Tho' the girl I love is beautiful, and I'd have you all to know
That I met her in the garden where the praties grow.
John McCormack
You remember the Great Irish Potato Famine of the 1850's? That was when many Irish farmers went to New York, got up on their hind legs and learned to push wheel barrows. Not many years later, Aideen and Brian Howard moved from Ireland to Canada. They brought with them an appreciation of the works done by Abbeyfield Homes, an association devoted to housing for the elderly. They have since moved to Ajijic, and, in company with Ruth Darling, Julie Ray, John Mistrik, Jim Powers and Ceri Dando, began looking for a place here to establish an Abbeyfield-style home.
The first Abbeyfield house was established in London, England, in 1955, by a retired military officer, Richard Carr-Gomm, who wanted to establish a refuge from loneliness for elderly people in the community. By 1990 there were over 1,000 houses across Great Britain shared by 8,000 plus individuals, and Abbeyfield Houses in eleven countries around the world. Abbeyfield UK is a volunteer-led national housing association which was formed in October 2003. They are a Registered Social Landlord and a subsidiary of The Abbeyfield Society. At the heart of Abbeyfield UK is the principle that it is accountable to residents for the services they provide. Now they have come to downtown Ajijic! You will find them at Privada Independencia #9, a beautiful home on the shore of Lake Chapala, a place bounded by wrought-iron arches across the front fence and by Ajijic City Park along the lake. Living there are Lissa, Louise, Connie and Tom B, all cared for by Casas Carinosas A.C.. From the veranda of the home, they enjoy a lovely view of Parque del Lago, with Lake Chapala and the South Shore mountains in the background.
Casas Carinosas S.A. is a private, not-for-profit home for older folks who choose to live in a full service situation, in their own individual apartments. It is an affiliate of Abbeyfield Homes, and is the only such in Mexico. The home was built by a San Diego, California, resident who never was able to live there because of a heart condition. It was purchased from him in 2006, in large part by Elizabeth D. (Lissa) Taylor, and was gifted to the Lakeside Community. Casas Carinosas S.A. has a Board of Directors which oversees the operation, now under the daily management of Aideen and Brian Howard, e-mail < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >, and phone 766-2045. There is an on-site manager who supervises cooking and other household services. At present there are four people living in the facility, with long-range plans including adding four more condo/apartments on land currently available. The four current residents are all near or over ninety, with no required Church affiliation, and are in good health and physically active, which they must be to continue in residence.
The traditional Abbeyfield House is home to six to ten elderly people and a resident manager. Residents have individual apartments and large shared areas includ a dining room and at least one lounge area. The private apartments are furnished with their own belongings and furniture. The manager prepares meals, cleans the shared areas of the house and generally offers companionship and support to the residents. Gardening is provided, and in Ajijic, a lap pool is a prominent feature.
If the senior resident is not able to perform some daily tasks such as laundry and cleaning their private space, these services can be contracted to staff other than the manager from a menu of available services. Health care needs of the senior residents are contracted to local home health care agencies. These needs include hygiene needs, supervision of medications, and physical therapy. The goal of these services is to allow the residents independence as long as possible. The Abbeyfield House concept is on a "Social" model rather than a "Nursing or Healthcare" model. Residents pay for their rooms and care to cover costs, and plans are available for them to share in the financing of expanded facilities. Applications for future residents are under consideration by the Management Committee, which may be contacted through Brian Howard, or John Mistrik (01 387 761 0041)
