Old age when you are too old to travel

[jonesthepost]

Now I am 80 years old I often think what happens when you become to old to travel and are unable to leave Thailand and your funds are low. I am thinking about returning to the U.K. well I am still able.   

[richard_smith237]

An extremely valid point. 

 

I know you can do a 90 day report remotely, but can 'others' do your yearly extensions for you? (i.e. Based on Retirement or Marriage?)

 

This is one of two major issues to longevity in Thailand - the other is healthcare and medical insurance. 

[Briggsy]

IDC + frail old age will see the end of your problems in a few weeks. The Thais won't care nor consider a duty of care.

[Orton Rd]

I have been thinking about going back to the UK for the past 12 years, still here. health is the main concern, can't afford insurance that would be good enough at my age.

[KittenKong]

11 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I know you can do a 90 day report remotely, but can 'others' do your yearly extensions for you? (i.e. Based on Retirement or Marriage?)

Agents in Pattaya seem to do all this, for a one-off fee. They mostly do the 90-day reporting for free afterwards.

As far as I know Thai Immigration are quite helpful when it comes to people who are too frail to travel to their offices, and they will allow friends and relatives to do it.

[dcnx]

This is one of the reasons I’m leaving. Ending up stuck or forced out of Thailand when I’m too old to move is a nightmare waiting to happen. I’m not going to take that risk when it’s not necessary. 

 

There are plenty of countries that welcome foreigners and give residency fairly easy without endless immigration nonsense.

 

My only regret is not leaving years ago. All that wasted time could have been put towards getting PR or even citizenship elsewhere. 

 

Thailand is a black hole that gives you nothing in return. A terrible life and time investment beyond a certain age.

[arithai12]

I think the OP is simply asking at what age it is still safe/doable to make a long travel back to the home country - UK in his case.

 

Clearly each will have a different situation in terms of strength and health, and also a big difference is whether the trip will be made alone or with a companion. My father came to visit me, then we flew together to Indonesia, when he was 81. Although he is mostly ok for his age, I would not recommend him to do the same now that he is 86.

 

It might help to break the trip in segments (ie with a long stop in Dubai or similar), and to choose the correct season (flying out of Thailand with 35C and arriving with -10C might be a bit of a shock). If you are leaving for good, give yourself time (and help) to sort out all your loose ends here without pressure.

 

 

 

[tso310]

My father came to Thailand when he was over 80. He didn't have any physical problems so it was quite easy for him. I've seen plenty of aged passengers travelling in wheel chairs between London and Bangkok. I certainly agree with arithai12 on all the points he raises. I would think its worth checking which airlines have a good reputation regarding elderly passengers. Certainly with Emirates they seem to be pretty good with elderly passengers transiting. 

If one could travel with someone else, even trying to travel with someone they know who is flying the same route, that will also helps but of couse this may not be feasible.

Edited June 24, 2019 by tso310
more points

[UKresonant]

I did the wheel chair trip, Xmas 2017, the assistance was great, as long as you could get up the aircraft steps using the crouches.

EDI-MUC-FRA-BKK-THS inbound, Then BKK-ZRH-EDI on the way back. (I had booked those flights, before the mobility problem).

 

Father is 85 and still comes to Thailand every year for 3x59 days, still gets good quality travel insurance at about 17500 Baht per trip....but of course he is still based in the UK....I think I would agree with the OPs thinking.

Edited June 24, 2019 by UKresonant

[cooked]

There remains of course the  "Fitness to fly" question. Airlines may refuse you if you seem to be in bad health, although of course going business class might ease that problem. What we oldies should have done years ago was get repatriation insurance, only available up to age 65 I believe.

https://www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Before-you-fly/Am-I-fit-to-fly/Guidance-for-health-professionals/Assessing-fitness-to-fly/

shows the UK's attitude.

[Moonlover]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

I know you can do a 90 day report remotely, but can 'others' do your yearly extensions for you? (i.e. Based on Retirement or Marriage?)

