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da Bunk...I only wish I had caring children like you that could take care of me here in Belize. Could your Mom have done it on her own? Thats the issue alot of us have. I am not sure that at some point when my health was failing that I would just stay here, when my children would make sure I was cared for, but they are not here. Mabe I will be lucky and stay til I am 100 being healthy and die sky diving over the blue hole....

I think alot of the issue is the quality of life you want to have. My mom never wanted extreme life saving done, her want was to die as peacefully as possible in her own bed. Each case has its own situations, certainly long term cancer care etc is not available in Belize.

We were all involved in long term hospice care in the US with my oldest brother. He was terminal with cancer in terrible pain and the doctors were more concerned with him becoming "addicted" than dealing with his pain and making him comfortable in his last days.

We had a missionary friend die while in Belize of AlS, we were able to get all the medicines and pain killers to make his life as he wanted it up to the end. Such is life in Belize.

I am again sorry Dabunk that I sent you that email, I really meant no harm, but again you saw after your Mom, Would it be wise for a person that needed taking care of,with no family or trusted person to oversee thier care? for someone to hire the right care giver, I had over 20 care givers in the 7 years my husband and mom needed them, some turned out to be thieves, drug addicts, and the like, same as here I would think. Then I got lucky and some were jewels..stayed with us the whole time. I had to have 3 a day on 8 hour shifts. As much as I would want to say this is the place I love, this is where I am going to stay no matter what. Without a trusted person to oversee, I dont think I could. I do know a few elders that have over 30 yrs of Belize life that have been lucky enough to return here to pass.....because they loved the place so much. And they new it was thier time.
I understand all you have been through..because of the situation I went through with my Mom, and Husband, I was called on to take care of my Grandma, I stayed with her while she passed of cancer in her home. Then my current husbands father at 94 wanted to pass at home so I cared for him. I am glad I could, but it was my two sons that lost out on having a Mom, and a life and they are well into adulthood now, they lay no blame, but I do...I was an absent Mother,,

The simple first of many baby steps to get this done is this is an English speaking country, So for The U.S. and U.K. My God, you could never bring demensia patients that speak english into a foreign language country. I am trying to picture that in my mind. Total Chaos....

But if they have dementia, would it really matter?

They still recognize voices and to hear a foreign language would cause them real trauma. Never underestimate the power of the voice to calm and soothe. And Cooper no troubles my friend.

Before my mom moved with us she was a home health care aide and she saw first hand how people can get ripped off by visiting staff more than not. We were very lucky to find the woman who cared for my mom but even still her kids visited our home and ripped us off! Take the good with the bad.

We had hoped to never leave Belize but that also changed but as soon as SS kicks in we are out of here. And if anyone needs a recommendation for a care giver that we used feel free to contact me via PM.

We are getting S.S. and just Banking it in the U.S. We are able to save every penny, plus my small pesion. We live on what we make here and are able to take a nice amount of U.S to the States evry year. We own two homes out right. so I am not worried so much about retirment, If I could get one of my sons to come down, live, be happy, look after Mom, all that could be thiers. Instead it will probably all go to health care, assisted living and nursing homes....

Wish our SS was enough to live on anywhere!
Shucks, shoulda kept the books differently.

Diane,No we could never live on our S.S in the U.S. If you took the money we make we still could not live in the U.S. our saving grace will be to sell the house here and the one in the U.S as we have no mortgage and then rent something.. Then we would mabe have enough to live somewhere for a good amount of years if we are lucky. Its scary to face the probability of returning to the States as all our savings could be gone in a flash with a medical emergency. Life does go on after strokes, organ transplants, its the same everywhere, Belizeans have a very hard time trying to get by, its the same thing, worldwide, old age and the expense of keeping healthy can cripple anyone, anywhere..Man I think I am done with this topic its getting me depressed, I dont dwell on this sort of stuff, I feel blessed to live here and to get on my bike and ride and swim and watch the sunsets, I feel blessed that I dont own a car, even a golf cart. That I am happy in my very small house, I still ride the same bike I bought 10 yrs ago.I have one large pot, one small pot and two frying pans, 4 plates 3 bowls, a few cups and glasses. I LOVE IT..but I dont totally ignore that I may have to go back to the U.S.
My neighbor gave me the Dutch oven pot years ago and I love her as well. I could have a big flat screen, and and a golf cart, I am so fortunate compared to so many villagers, I just dont feel the need.

Keep on living your dream, that is what we plan to do and love Belize warts and all. We do not need all the "stuff" and life is so much easier without it.