Searching for Care in Faraway Places
An article and an interview about care migration
It’s been over two years since I first wrote about the topic of care migration - elder Americans and their family members moving abroad to expand their options for long term care. That article clearly struck a chord and remains my most popular to-date.
I’m excited to share that on Friday I published an article in Slate expanding on this phenomenon in light of the increasing challenges to access and pay for nursing care here in the United States. Please check it out and and share with your networks! Huge thanks to Better Life Lab at New America Foundation for support with this piece.
As part of my research, I spoke with several others who have personally experienced either moving a loved one, or who are helping people move abroad for care in one way or another. Today I’m sharing with you an interview with John Kelly who, after moving his father to a nursing home in Mexico, founded Eldercare Global - a consulting business to help others interested in doing the same.
Here is a short video clip from our conversation.
You can watch the full interview on my recently created You Tube channel - it’s about 36 minutes (less if you speed it up)!
My research for this article included other fascinating conversations, including with “wellness shepherd” Wendy Carrel, a Lake Chapala-based consultant who helps people find care in Mexico. I also spoke with Arthur Bretschneider, third generation senior housing officer and Chief Product Officer of CareScout, a company that helps American families assess US-based care needs and options. I’m hoping to include similar interviews with them both in the future, so stay tuned!
I’d love to hear what you think about the article, interview and the concept of care migration more broadly. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Exploring Ireland (my dad has citizenship) and Panama over the next few months with my dad who has Alzheimer's. We toured some senior communities in L.A., both well-regarded, but honestly depressing. He wants to stay in his own home with in-home care, but it's just not financially possible in the U.S. unless you are very wealthy. He raised me as a single parent and we don't have extended family, so abroad seems like the best fit. Cultures that want to prioritize quality of life over profit for seniors.
Sorry to hear about your dad, Anna. ❤️