Wheelchair bound – best place in Panama?

[TIMOTHY A.]

We have been thinking of emigrating, but what is the best area for someone who is wheelchair bound and requires treatment and pain management? Thanks.

[COUNTRY EXPERT- JESSICA RAMESCH]

Dear Sir or Ma’am,

Panama is very small and has good medical facilities in strategic locations, so, no matter where you live in Panama, it’s unlikely that you will be more than one hour away from a hospital. That said the most advanced hospitals in Latin America are located in Panama City, the nation’s capital. You can read more about these here on your Panama Insider website, starting with this page: https://internationalliving.com/country_clubs/panama/health-care. Each town/region discussed on the website also mentions hospitals in the region (start with Where to Live: https://internationalliving.com/country_clubs/panama/where-to-live/).

Unfortunately Panama is still lagging a bit behind the developed world when it comes to special needs. Panama isn’t as modern as Canada or Scandinavian countries when it comes to transport/facilities for wheelchair users, beeping traffic lights for the visually impaired, and other modern amenities.

Buildings in the city tend to be up to code with the required ramps and parking spaces.

However, sidewalks, driveways, and streets can be uneven, missing grates or manhole covers, have parked cars blocking ramps, etc.

Store entrances have ramps and reserved parking is always nearby. Sometimes though cars cannot pull up as close as they should in order to stop and drop off someone who may be slow-moving due to a loss of mobility. This was a constant concern when my Dad was still with us and using a walker. People went out of their way to help us no matter where we went, though.

As far as transportation we do have new buses in Panama City and I would imagine that unlike the old school buses that used to make up the city fleet, they have wheelchair lifts (the metro, it seems to me, would be usable in a wheelchair), but you’d be much better off having your own car. Outside of Panama City the buses are still old and don’t have any amenities.

There is an active wheelchair user community here, perhaps you could connect with them, not sure if you speak some Spanish or if they might have an English speaking member but might be worth reaching out: Panamanian Association of Wheelchair Sports http://es-es.facebook.com/ASPADESDER

I hope if we have any wheelchair users on this forum they will chime in.

If we don’t have any wheelchair users here, you may also try connecting with some at an outside forum like this one Or: http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?frmid=270&tpcid=3377185 or the “Viviendo en Panama” aka “Living in Panama” forum on Yahoo Groups. You have to sign into Yahoo email or Yahoo Groups (it is free) and then look up the group…keep in mind these are just people, not necessarily experts…but they may offer some good info that you can then do your own due diligence on.

There are signs of progress every year. For example, Riba Smith supermarket, Panama’s most upscale chain, has shopping cart scooters to facilitate shopping, something a few other stores are beginning to copy.

This blogger traveled in Panama with her wheelchair (she had a specialized/high mobility set of wheels, it seems, the post is in Spanish but view photos here: http://batec-mobility.com/es/batectravels/33-viajar-en-silla-de-ruedas-y-batec-costa-rica-y-panama)

You might also try asking this online poster how her trip to Panama went last year: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g1-i12336-k6906917-Need_Help_for_Traveling_with_a_Rollator-Traveling_With_Disabilities.html Or this blogger: http://www.yourpanama.com/flight-to-panama.html.

Hope some of this helps you get an idea and don’t hesitate to post any additional questions.

Regards,

IL Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch

[Author]

Posts