Saturday, April 6, 2013

What Would You Do?

Port Aransas - December 2012

This week over dinner with two couples, the conversation drifted to family members and friends who required care because of a variety of health and age conditions. Some were in the USA in assisted living or nursing homes and others were here in San Miguel. The cost of care for those in the USA was mind boggling but in general, even with the staggering costs, no one seemed to feel that the level of care was at the level it should be. On the other hand we talked about several people we knew in San Miguel who required someone with them around the clock as well as close supervision by medical personnel and we all agreed that they were receiving excellent care at a fraction of the cost found in the USA.

Everyone seemed to feel that they would rather be in Mexico if they were in such a health situation but there was also kind of an assumption that the spouse would be here with them to coordinate the care. Then one of them asked me, "Billie, what would you do? Would you stay here in Mexico?" Meaning would I stay in Mexico if I had a long term illness. I can't say that I haven't thought about that in the past and certainly I've thought about it in the last 10 months since Ned died. But it has been more of a passing thought not anything that would generate a plan.

Those of you who live here in Mexico, have you thought about this issue? As you get older and perhaps incapacitated with illness are you going to stay here in Mexico or go back to the USA or Canada or somewhere closer to family? What are some of the issues that figure into what you are thinking that you would do?

10 comments:

  1. I will stay here. I am single without children. I would rather stay here and get care rather than be exiled to an American rest home. My life expectancy may be lower in Mexico, but it will be a far better life.

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    1. Steve, I so agree that we can find good caregivers here in Mexico....if we are mentally whole but if not, I think that is a concern. Who will act on our behalf to supervise the process?

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  2. Since medical costs are "out of pocket" in Mexico and I have full coverage in the USA, I will return at some point to Texas.

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    1. Some expats have qualified for health insurance when they were younger and they seem to be quite happy with the care they get in Mexico. But without the Mexican insurance I too would have to return to Texas for an on going health problem. That was made very clear to me over the last couple of years with Ned's illness. Also, for me, since my Spanish is very bad, I would want to be where it would be easier for me to communicate.

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  3. I think you have to consider those you are going to count on to handle your affairs when you no longer can. It seems to me if you are in Mexico, and and your personal rep is in the US, there are going to be lots of problems. If your personal rep is in Mexico with you, it would be much easier.

    Have you fired up the Epson yet? I'm curious how it did on the first try.

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    1. Having someone you can depend on in Mexico would really be important.

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  4. I expect to stay in Mexico. At best with the insurance and assets I've got, I could afford only economical long-term care in the States, and that can be pretty ugly. I've seen even expensive places there where I would not care to stay. I believe that the much lower costs of care in Mexico, combined with my friendships and personal contacts with Mexican people whom I trust, will create a situation where I can be well cared for here.

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  5. I'm with you Marc. I'd really like to stay out of a US nursing home. Budget cuts to Medicare and Social Security could make them even worse than they are now.

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  6. The question of who will manage your care and financial matters is the important one. If I am incapacitated, it would hardly be fair to ask my son, who lives in the US, to manage things from there. And as close as I feel to my friends here in Mexico, I know they will never be able to do all that would be needed. So, it's back to the US if it gets too hard to manage alone down here.

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  7. There is no way that I would ever go to the US for medical care, not even for a hangnail! If I reach the old and debilitated stage, I'd just move into the Rosewood.

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