Below is a synopsis of the work that I have been doing thus far on my first stop on my Watson Fellowship. If you have any additional questions feel free to send me an email and I would be happy to respond.

Week 1: Establishing connections with the organization that I am hoping to work with. My host family connected me with organizations and people that I could work with. My first organization I am working with:

Los Jardines Centro Geriatrico: https://www.facebook.com/geriatricolosjardines/

• Goal: Understand how they are caring for their aging population. Specifically, how are they upholding the culture and other ways to improve quality of life outcomes.
• This is an asylum that houses 53 residents with varying conditions.
  • Two residents speak English
  • Varying backgrounds
  • 1:8 Nurse to Resident
  • Costs $800-$2000 monthly

Week 3: Focusing on public nursing homes.  

Hogar Cristo Rey: https://www.facebook.com/Hogar-Cristo-Rey-Cuenca-550864968695857/

• Goal: Understanding what the government is able to provide 
• This nursing home houses 125 residents with varying conditions.
  • Spanish speaking everyone
  • Varying backgrounds
  • 1:25 Nurse to Resident Ratio
  • Costs: $0-$200 monthly 

   

Rioquinto Senior Club: 

This is the start of Rioquinto Senior Club located outside the city. This was a very unique nursing home as it offered a very evidence-based practices. 

Above are some videos of the facility. A bathroom that is meant for an older person. They have a hair salon, movie theater, and a mini market for these older people. 

Summary: 

My main take-aways from Ecuador is that upholding one’s culture is crucial in providing care and improving one’s quality of life. In all facilities across the board the food that people are being given resemble traditional Ecuadorian meals. Additionally, they are supportive of one’s religious background and celebrating events that are dear to them. Each facility has meaningful activities that engages older people. I have also understood the importance of physical activity or movements to ensure the body is active in some form.  Other information that I got from people who are living in nursing home settings that do not speak Spanish is that they would rather sacrifice the language barrier in order to be taken care of for years instead of months. For example, some of these nursing homes costs $800 a month for services that in America could cost more than ~$3000 a month. Therefore, you can be saving $26,400 annually which one can put towards a nursing home center. 

Rioquinta emphasized the self-care of the nurse/caregiver. I found this video online that really helped me understand the importance of self-care for a caregiver: