MALINALCO, MEXICO – Retired teacher Tesha Martinez and her husband have moved from their home in the bustling city to a new life, a community housing (cohousing) project for the elderly, the first of its kind in Mexico.
It’s a decision driven in part by concerns about nursing homes and retirement homes in a country where the culture is family-oriented, meaning relatives traditionally care for the elderly.
On a plot of land surrounded by forests and mountains, a group of 30 elderly people have built six houses in Malinalco, a peaceful tourist town located about 100 kilometers from Mexico City.
Six of them already live in ‘La Guancha’ – where there are plans to build nine more houses – while the rest come and go, but hope to spend the rest of their lives there.
“In my working life, I give and dedicate myself because I receive a salary. Now it’s different because it’s about collaboration,” said Francisco Vigil, Martinez’s husband.
“I learned that giving is more fulfilling than I imagined,” said the 61-year-old former automotive industry worker.
In front of the large shared garden and swimming pool, Vigil said the couple wanted their children to have a life of their own.
And they themselves want to grow old more comfortably than their parents.
“Old people never get the care they need – they are very lonely,” said the 65-year-old Martinez.
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The project was launched in 2009 by social science academic Margarita Maass, aiming to improve the quality of life of older adults.
Maass worked with his acquaintances to buy a piece of land, where a few years later, the current owners built houses with straw and clay walls.
They installed a solar heater for the water, which came from the rain and canals channeled through the river.
They planted mango, ciku, lime, guava and lemon trees.
“Community housing is an excellent solution for people who are alone,” Maass said.
“People who don’t have much money share expenses and people who have health problems share doctors,” he added.
“Unlike a nursing home, this group decides how they want their home, the desired location, the area, the residents and the financial resources,” said Maass.
The community house concept appeared in Denmark in the 1960s and has since spread to other countries.
There are dozens of similar projects in Mexico, where children have traditionally shouldered much of the responsibility of caring for the elderly.
It’s a trend that could continue due to the aging population of this country of about 129 million people.
Although Mexico is still a relatively young country, the percentage of the population aged 60 and over will increase from 12.3 percent to 14.7 percent between 2018 and 2023, according to official figures.
Meanwhile, the fertility rate decreased from 2.07 to 1.60 children per woman on average.
Juan Manuel, a 20-year-old student, is among those who do not plan to have children.
He worries about not having ‘adequate support or a place to live’ as he gets older.
Maass thinks community homes could be the answer.
He recalled a resident who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and enjoyed his time at ‘La Guancha’ playing dominoes, watching movies or swimming.
Martinez has also worked to integrate himself into the local community in Malinalco, where about two-thirds of the residents live in poverty.
He teaches English and is involved in ceramics workshops – part of what he calls a ‘new life’ among friends. – AFP
