Assisted Living in Mexico: Si Se Puede! (Yes, We Can!)

As costs continue to rise in San Diego and across the United States, Senior Care Consultants are increasingly pushed to seek creative options. In Fall 2018, a group of colleagues and I accepted an invitation to visit Assisted Living options in Mexico. Many in our group were apprehensive about crossing the border and considering Assisted Living outside the U.S. All 15 of us were delighted to find an affordable alternative without sacrificing care in one of the most caring and loving environments.

WHY FAMILIES CONSIDER ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE IN MEXICO:

1. Financial Considerations: The primary factor is cost—currently, about 1/3 of the cost in San Diego County.

2. Cross-Border Lifestyle: San Diegans have a history of living part-time across the border, with many owning second homes. Many San Diegans also cross the border for reduced-cost dental and medical services and are more likely to be comfortable seeking assisted living in Mexico. 

3. Cultural Embrace: The family, especially elders, are highly regarded in the Mexican culture. Mexican culture profoundly respects older adults, which resonates strongly with families contemplating such a transition.

4. Emphasis on Staff: Mexican Assisted Living emphasizes hiring and training, boasting a ratio of one caregiver to three residents. In many communities, 50% of their caregivers are nurses (RNs). There's a strong focus on continuity of care. Employees receive incentives and bonuses as the company thrives and succeeds, creating a desirable work environment.  

REAL PEOPLE WHO'VE MADE THE MOVE

*We've changed names and small details to protect privacy.

Tom Wilson was living in a beautiful residential home on the coast of San Diego with all the bells and whistles, doing quite well and paying a premium price. His Mexico decision was not due to a limited budget but because he had worked in Mexico for decades and raised his family simultaneously in Southern California and Mexico. His adult son, Ken, lived 60% of the time in Baja and felt his dad would enjoy being closer to him and a culture he had grown to love.

A vet on the verge of homelessness decided to move to assisted living in Mexico. He needed a lot of care, and even with his VA Aid and Attendance benefit, he could not afford care in the United States. He got a private room in Baja at 1/3 of the cost and received all the care he needed with no concerns that he would have to move one day. It was the right decision for him in the end.

Mariam was stuck in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) because she had a feeding tube. In California, that is a prohibitive condition in assisted living. Perhaps three care homes in San Diego County can secure a waiver and manage this condition effectively. Still, it always comes at a high cost, in the neighborhood of 8K-12K monthly.

Mariam could not afford it and wasn't given long to live. She did not want to live out her final months in an SNF, so she moved to Assisted Living in Mexico. Mariam moved in very thin, very sick, and not walking. Fast forward three months, Mariam no longer used a feeding tube, gained much-needed weight, and was walking and thriving again. Her care was supervised by around-the-clock nurses and a high staff-to-resident ratio that she benefited from.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Utilizing VA Aid & Attendance: VA Aid & Attendance benefits can be used to pay for care in Mexico.

2. Enhanced Care at Lower Costs in Baja: Baja offers "Half the cost for Double the Care" with a higher incidence of nurses on staff. Nurses are not mandatory in California Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Residential Care Homes. San Diego County communities that employ RNs or LVNs typically have one nurse per 8-hour shift for up to 100 residents. A nurse on staff significantly increases costs in the U.S. assisted living and memory care communities.

1. Prohibitive Conditions in California:

· Feeding tubes

· Insulin Injections (Only with a nurse on staff 24/7. Eliminates 95% of San Diego      communities and dramatically increases costs.)

· Tracheostomies

· Stage 3 and 4 Wounds (California can manage if on hospice)

*Mexico can handle the above prohibitive conditions.  

** U.S. regulations vary by state for Assisted Living/Memory Care and Residential Care Homes.         

SOUTH OF THE BORDER TSUNAMI                                  

Mexico is witnessing its own Silver Wave, catering to the needs of an aging population. This mirrors the situation in San Diego County, recently named the most expensive U.S. city.

COST CONSIDERATIONS:

• The average cost of assisted living in San Diego County is $5,800-$6,500.

• Memory Care is approximately $6,500-$7,500

• Small care homes range from $5,500-$7,500

• The overall scale for the above is 5K- 20 K.

• A one-time Community Fee is charged for assisted living and memory care, although about 40% of small care homes have also begun implementing a community fee. It's usually in the range of about 1K for a residential care home, and the range for assisted living is 4K-30K, depending on the community.

• The second-person fee at an Assisted Living Community is 1K-$1,800 per month.

• Factors affecting costs include apartment or room type, care needs, location, and severe cognitive behaviors. 

So many considerations come into play regarding the cost of moving into assisted living, whether in the U.S. or Mexico. Like any sizeable annual investment, you should use a professional to help guide you. We recommend that you consult a local CSA™ Senior Care Consultant to learn about the costs and regulations in your state. Remember, One Size Fits One. 

 Jacqui Clark is a Certified Senior Advisor™ (CSA™) consultant with Living Coastal Senior Resources, editor-in-chief of Aging Well Magazine, and host of Get Ready for Better Aging podcast.