in Ecuador is a good idea for expats | CuencaHighLife.
Hello dear friends and readers,
I was on the radio today.
http://overseasradio.com/ashley-rogers-and-michel-blanchard/ See the archives for January 5, 2015 for the download.
Big oops. My hostess was stellar. I was energetically flat for a subject I am so passionate about, and a bit off point. I know better. Am praying to redeem myself on another program later. 😉
Here below are a few observations I had intended to clarify:
I have lived or worked in over 40 countries and am truly blessed that I have maintained my health with the exception of being thrown from the back of a Vespa in Rome, Italy – Vespa hit by a truck – two cracked vertebrae. I fortunately healed and have no residual effects.
This experience, among others, led to one important point of our radio chat…
No matter where you choose to live, please give thought to your physical and mental well-being, especially if you are over 50. Self-care is everything for your future, though accidents are sometimes not in our control.
We are all subject to falls despite the place we choose to reside in or travel to. In Ecuador, where sidewalks are rarely flat, smooth, and wide, you can unwittingly fall into ditches, and the street. You can also trip on exposed rebar and protruding cement edges. When it rains, you can glide right across the marble and shiny tiles in front of buildings and splat. Do you want broken bones? Plan on looking down a lot and being mindful.
We are not all made the same when it comes to oxygen intake. The altitude in most Andean cities is between 6,000 and 9,500 feet. Some who are new to high altitude adjust well, others do not and do not know it. I recommend bringing a blood pressure cuff and reading your blood pressure each day. Also, as one ages, I am told we receive less oxygen into our bodies than when we are younger. Options: bring liquid oxygen drops (haven’t found them here) drink coca de mate tea easily found in any store, go slowly, or, move to a lower elevation. The North American community has lost members who arrived with no chronic health conditions and a clean bill of health – they unwittingly succumbed because of the oxygen issue. These incidents remind me of the childhood story of Heidi and the fresh mountain air in Switzerland that healed her. I had always concluded that high elevation would be good for me or anyone else. Patrick Coady of http://www.southamericanhealth.com has written a fine article about living at high altitude and how to handle it:
http://cuenca-news.gringotree.com/living-at-elevation-cautions-advantages-for-your-health/
If you plan to live in Ecuador, make certain to create a Constancia or a Documentacion Juramentada for end-of-life arrangements. Your Advanced Health Care Directive or your Five Wishes are not valid in the country even if notarized, apostilled and translated into Spanish. Again, your North American documents will not be recognized. If you wish to be cremated this is especially important. The number of days and bureaucracy required for your loved ones to negotiate the system is more than challenging, especially if they are grieving and far away. Different culture, different mentality.
Health Care Prevention and Emergencies in Cuenca in brief:
I had not intended to sound like an advertisement for people whose work I admire, but there is no getting around it. Trainers Ken Dobberpuhl of ZealCenter.com, Chelsea Gary at http://www.shaome.com, and Sky Rajewski will help you stay in shape if you have balance issues or injuries. They will also recommend physical therapists. They focus on keeping you well.
In 2014, the In Case of Emergency Cuenca volunteer team created lists of health-related emergency resources. You can locate the information on a local church web site, http://www.internationalchristiancommunity.org/health-resources.html. The names include providers who speak English – but please beware, you are provided with lists, not recommendations. Do your due diligence as you would in your country of origin or elsewhere as to the person or persons whom you will feel comfortable with. The church kindly provided space for the In Case of Emergency Cuenca team to deliver free seminars of interest to Europeans and North Americans residing in the city in 2014. The next seminar will focus on End-of-Life and is planned for sometime in spring 2015. Look for announcements on on-line newsletters Gringo Post and Gringo Tree.
Other holistic mentions for Cuenca:
Cuenca Holistic Network founded by psychologist Robert Higgins, a group of North American and Ecuadorian alternative healthcare workers www.CuencaHolisticHealth.com
Patrick Coady and Silvana Spano of http://www.SouthAmericanHealth.com
Dr. Hugo Alvarez, MD and naturopath, a Cuencano who lived 25 years in Canada
Dr. Francisco Malo Tamariz, General Medicine and Ayurveda
Other MD’s are on the church web site link above.
