Aged Yourself What Will You Do?

[Spee]

But what will happen if/when you reach your mid 90s and become too frail to look after yourself?

What are the options in Thailand?

Your question is a good one and something that I've been pondering a bit.

As one who has already had a form a cancer (now in remission for a long enough time to put me back in the general risk population statistically), this is a concern for me. What do I do if I get sick again?

My answer would be that I certainly want to live as long as I can and live a good quality life. I would also want to live at our home for as long as I am able. I hope that I would never have to go through what my grandfather did, which was to rot away with untreatable cancer in a nursing home for the 18 months of his life. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

If I can get affordable health care in Thailand, then I would certainly try. But if the costs are high, and I can only afford the care through a medicare or other insurance program only valid in the states, then I would have to go there for treatment.

My fiance' has already accepted the fact that I have to travel for work, to make decent money for us. So hopefully if I have to travel for health care, she will accept that as well.

The same thing would go for her. There is a history of heart trouble in her family. If she needs expensive care that we can't get through an insurance program in Thailand, then I would ask to take her to the states where I know my insurance programs are valid. But that also raises a concern about whether or not someone is well enough to travel that distance.

Perhaps the important thing is that she knows I will care for her, and I know she will care for me. What I still need to study is what if any insurance programs that I have in the states, can be utilized in Thailand.

On the brighter side, I'm hoping that everything will go well in retirement 20-25 years from now. We're healthy now and hopefully we will stay that way. As for something on the horizon that we can't see today, all we can do is to hope for the best and be prepared if something less occurs.

Again .... what a good question and thanks for asking it .... for one, this is defintely something that requires more time and planning on my part.

[possom]

maerim ,if you read the whole thread you will see i am in agreement with you ,when my quality of life is gone i will exercise my right to die. however not everybody feels the same and am pleased the uk has a health service for these people ,no matter how overstretched . and yes i know where the wealthy in the uk go for health treatment , where have i stated otherwise ?? i am not wrong about the NHS (as you state ), this is not based on wealth, this is free to all citizens . i am not claiming it to be anything it isnt ,but it is a free service to all , and many are pleased to have it .

[Ajarn]

wherever  i spend my twilight years wont be decided by the cost of the nurse to wipe my arse   once all dignity is lost, i couldnt care less how much money i have or havnt got , i will exercise my right to die !

If you get to needing your ass washed, I'll bet you'll be glad you have that available here. Shit happens when you least expect it, and dignities are bound to come and go at times.

For me, I'd rather get my ass washed in Thailand - or the Playboy Mansion.

I moved here when I was 30, and started a new life from scratch. I'll be 50 in a couple of months, and I am retired now. My health sucks, but I still feel I'm in the best part of my life, even if it's near the end. Funny how sometimes we get wise only when we're able to see our mortality

If one has the money, one can create whatever life they want for themselves in Thailand. That has always been the real draw for me. I feel my dreams are now coming true, and I can relax and just enjoy. I do what I want, when I want, as often as I want....Who could ask for more?

I've picked out a beautiful spot near Mae Taeng for my Pow Sop. Whatever happens after that is outta my hands.....

The best advice I could ever give anyone here is to relax and take it easier....

[LivinLOS]

When I am older, say 87, I plan to live in Thailand on a full time basis with a relay of pretty nurses in brief white uniforms on shift round the clock in my beach house to keep me in shape. The lucky lady that I marry with have to agree to this. However, I will first put my financial affairs in the hands of certain trust officers at my Swiss bank.

Of course, when my time finally comes. my remains will be cremated at the local Thai temple and my ashes scattered to the four winds. Those who have looked after me in this wonderful kingdom will benefit, as will my grandchildren, and a score of Thai charities. Thus it shall be.....for now and ever more.

You said precisely what I was going to type.. Skip the kids / grandkids for me and let a bevy of lovelies look after me as the bits start to fail.. When all dignity is going or when I may not be able to live in my own home with my marbles it will be my choice of timing on the exit ramp.. .

[TizMe]

I read with interest how so many in this forum reckon that they will pull the pin when the right time comes.

Sadly, this is so easy to say when you are young and still fairly healthy. The reality is though that when the time really comes you either wont recognise that its now D-Day or you will not be capable or willing to actually go through with it.

The hassle will come if and when you can no longer make financial decisions regarding your care. Even if you have a wonderful and caring spouse, there is every conceivable option that they will peg out before you. So what then?

Can you trust privately hired nurses to really care for you.

"I'd rather be dead than singing "Satisfaction" when I'm forty-five." Mick Jagger

[maerim]

"I'd rather be dead than singing "Satisfaction" when I'm forty-five." Mick Jagger

Unfortunately that's not the case is it?

Old Sir Mick and his mates are still up there with their Zimmer frames tottering around "belting" the old ones out.

A bit like Roger Daltry of the Who singing "Hope I die before I get old" that was of course before he was multi millionaire and started doing adverts for Amex on his trout farm.

You must admit that life is a bit like a turd sandwich, the more bread you have the less crap you have to eat.

[cobra]

Well Said,

There's dying and there's dying poor ...

The gentle cackle of island girls in the background while your comfy and oblivious with your morphine drip, in your air conditioned room with the view of the ocean ..

or alone, sweating in pain, waiting to dye in a roach infested dorm, watching an old ceiling fan go slowly around ..

Yikes ! I even depressed myself for a minute,

(Note to Self: Save more money for retirement ...)