Doing Better But Need Plan B

PanamaFarmer

I took the natural holistic approach with my 87 year old mother who has vascular dementia. Some of you might know my story but I'll summarize because today is the 1 year anniversary since my mother has been living with me on my rural permaculture farm in Panama.  Last year she was confined in an assisted living facility in Las Vegas. She was hardly speaking and very combative. It was a big decision, but I took her from Las Vegas and moved her with me on the farm. I hired an English-speaking live-in care giver nurse for 1/10 of the cost I'd pay in the US and with better service. My mother has done a complete turnaround. She is not just talking more but having real conversations, she walks on the farm and gardens, she eats all the organic greens and fresh fruit. She is not on any medications, but she takes a list of vitamins and herbs. Many of the herbs I grow organically like ashwagandha and turmeric. She eats fresh blueberries, coconuts, elderberries, mangos, papayas and tons of kale, spinach and arugula. I buy nothing from the stores as we live 40 minutes into town. I get fresh fish from the farmers market. She gets lots of natural sun, mountain water and fresh air as its 70-75 degrees 24/7. This natural lifestyle works on anyone's health. She walks, exercises, gardens, does word search, plays uno...so many things she wasn't doing before. She even does her own makeup and nails now.

But I am now at a point where because she is more active and in a better state of mind, she needs to see people more. She continues to ask to go back to Las Vegas where her friends are and where she can go to parties. I have thought of bringing her back to the USA to a small home that would provide the organic natural lifestyle but it wouldn't be the same. I truly believe food be thy medicine and growing it is essential if one is able to do so. On the other hand I had an idea because I live on a 20-acre farm that might sound crazy...

I thought maybe to build a few casitas with a common area and have her live there with maybe 4-6 other dementia people and run my own natural living assisted housing. My background is real estate investing and development so I could build the housing. There are no permits, zoning, etc where I am so building would be easy. The labor is cheaper and better here. I know there would be demand because there are many aging expats (Americans, Canadians, Europeans ) living in Panama. It would be on the higher end for Panama but still very reasonable for expats but the quality of care would be exceptional. I'd have no more than 6 people with perhaps 3-4 caregivers/cooks daily. A driver/gardner for doctor appointments.  The goal is to continue to keep her in a natural healthy atmosphere but the connection to people is needed. Would anyone here be interested in such a community? Is it a crazy idea? Are there communities like this happening now? 

I'd appreciate any feedback, interest, comments or suggestions. 

Arrowhead

Definitely look into it. If you can hire quality caregivers, then it might work. Ask around and see if there are those who would consider moving their loved ones into such a place. Since your mother benefited from it then others probably would also. Just remember that not everything works the same for everyone. I hope everything works out the way you plan.

*Ollie*

This is such an inspiring story.  I say go for it!   I'm doing as much as I can with healthy foods, supplements and exercise for my mom in Oregon but there's certainly a limit to ti.   Dr. Dale Bredesen has done a lot of work in this area.  I think it's great that your mom has made a turn around!   It makes me wonder what parts of that could be taken and applied elsewhere.

jfkoc

Not crazy...wonderful. Be certain to look into liability.

Iris L.

Look into Hogewey Dementia Village in Holland for more ideas.  There are a few threads on the I Have Alzheimer's board, perhaps on a few other boards.  

 There was supposed to be built a dementia village in California but I never heard any more about it.  

French on the Spouse/Partner board has her DH attending a dementia facility in Tunisia.  You might get some ideas from that facility also.  She posted a link a few months ago.

Yours sounds like a great idea.  

Iris

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