What Getting Old in Thailand Actually Looks Like - Jon Canton

Well written without generalizing about how life can change for many as you get older in Thailand IMO.

Felt

Good article, I recognized a lot of what he was saying.

I spent 22 years in Thailand, but I went home at age 63 and he hit the nail on the head with home does not look what it was when you left.

I'd say it took me the better part of 2 years to get all the legal and medical hoops finished, and their were a LOT more hoops than when I left.

I'm integrated now at age 68, own my own house free and clear and very glad I made the move when I did.

I remember seeing old old men at the mall looking forlorn and thinking, yeah that's not for me.

47 minutes ago, Cave Johnson said:

Good article, I recognized a lot of what he was saying.

I spent 22 years in Thailand, but I went home at age 63 and he hit the nail on the head with home does not look what it was when you left.

I'd say it took me the better part of 2 years to get all the legal and medical hoops finished, and their were a LOT more hoops than when I left.

I'm integrated now at age 68, own my own house free and clear and very glad I made the move when I did.

I remember seeing old old men at the mall looking forlorn and thinking, yeah that's not for me.

The ones in the bars on soi buhkao and similar places look even worse.

In my 25 years in SE Asia I've kept my house, medical insurance, etc active in my home country by returning twice a year. No issues for me to reacclimatize myself if I wanted to go back permanently.

While attending college in the US, I worked the night shift at the only 24-hour restaurant in town. At 2 am when the bars closed, the old guys from the bars would show up and stay until the bars reopened at 6. It becomes a lifestyle for many old men around the world.

These 2 statements are contradictory to my life in Thailand.

... "What happens when the Western retiree who arrived at fifty-five, healthy and cashed-up, turns seventy-five, and the country he committed to begins to close in on him? " ...

Nothing closing in on me, and life has actually gotten better for most part, the longer I've stayed here.

... "Now, at seventy-two, he sits on health insurance renewal notices that price him out of coverage. His wife is nearly three decades younger and has started planning her own future without him. There is a growing recognition that if his mind or his body gives out in the next few years, Thailand has nothing on the shelf to catch him. Notably, this man is not a cautionary tale of somebody who did it wrong. Rather, this man is somebody who did almost everything right." ...

Far from doing everything right, if he can't afford to keep himself healthy. Having a 30 year younger wife who doesn't want to stick by him in old age would be the same in any country, and nothing to do with TH, or, same, if he failed to financially plan his retirement in any country, even home country.

If you need a safety net in you later years, simple, don't leave your home country and earn more into you later years. Apparently, he could not afford to retire at 55 ish yrs old.

oops ... has nothing to do with TH. It's just a location, that people bring their problems to, then blame the country for them.

Article is BS, and gets a bit selective with some numbers. Like exchange rate in 2015. Jan, Mar & Apr, and it was less than it is now, so that comparison isn't good, though 2015, it did go up nice, but doesn't represent the 25 yrs I've been here. last 19 years, most 30-35 range and holds steady there to USD.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by KhunLA

35 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

These 2 statements are contradictory to my life in Thailand.

... "What happens when the Western retiree who arrived at fifty-five, healthy and cashed-up, turns seventy-five, and the country he committed to begins to close in on him? " ...

Nothing closing in on me, and life has actually gotten better for most part, the longer I've stayed here.

... "Now, at seventy-two, he sits on health insurance renewal notices that price him out of coverage. His wife is nearly three decades younger and has started planning her own future without him. There is a growing recognition that if his mind or his body gives out in the next few years, Thailand has nothing on the shelf to catch him. Notably, this man is not a cautionary tale of somebody who did it wrong. Rather, this man is somebody who did almost everything right." ...

Far from doing everything right, if he can't afford to keep himself healthy. Having a 30 year younger wife who doesn't want to stick by him in old age would be the same in any country, and nothing to do with TH, or, same, if he failed to financially plan his retirement in any country, even home country.

If you need a safety net in you later years, simple, don't leave your home country and earn more into you later years. Apparently, he could not afford to retire at 55 ish yrs old.

oops ... has nothing to do with TH. It's just a location, that people bring their problems to, then blame the country for them.

Article is BS, and gets a bit selective with some numbers. Like exchange rate in 2015. Jan, Mar & Apr, and it was less than it is now, so that comparison isn't good, though 2015, it did go up nice, but doesn't represent the 25 yrs I've been here. last 19 years, most 30-35 range and holds steady there to USD.

"It's just a location, that people bring their problems to, then blame the country for them." Yep. The chronically complaining Brits, all over this forum, you'd think they expect the prime minister to consult with them personally on every niggling little thing. Yet they stay in spite of 24/7 complaints. You are astutely correct in your assessment. I turn 70 soon and life couldn't be better, I recognize which problems are my own baggage and which are not. I recognize challenges for what they are - part of life. Therapy works. Cheers and chok dee.

