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Hi Folks, I recently joined this forum. There's quite a bit about me on my "about" page, as well as a link to my blog if you're more curious. I have a long history of time spent in Mexico, but I've never been to Ajijic, though I'm well aware of its status as a Gringo haven. I did spend a week in Guadalajara in 2014 (during a road trip where I spent 3 months driving around Mexico), but it was toward the end of my trip and I didn't have the energy to go to Ajijic. I know, silly, and I regret it. But I can't change the past. I'm going to be in Ajijic and environs next week to scout out assisted living facilities for my 88 year old mother. Mom is in OK shape, but getting a bit forgetful, suffers a lot of aches and pains, and walks unsteadily with a walker, and can no longer live alone. (By the way, I also speak Spanish fluently, though for the purpose of this trip, I'm pretending I don't, since mom doesn't and I want her to be in a place she's comfortable communicating with staff and residents.) I've scheduled site visits with the following: La Valentina, Mi Casita, Casa Nostra, Nursing Home Lake Chapala, Alicia's Convalescent Nursing and Assisted Living Home, Casa Anastasia Care Home (all in Ajijic) Lakeside Care (Jaltepec) Ohana (San Juan Cosalá) There are a few others I'm going to try to see. But I'm hoping that folks might provide me any insights they have on these places, or provide some new names that I might check out. I'll be arriving Tuesday night and staying through the 20th. Thanks in advance, and if you have not-nice things to say, feel free to PM me. In fact, I'm especially looking for the negatives that the facilities themselves will never tell me. Thanks, Kim G

I read your blog and what I gathered from that and your posts is that you strongly object to living in Ajijic. No need to. Chapala is a much livelier place and has fewer gringos. Younger people of every persuasion are moving to this area and liberals are probably in the majority. My recommendation is that you give this area a try for at least a few months. It would also be a great comfort to your mother if you were close by during her initial transition.

My mother-in-law spent about 4 years in a couple of Alicia’s facilities. She had had a stoke many years earlier and was partially paralyzed. She received excellent nursing care until she passed away. I also have some friends whose parents are at Casa Nostra. Dementia and Alzheimers. Many of the residents there are in need of assisted living and others there for rehab after surgeries. No bad stories there. Since you are looking for the best care someone can provide for your mother you’ll probably be better off just setting up appointments for each of the facilities for a personal visit. You’ll be a better judge of what’s best for her rather than anyone posting on this board. Visit at meal time and spend some time talking to the residents. Be aware however that people her age do not take well to change so no matter how good the place is she could have trouble adjusting.

I would suggest that there a few seniors living under the radar in the many nursing facilities at Lakeside. The downside is that they can not enroll in IMSS and or SP and must be prepared to pay as you go for medical care. Why not talk directly with the NH mangers and find out the options. Do you really think the INN will track you down if you over stay your tourist visa!!! How many do you see sitting on the bench in Chapala Plaza!!!! Let me make a general statement on all the nursing facilities. Most provided tender loving care , some in new premises , others in converted old and some newer splendid homes. Some (most) have minal qualified staff. Hence all the staff do not get paid a Nurse pay because they are not. Many are Maids working as aides and are paid accordingly. Prices vary from the care needed and the quality of the premises etc., ballpark range $850 to $1800 usd It is unfair to compare NOB cost vis Mexico , because MX does not have the same regulations etc, but most can and do provide good care. Please pay a personal visit to the homes and what you see is what you get (or less). Many have rooms which are shared. Depending on your Mothers condition she may like that.Many do not have ensuite bathrooms but seem to get by by using a commode. Interestingly what you think maybe good for your Mum many not be the facility she will love. Good luck

We had a poster who was considering the same issue: putting her father in such a facility but not being in a position to live here as yet; still working in Canada. The general opinion was that this was a very bad idea. It's hard enough for a person to lose his/her independence and familiar surroundings, but to also find oneself in a foreign country without their relative to give emotional support would be much worse. So, what are your plans?

Trouble is although I have been coming to Ajijic-Chapala since 1996, I have heard of retirement homes here, but I know nothing about them. I would help if I could. Sorry about that.

Wow! I've got 120 views on this post and not a single opinion??? Really, anything would help, including names of places that I don't have listed. Please help! Thanks!

No don´t exit the baggage claim área into the lobby of the TJ airport and see those INM officials at the kiosk because they will not take your FMM cad and will tell you only at the border willl they take it. I enter from the TJ baggage claim área the CBX área, get my ticket for the CBX at the CBX counter about face walk 50 feet following the "To Mexico" sign where there are 2 INM desks for people using the CBX to enter Mexico from the.US. Then I about face walk 50 feet back to the CBX entrance área from the TJ airport baggage claim area and follow the sign "To USA" by giving my CBX ticket to the security at the entrance to the CBX.

I have used CBX with my RP card. You talked to the INM officials in the TJ baggage claim área. Those guy are generally there to monitor foreigners in Mexico without legal immigration documents, not to hand out FMM cards to legal residents leaving Mexico and think you still have to leave the airport and probably don´t care about the CBX. If you had taken the CBX entrance from the baggage área, bought a ticket for the CBX and walked 50 feet in the opposite direction to where you are - now you have technically left Mexico not when you are still in the TJ airport - and followed the sign to Mexico there are 2 INM desks. There with your CBX ticket, your boarding pass from a national flight, your passport, your INM resident card they will give you a FMM card to fll out and take it. You then about turn and go back to the CBX entrance área and follow the to USA signs and leave Mexico. When returning to Mexico hand INM the larger top portion filled out with your entry info.