Retirement Migration from the U.S. to Latin American Colonial Cities

This book provides a comprehensive overview of a growing phenomenon in migration: retired Americans moving to Latin America. Through in-depth profiles of two of the most popular destinations – Cuenca, Ecuador and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the book provides a unique commentary on the social forces shaping this new diaspora and its impact on the settings to which retirees relocate.  Sections of the book address the lives and activities of retirees themselves; their impact on real estate, business development, and gentrification within historic cities; the availability and access to medical and long-term care services; and the role of governmental policies in attracting immigrant retirees and shaping their societal impact.  Concluding sections provide guidance for potential retirees and for cities and countries interested in attracting these new immigrants while minimizing adverse impact on local culture and quality of life. Carefully researched and extensively illustrated with photographs, maps, figures, and tables, the book serves as an important new resource for scientists and policy makers, as well as for baby boomers who have retired abroad or are considering doing so.

Chapter 1. International Retirement Migration (Philip Sloane).- Chapter 2. Living as an Immigrant Retiree in Cuenca, Ecuador and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Johanna Silbersack).- Chapter 3. Real Estate, Housing, and the Impact of Retirement Migration in Cuenca, Ecuador_ and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Philip Sloane).- Chapter 4. Social and Cultural Impact of Immigrant Retirees in Cuenca, Ecuador and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Lea Efird).- Chapter 5. How Small Neighborhood Convenience Store Operators in Ecuador and Mexico View the Growing Presence of Immigrant Retirees (Maria Gabriella Castro).- Chapter 6. Obtaining Health Care as an International Retiree Living in Cuenca, Ecuador and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Philip Sloane).- Chapter 7. Long-Term Care Options for Retired Americans in Cuenca, Ecuador and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Philip Sloane).- Chapter 8. Recommendations and Conclusions (Philip Sloane).

Philip Sloane is the Elizabeth and Oscar Goodwin Distinguished Professor of Family Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), where he has been on faculty since 1979. His research office is in the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at UNC-CH, where he and his colleagues focus on issues related to older persons. He has certification in family medicine, travel medicine, and geriatric medicine; has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles; and is a recipient of the Pioneer Award from the Alzheimer's Association and an Academic Leadership Award from the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Sloane has authored or edited 19 books, including two multiple edition textbooks, several research monographs, and two books for consumers. A student of Spanish and of Latin culture, he has traveled extensively in Latin America, participated in multiple international studies, and served three times as trip physician on Semester at Sea.

Sheryl Zimmerman,PhD is a University Kenan Distinguished Professor of Social Work and Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). She and Dr. Sloane co-direct the Program on Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Research, UNC-CH, where they conduct applied and collaborative research on a range of issues that affect the quality of life and care of older adults. Her recent international research includes publications related to Immigrant workers who care for older adults in the U.S., and health care experiences of U.S. retirees living in Mexico and Panama. She has published five books on care for older adults in the U.S., and more than 350 peer-reviewed articles on related issues; in addition, Dr. Zimmerman has received two career awards from the National Institute on Aging, and serves on numerous national boards.  

Johanna Silbersack, MSW, has been a research coordinator with the University of North Carolina atChapel Hill (UNC-CH) since 2017. She is based in the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, specifically in the Program on Aging, Disability, and Long-term Care, where her work ranges from retirement issues to the wellbeing of long-term care nursing staff. Ms. Silbersack also assists on projects concerning cognitive disorders and health care in the Departments of Family Medicine and Neurology. Prior to joining UNC-CH, Johanna received her bachelor degree from Duke University and her Master of Social Work from Columbia University, with a focus on contemporary social issues and aging.