Senior Citizen Care

miamimike says on Aug 10, 2007, 04:25:

I would imagine you could find a Private Duty Nurse or Nursing Assistant fairly easily in either of these cities you mention at a fraction of what it would cost(20%) in the US. A friend of mine 5 years back explored Nursing homes in Bogota for her Mother and then a very nice home would have cost approx $300-$400 monthly. That may have changed now and in the end she never placed her Mom in a Home. Sorry to hear of your Mom's diagnosis, she will eventually need one on one type care. Good Luck.Hopefully one of the posters living in Col more familiar with current costs will post a response.

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

shawkneesea says on Aug 10, 2007, 06:27:

Thank you Mike, I appreciate the information and the sentiment. I am quite worried what we'll do when she is in full blown Alzheimier's. Certainly there are worse fates than living in Colombia, though I have not been to Bucaramanga, something about the city is calling me for at least a visit. There is always the lovely Bogota or Cartagena with the ocean. After reading many of the health care posts, I realized there must be many nurses looking for a nice job.

Sean

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Maojaimes says on Aug 10, 2007, 07:33:

Hi,
I live in Bucaramanga, and I know there are some companies that provides nursery services. They usually assign “Auxiliares de enfermeria� and charge around cop$500.000 a month (US$250). A professional nurse, that’s the one with a 5 years of studies and a university degree, can charge about $1.500.000 (US$750). There are also private day care houses that can cost about COP$2’000.000 (US$1.000) a month.
I think it's better to hire a nurse through a company that doing it directly. It's just my opinion.
Please feel free to contact me in Bucaramanga if you want once you arrive and I'll be glad to help you.
Regards

Mauricio
www.buycolombiarealty.com

www.buycolombiarealty.com - The most complete guide about How to buy Colombia Real Estate

0 funny, 0 helpful.

shawkneesea says on Aug 10, 2007, 11:45:

Mauricio,
Is Floridoblanco very similar? Does day care mean the same thing as a nursing home for $1,000/month?

My mother is still pretty lucid and hopefully will be for some time, but as time goes on, we can't afford the type of care she may require without liquidating all of her assets, which she doesn't want to do.

Sean

Sean

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 10, 2007, 17:24:

Does a person with Alzheimers really need a professional nursing care? I mean my Mum has Alzheimers too and she gets around and she is pretty lucid. I would imagine that she just needs somebody to look after her, to see that she takes her medication on time, to cook her meals, to help her take a shower and take care of her hygiene and her personal needs. There are lots and lots of people in Colombia capable and willing to provide her this type of help in her own apartment or house.

I'd just rent a small apartment and install her there with a live-in caretaker,
Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Lowell says on Aug 11, 2007, 08:03:

I'm thinking about starting a retirment community in Cartago much like they have in Boquete Panama.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Maojaimes says on Aug 13, 2007, 11:40:

Floridablanca is a town that is already part of Bucaramanga. In this district are two of the most important Clinics of Colombia, Fundacion Cardivascular and FOSCAL.
What I mean with day care is a private home where they provide a room, the meal, and medical assistance. They also provide leisure activities and this kind of things.
Nursery home as Desi said, is a person who works from 9 to 5 and go to your home to take care of the person. There are companies that provides this service. So you don't have to hire him/her by your self.

Mauricio
www.buycolombiarealty.com

www.buycolombiarealty.com - The most complete guide about How to buy Colombia Real Estate

0 funny, 0 helpful.

shawkneesea says on Aug 15, 2007, 20:33:

how much to buy to an apartment in floridablanca? Of course, I will need maids quarters. How many golf courses in the area?

Sean

Sean

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Aug 16, 2007, 01:13:

Desi...

It depends on the stage of the disease the person is in....
As the disease progresses from the middle to the late stage, patients will not be able to perform even simple tasks independently and will require constant supervision. They become incontinent of bladder and then incontinent of bowel. They will eventually lose the ability to walk and eat without assistance. Language becomes severely disorganized, and then is lost altogether. They may eventually lose the ability to swallow food and fluid, and this can ultimately lead to death."

My mother is currently at the stage of not being able to swallow and we will be facing the decision of the necessity of a feeding tube soon.

T

"

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Aug 16, 2007, 07:47:

Yes, lpdiver, I'm sure it depends on the stage the person finds him/herself at. Sorry to hear about your mum and it's a tough, but necessary decision we have to make about our sick mothers. I know that my mum id not there yet and we have just decided to let her continue to live in her apartment in town, with home care unit checking on her twice or three times a day, with cleaning, cooking and personal hygiene help. We have just disconnected her eletrical stove since she cannot handle that any longer. She does not get lost yet, well, has gotten lost once, but she lives in a very small town and it's basically very safe there. A friendly lady drove her to the local hospital emergency room and they contacted my sister who came and picked her up.

Her vocabulary is extremely limited and sometimes she remebers who I am, (her eldest daughter) but not always. She understands, however, always, that I'm close to her, that I take care and love her. She is very suspicious about everybody but trusts me and my sisters completely. She is like a little child and it breaks my heart to see how miserable she feels for her memory loss.

Perhaps this coming winter we'll have to take the hard decision and line her up for assited living facilities, against her own will.

Cheers,
Desi

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

shawkneesea says on Aug 16, 2007, 13:49:

You all are the best. Thanks for the ideas and ESPECIALLY the kind words. My mom doesn't talk to well, and is more her arthritis that makes eating difficult at this point. She had the living will and all of the care predetermined before she started to slip.

Do you all think we could buy a place in Floridablanca for about 50,000 USD? It sure sounds like better care for middle class people in Colombia than in Los Estados Unidos.

Gracias,
Sean

Sean

0 funny, 0 helpful.

shawkneesea says on Aug 16, 2007, 16:06:

I can go higher, but I remember seeing new 3 BR/2 BA townhouses for $40k in the vanguardia. I don't see the ads anymore so that was kinda my starting price. Right my mother is pretty good, but I want to be proactive.

Thanks again everybody,

Sean

Sean

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Maojaimes says on Aug 16, 2007, 16:41:

Sean,
You can get around 70-80 square meter apartment in Cañaveral for 50K thats near the town of Florida. Also at the Anillo Vial you can find small townhouses. The Campestre golf course is just minutes away. In my opinion the town of Florida itself is not attractive for living.
Are you already in Bucaramanga? If you consider so, you can contact me at my website.
Regards,

Mauricio
www.buycolombiarealty.com

www.buycolombiarealty.com - The most complete guide about How to buy Colombia Real Estate

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Aug 16, 2007, 17:40:

People,

I am not trying to be depressing her but here are some facts about this illness.

* It is terminal and some of the late stage care is specialized. As an example my mother was no longer able to swallow properly and was swallowing into her lungs. She had to be given occupational therapy and retrained on how to properly swallow. I doubt this is going to be readily availible from a local source. I may be wrong.

* Death normally occurs within seven to ten years of onset. Onset is usually only recognized retroactively. In my mothers case (which sounds similar to the ones described here) the online calculators (to determine need for care and expected death dates) predict she will die in nine to eighteen months.

* Probably for at least a year to two years she will need around the clock care twenty- four/seven. This is not just a companion to cook and keep her from running off.

* It probably would make more sense to rent. Bailing out of a house in an international market can be tricky. This would leave you much more flexible in your potiential path forward scenarios.

Just some observations from personal first hand experience. Not wanting to be a bummer here. Also as the care giver you need to be prepared. Most altzhiemer suicides are the caregivers. The patients; thankfully, are usually oblivious.

Bless you all.

t

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.