At the bottom of page 2, of the TM7 below the applicants signature, you find the following:

 

'Applicant must submit the application in person with the exceptions of handicapped patients or persons with disabilities'.

 

It's my guess that 'old and frail' would qualify. Married folks therefor need not worry about getting an extension. Others would have to rely on friends, carers or agencies.

[from the home of CC]

6 hours ago, jonesthepost said:

Now I am 80 years old I often think what happens when you become to old to travel and are unable to leave Thailand and your funds are low. I am thinking about returning to the U.K. well I am still able. 

the decision would be a lot easier if we all knew our end date..

[scott60]

I think this also depends on whether or not you have family back in the UK. If so could you stay with them? If not would you be happy in a Care Home?Friend of mine went back at age 84 and is having a devil of a time: has outlasted all family members.

[bkk6060]

5 hours ago, dcnx said:

 

 

My only regret is not leaving years ago. All that wasted time could have been put towards getting PR or even citizenship elsewhere. 

 

Thailand is a black hole that gives you nothing in return. A terrible life and time investment beyond a certain age.

Very sad to hear such regrets and that you have wasted your life here.

Not sure however what you expect in return from a foreign country and I assume you are not a citizen.

I am older and do not think it is a terrible life at all on the contrary.

A lot of happiness is in ones mind and attitude.

Certainly hope you find no black holes in the future..

 

 

[BritManToo]

5 hours ago, dcnx said:

My only regret is not leaving years ago. All that wasted time could have been put towards getting PR or even citizenship elsewhere. 

I don't regret a moment of being in Thailand, I do regret the 32 years as an adult I wasted in the UK.

Directly I finished Uni, I should have left the country.

[Moonlover]

18 hours ago, Briggsy said:

IDC + frail old age will see the end of your problems in a few weeks. The Thais won't care nor consider a duty of care.

Got any evidence in support of that very negative and IMO derogatory statement?

[Apache704]

Sir, I am 73 years old and I also have to leave Thailand due to the ever increasing changes with Immigration and with no health insurance which I did have before the Army took over. Ecuador is my next destination with a minimal amount of money per month($800) US and for each dependent $100 more plus they have health care for less than $100 per month for a couple and a Senior have discounts on everything. The rents are cheap, also the food, the climate is better. Also you can own land there as a foreigner but they are a lot more expensive than Thailand. Cuenco has the largest expat population (up to 8000) with English being spoken almost everywhere compared to none elsewhere. There are plenty of restaurants that can cater to whomever. I'll be going there from Canada in November and staying 60 days in Cuenca. I'm sure that I can pick up Spanish a lot easier than Thai. Take a good look at getting a Pension Visa from Ecuador you won't have to go back to England for Health care. If you would like to e-mail me for more information I will gladly send it to you.

[Henryford]

What are you going to do back in the UK. Find a care home charging 1000 GBP a week?

[stephehr]

Good idea better to die with your friends around you if you have any

[arithai12]

30 minutes ago, Apache704 said:

Sir, I am 73 years old and I also have to leave Thailand due to the ever increasing changes with Immigration and with no health insurance which I did have before the Army took over. Ecuador is my next destination with a minimal amount of money per month($800) US and for each dependent $100 more plus they have health care for less than $100 per month for a couple and a Senior have discounts on everything. The rents are cheap, also the food, the climate is better. Also you can own land there as a foreigner but they are a lot more expensive than Thailand. Cuenco has the largest expat population (up to 8000) with English being spoken almost everywhere compared to none elsewhere. There are plenty of restaurants that can cater to whomever. I'll be going there from Canada in November and staying 60 days in Cuenca. I'm sure that I can pick up Spanish a lot easier than Thai. Take a good look at getting a Pension Visa from Ecuador you won't have to go back to England for Health care. If you would like to e-mail me for more information I will gladly send it to you.