When discussing senior health care in Latin America, the quality of care in Mexico was inadvertently omitted. In many cities, medical care is truly excellent. Assisted living in Mexico is often on a par with the U.S., depending what state and city of Mexico you are in, and as in the U.S., what funds you have. The “carino” that was mentioned is also prevalent in Mexico. Cuba, a leader is gerontology, has waiting lists at assisted living homes. This is due to current economics. Chile, also a leader in gerontology, has sophisticated senior care in Santiago.
AMAR, the Mexican Association of Retirement Communities (Asociacion Mexicana de Asistencia en el Retiro), is hosting AMAR’s International Convention 2014 at Rosarita Beach Hotel, Rosarita Beach, Baja California, October 23-25, for North American and Mexican senior housing industry professionals and the public. Rosarito Beach is 20 miles south of San Diego, CA in Mexico.
The event focus, part of a continuing dialogue, is how to attract a portion of North American Baby Boomers over the coming years to senior-friendly, affordable destinations in Mexico with ideal weather, health services, infrastructure, and proximity to the U.S. It is anticipated that of 100 million boomers in Canada and the U.S., 4 million will consider living in Mexico. According to Internet statistics, there are currently 1,400,000 to 1,600,000 U.S. citizens living in Mexico, not all retirees.
Experienced Canadian and U.S. senior living developers, operators, and executives will meet to discuss collaboration possibilities with Mexican developers and investors.
Among the 22 scheduled speakers are Americans Martin Lakatos, VP and developer for California based Front Porch Development Company; Patricia Will, CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living (23 Assisted Living properties across the U.S. and one in development in Mexico City); and Matthew J. Downs of the Center for Medicare Portability. Javier Govi, Founder & CEO of AMAR; Ignacio Bernal of FONATUR (a Mexican government entity which plans and develops top tourist destinations); and Rodrigo Contreras Mejia of PROMEXICO (a Mexican government trust for international trade and investment) will be among the speakers from Mexico.
Subjects will include elements for successful operation of CCRC’s, active senior living, and Alzheimer’s and dementia care with holistic/wellness-based concepts, eco-friendly LEED-certified construction, universal design, and health information technology. Topics will also include the state of MOM and POP projects, aging in place communities where services come to you, and Medicare in Mexico. (Medicare is not yet accessible outside the U.S. unless under rare circumstances. American seniors can purchase Medigap emergency plans C, D, F, G, M, or N with a $250 deductible).
When asked about the current state of senior living and its future in Mexico, AMAR’s Javier Govi stated, “We currently cater to the mom and pop market, the parents of baby boomers. We are simultaneously transitioning to meet the needs of boomers who have begun to retire. We have spent years studying this market, looking at the history, and visualizing the future. The important components for boomers will be wellness, fitness, and a holistic approach.”
An adjunct part of the event is the 50+ Expo and Workshops for Healthy Living where the public can learn about senior living options in Mexico.
AMAR Friends Foundation, which helps retirees find independent or assisted living in Mexico, is sponsoring the 50+ Expo. Seminars are designed “to answer questions from banking to moving belongings, and what is involved in obtaining a residential visa,” added Govi. The expo also includes product displays and music. The foundation will soon be providing social service projects for poor elderly Mexicans through its North American volunteers. See http://www.amarfriends.org.
AMAR, founded in 2007, is the first national Mexican non-profit organization committed to educate and collaborate with Mexican government regulatory agencies and business executives in Mexico and North America on the potential of the senior housing industry in Mexico.
For more information on the event go to http://www.amar.org.mx, write info@amar.org.mx, or call San Diego, CA number (619)564-4007.
October 1 is International Day of Older Persons. It has been recognized as such since the acceptance of a UN decree December 14, 1990.
According to the World Health Organization, an arm of the U.N., there are 600 million persons around the world who are 60 or over. By 2025 the number of older adults is expected to double, and by 2050, there will be 2 billion, the vast majority of whom will be from developing nations.
One such developing nation is Ecuador which celebrates this day with parades and festivities in cities nationwide.
Seniors in Ecuador, whether from privileged backgrounds or farming communities, participate with gusto.
In Cuenca, an Andean city, the province of Azuay, the city, national government social services (MIES), assisted living homes, and the University of Older Adults participate. Yesterday, according to MIES, over 1000 seniors marched in the parade from the corner of Borrero in front of a MIES office, all the way down Calle Larga, a main city street, to the Banco Central, about a 1/2 mile away. In the courtyard of the Banco Central there was dancing, a senior band, a play, Ecuadorian food, and handicrafts made by seniors.
Below are photos of the memorable event…
Wellness Shepherd 