How to Die in Mexico

Is suffering at the end of life inevitable, or is there another way to meet death? For many US immigrants to Mexico, the thought of dying brings fear: fear of pain, loss of control, dependency, or fear of facing death alone. What if the dying process is not just something to endure, but something we can consciously engage with? In this episode, transpersonal psychologist and death doula Wilka Roig...

The legal documents you drafted in the US (advance directives and your last will) won’t protect your end-of-life wishes in Mexico. So, now what? Spencer McMullen is a bilingual attorney based in Guadalajara and Lake Chapala, whose extensive experience in end of life matters has earned him the nickname, the ‘attorney of death.’ Spencer shares his expertise on how to protect your end of life wishes,...

Studies show up to 75% of unpaid family caregivers are women in their 40s and 50s who also work outside the home. Could moving to Mexico offer these women a life of greater ease? The outcome has been positive for Catherine Borgman-Arboleda (Cat) and Cordelia Newlin (Coco). The two found support in their own shared experience when they first moved to the Yucatan, each caring for kids and aging pare...

What does it mean to age well, especially when living as an immigrant to Mexico? In this episode, we hear from Dr. Willebaldo Esquivel Reyes, a geriatrician whose approach to medicine focuses on caring for the whole person, not just treating illness. We explore what healthy aging actually looks like, why ageism sometimes keeps people from seeking geriatric care, and how Mexico’s culture of connect...

Aging anywhere can be challenging. Living in a new, perhaps unfamiliar country and culture can exacerbate those challenges, but can also make them easier. In this episode, bilingual therapist Dr. Jason Platt talks about the challenges and benefits of living - and aging - as a US immigrant to Mexico. At any age, we can continue to learn, grow and do the healing necessary to meet our death with less...

What happens when living independently is no longer possible? In the United States, many people turn to assisted living or nursing homes toward end of life. Historically, assisted living hasn’t been as widespread in Mexico, although that’s beginning to change. Partly, due to the growing number of immigrants seeking affordable end-of-life care, and partly, because Mexican families are changing too....

It’s no longer true that health care in Mexico is so inexpensive that you don’t need insurance. Affordable health insurance in Mexico, however, can be hard to find if you’re over the age of 65 or if you have pre-existing health conditions. Michael and Fernanda Keller of M&M Insurance have a solution for that. In episode 9, I spoke with them about what gringos need to know about paying for heal...

Can yoga and open conversation help us face death with more ease? In this episode, I speak with Elis Regina , a yoga teacher and thanatologist who recently moved to Baja California Sur. Elis shares her experiences hosting Death Cafés—spaces where people gather to talk openly about death—and explores how mindfulness and yoga can transform our relationship with mortality. You’ll hear about: Elis’ ex...

What happens when expats in Mexico face the healthcare system without a roadmap—or a support network? In this episode, I talk with Deborah Bickel , founder of Be Well San Miguel , a membership-based patient advocacy service helping expats navigate doctors, medications, insurance, and emergencies in San Miguel de Allende. Drawing from her background in international health, Deborah shares eye-openi...

What does compassionate end-of-life care look like in a small Mexican town? In this episode, I speak with Luena “Lu” Pearson , director of Comfort Care: Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur. Through Comfort Care and the senior social center Casa Girasol , Lu and her team are creating community, easing suffering, and bringing dignity and joy to aging and end-of-life in M...

Can the way in which we care for the dead also heal the earth? In the 5th episode of How to Die in Mexico , I speak with Wilka Roig, MA, MFA, PLC —a death activist, doula, grief worker, and transpersonal psychologist—about her advocacy for green burial and her role in Mexico’s first-ever reforestation cemetery in San Miguel de Allende. We explore the promise, challenges, and cultural complexity of...

What really happens when an expat dies in Mexico—and how can you protect yourself from predatory funeral practices? In this episode, I talk with Toni Lehman and Damián Lire Medina , former service industry professionals who now run a funeral home in Cabo San Lucas. They share what every expat should know about consumer rights, pre-planning, and navigating the often confusing world of funeral servi...

What can we learn about life, death, and legacy from someone living off-grid in rural Mexico? In this episode, I speak with Brian Fey , who left the U.S. in 2004 to live closer to nature and more intentionally, in Michoacán, Mexico. As a forest steward and longtime expat, Brian shares his reflections on community, culture, and what it means to age and die in rural Mexico. You’ll hear about: The dr...

What does it mean to prepare for a gentle, dignified death as an expat in Mexico? In episode 2 of How to Die in Mexico , I speak with Loretta Downs , an internationally recognized speaker and end-of-life educator, about why planning for end of life matters—and how the lakeside Ajijic community is modeling new ways of facing death with openness and compassion. From practical tools to soulful practi...

In episode 1 of How to Die in Mexico, I sit down with Brittany Baker, RN, BSN, CDCP , founder of East Cape Home Health , to explore the challenges and realities of end-of-life care in rural Baja California Sur. From cultural differences and gaps in local medical systems, to why planning ahead matters more than ever, Brittany shares powerful insights from her work supporting expats in Los Barriles,...