I had also considered Ecuador, many pros. The issue I found is that it is overrun with US retirees, to the point that (as you mention) english is the lingua franca, rents and general expenses are inflated, etc. And for a european it is even more distant than Thailand. But I digress from the thread. Hope you find the place you like.

[scubascuba3]

Sir, I am 73 years old and I also have to leave Thailand due to the ever increasing changes with Immigration and with no health insurance which I did have before the Army took over. Ecuador is my next destination with a minimal amount of money per month($800) US and for each dependent $100 more plus they have health care for less than $100 per month for a couple and a Senior have discounts on everything. The rents are cheap, also the food, the climate is better. Also you can own land there as a foreigner but they are a lot more expensive than Thailand. Cuenco has the largest expat population (up to 8000) with English being spoken almost everywhere compared to none elsewhere. There are plenty of restaurants that can cater to whomever. I'll be going there from Canada in November and staying 60 days in Cuenca. I'm sure that I can pick up Spanish a lot easier than Thai. Take a good look at getting a Pension Visa from Ecuador you won't have to go back to England for Health care. If you would like to e-mail me for more information I will gladly send it to you.

Maybe start a thread on Ecuador, would be interesting

[Gecko123]

Keeping healthy needs to be job #1 for retirees here. Both physically and mentally. Too many people retire here and never break out of the eternal holiday mindset. Also, developing a very safety conscious lifestyle is important. The 'older guy with younger wife to take care of you in your dotage' model starts looking iffy when you consider possibility of wife kicking the bucket before you, a divorce, an extended convalesence, or medical bills putting you in the poor house.

 

From a financial standpoint, the world you left probably no longer exists. Quantitative easing, near zero interest rates, and income inequality have distorted real estate pricing in so many areas you probably won't be able to move back to the same area you left. So the comparison likely isn't between Thailand and where you used to live, but between Thailand and somewhere new, maybe out in the middle of nowhere. Then there's the issue about whether your entitlement program is going to be around in 15-30 years, or will it have been slashed by 25% or 50% because sovereign deficits have gotten so out of hand. 

 

I'm in "eventual repatriation" mode myself. In the interim I'm doing all that I can to keep healthy and strong and I'm in frugality mode in anticipation of the higher cost of living after repatriation. I suspect that my current financial situation is better than many, but with housing costs in many areas out of control, the reliability of SS payments down the road somewhat up in the air, and an unusual amount of macroeconomic uncertainty in the global economy, there's plenty of food for thought when contemplating repatriation.

 

Edited June 25, 2019 by Gecko123

[dotpoom]

I will be 70 in a few weeks and this subject crops up more and more in my brain. As en ex. active alcoholic my normal way to solve my problems was the "geographical cure"...(move to a new place/ setting) forgetting that whereever I went my brain and body always seemed to come with me.

  It's a tough one...I have always loved Spain, only yesterday I looked up rental prices there and was shocked to discover I wouldn't be able to afford it...(maybe at a pinch). The most frightening thought is how I could have ended my life in this way without a family member who even cares a whit whether I'm dead of alive (active alcoholism took care of that even though I'm 20 yrs. sober).

   A few years back I decided that I could choose a method to finish it all off by my own hand, even sought out the best method, but whether that developes is another matter.

   Believe it or not...I have always relied on a HP (Higher Power) when faced with insurmountable difficulties.. and have recently taken to do that again "Thy will be done...not mine"...So far I have never been let down.

   I am thankful that I have been blessed to have had the chance to experience "old age".

  So many of my drinking buddies never got it. Died in their 20s 30s 40s and so on.

  But I will say getting older does present new difficulties.

  I often smile when I think of the old lady getting out of my Taxi some 40 years ago. She was struggling to get out of the back seat and she turned back to me when she was half way out and said the words..."Don't let anybody tell you son...that getting old is great fun".

   God Bless you old lady and hopefully you are happily looking down on us all.

[AlexRich]

I imagine that by the time you get to 80 the attractions of Thailand fade somewhat? The OP makes a very valid point. I personally would not want to rely on Thailand to assist me in my later years, I’d much rather be in the home country. 

[marcusarelus]

1 hour ago, Apache704 said:

Sir, I am 73 years old and I also have to leave Thailand due to the ever increasing changes with Immigration and with no health insurance which I did have before the Army took over. Ecuador is my next destination with a minimal amount of money per month($800) US and for each dependent $100 more plus they have health care for less than $100 per month for a couple and a Senior have discounts on everything. The rents are cheap, also the food, the climate is better. Also you can own land there as a foreigner but they are a lot more expensive than Thailand. Cuenco has the largest expat population (up to 8000) with English being spoken almost everywhere compared to none elsewhere. There are plenty of restaurants that can cater to whomever. I'll be going there from Canada in November and staying 60 days in Cuenca. I'm sure that I can pick up Spanish a lot easier than Thai. Take a good look at getting a Pension Visa from Ecuador you won't have to go back to England for Health care. If you would like to e-mail me for more information I will gladly send it to you.

Did the Thai Army take away your health insurance?

[ratcatcher]

There are some interesting comments in this thread. I wonder if any of the expats contemplating fleeing back home or to another country, have Thai wives and family that they love and care for. There are thousands of expats here happily married to Thai women, many with children, who care for them as they get older. It's not all about chasing younger ladies and worrying about whether you will make the next beer bar. For these people, pulling up sticks and heading for another country is not always that simple. However, realistically it seems that the Thai government doesn't seem to care too much about its expat population as long as they remember these numbers, 4,  7,  28,  30,  47,  90 and a few others    

Edited June 25, 2019 by ratcatcher

[marcusarelus]

18 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

I imagine that by the time you get to 80 the attractions of Thailand fade somewhat? The OP makes a very valid point. I personally would not want to rely on Thailand to assist me in my later years, I’d much rather be in the home country. 

Having a problem about what to do with my Thai wife and dog.  She works and has family in Thailand.  And last I heard transporting my dog is around 100,000 baht.  

[Farang99]

20 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

I have been thinking about going back to the UK for the past 12 years, still here. health is the main concern, can't afford insurance that would be good enough at my age.

If you have been living in Thailand for the past 12 years you will not be entitled to free medical care on the NHS if you return to UK.

[Proboscis]

16 hours ago, cooked said:

There remains of course the  "Fitness to fly" question. Airlines may refuse you if you seem to be in bad health, although of course going business class might ease that problem. What we oldies should have done years ago was get repatriation insurance, only available up to age 65 I believe.

https://www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Before-you-fly/Am-I-fit-to-fly/Guidance-for-health-professionals/Assessing-fitness-to-fly/

shows the UK's attitude.

What the link indicates is that cabin crew are not nurses. If a passenger needs nursing care, help with administration of meds or needs help on the toilet, they need either an assistant or a nurse to travel with them.

[Old Croc]

I believe far too many retirees here are short sighted in failing to allow for the fact that age and infirmity catches up with us all.

Also, illness or accident could strike us down at any time and, in a country where government assistance is generally scarce for non-residents, health insurance or access to extra funding is essential.

In their planning, people putting down roots here should always be aware of the possibility of bad times, and the inevitable decline of old age. That plan should include whether you want to stay here to the end, or return to the succor of home country. 

If you don't have the family support, sufficient funding, or perhaps the desire, to go through to final expiration in Thailand, and will require repatriation, that should have always have been part of your planning. You should have an evacuation plan ready, and know when the right time to leave comes.

To blame your lack of finances on Thailand because they are tightening up on visa rules and insisting on more control of who lives in their country in this time of borderless criminals and other undesirables seeking a place to thrive, just illustrates a lack of planning or the fact that you should never have left the safety net of home.