9 hours ago, Felt 35 said:

What Getting Old in Thailand Actually Looks Like - Jon Canton

Well written

Jon, now do one about how depressing it is growing old in Blackpool instead of Chiang Mai. ✅

Seriously, you know how easy it is for British blokes to make a million quid here in Thailand?

It's easy! Just bring 4 million quid when you arrive and leave while you still have a million left. 🤑

The video certainly touches upon many sensitive issues about aging in Thailand.

One sure-fire take away is the importance of taking as good care of your health as possible.

But it shouldn't be forgotten that just being alive comes with a certain amount of risk which simply cannot be completely eliminated. For example, let's say you assumed that your younger spouse would be there to look after you in your golden years, but then he/she suddenly dies prematurely from an illness or an accident. What then?

Thailand has a rapidly aging population and competition for and the cost of elder and nursing home care here is probably only going to increase in the years ahead. I've long been a skeptic that Thais are as innately devoted to caring for the elderly as the nursing home brochures would like you to believe.

The affordability crisis back home, potential threats to the solvency of safety net programs in the West, and the political climate have significantly complicated the calculation about the advisability of repatriating back to the US. If I had to decide today, I'd say my plan B is to repatriate at age 75. Access to Medicare is a major driver behind my leaning in this direction.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by Gecko123

I was recently in the US for 2 months. Most people are fairly sour, and bitter these days. No humor, serious, downcast, and they just do not look like their lives are particularly fulfilling. And hyper inflation is out of control. They are admitting to over 3%. It is likely closer to 20%. Prices are stupid. And between me too and Covid women have basically shut down. Good looking, successful friends of mine there cannot even get dates.

Here, some people seem to be struggling. But, they are still somewhat even minded, and many are quite pleasant. Many have maintained their light heartedness, and their sense of humor. And I can walk into a restaurant and (harmlessly) flirt with a gorgeous 23 year old waitress, and she is all smiles. And the restaurant does not cost me an arm and a leg. Life here is just so much more pleasant. As long as I keep my head in the sand over politics, the extreme over reaction to Covid, and the major issues here caused by the goons shutting down the economy over Covid. Thankfully that's ancient history and let's hope it won't repeat itself.

As an American who was recently in the US working, I would be only be willing to live there if I was getting paid truly stupid money.

It is a rather joyless place. It is all about the money. It is a great spot if you want everyone 10 years younger than you, referring to you as sir. All my single friends here are struggling to find a date. It is a great place if you like women who are more masculine than you are, and find it very difficult to manifest the dignity within femininity. 

Lastly, it is very expensive now. A friend who has a place in both Monaco and London said on his recent visit to LA, that it was more expensive than either of those spots now. Don't consider moving to America unless money and value are not an object. And don't even get me started about labor costs there.

Unless you have a very good health care policy the US is simply not affordable. I have a good friend whose mother is in a facility right now paying $11,000 a month, and the nurses are nasty. I know of a good facility in Chiang Mai that costs about $2,500 a month for the same care. I have another Dutch friend whose mother is in a five-star accommodation for people who need nursing care, and she pays $800 a month under the Dutch government system. Her room has a Terrace overlooking the river and she said it's nicer than any five star hotel suites she's ever been in.

Also the public hospitals here can be quite good if you know how to pick them, there is one in Bangkok that's absolutely amazing. As good as any private hospital I've been to in the US, at about 1% of the price. And in addition the nurses have a great attitude, which is the polar opposite of what you get in America at a hospital. The doctors are good and the care is on par if not better than American hospital care.

I do agree about the heat and I certainly agree about the air quality, which is a horrendous problem that Thailand is going to have to fix sooner or later. People are dying from it.

As far as the heat you have to be hearty and if you're delicate or not used to it than it's likely not for you. From about mid-March until early June when the rain start I stay indoors most of the day, enjoying the AC, and go out in the evening or at night. My bike rides and workouts are also done very early in the morning when the temperatures are tolerable.

Also I try to do as much traveling during the months of April and May as possible, so oftentimes I'm outside of the country and I come back just in time for the rains to start which is delightful.

Overall Thailand is very much a state of mind and if you are able to attune yourself to the joys of this place the quality of life can be very high. I don't get that in America, I might if I was a centimillionaire, but I'm not. Everything there is so fabulously overpriced these days, it's really quite disgusting. And the division, The dissent, the bitterness, the lack of humor, the lack of levity, and the way that everything revolves around money back there is just not a life that I want to live. Though I would live back there for 3 years if somebody offered me a stipend of $3 million dollars a year, that's literally what it would take. I like to say everyday in Thailand is a good day, at least for me.

2 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

The video certainly touches upon many sensitive issues about aging in Thailand.

One sure-fire take away is the importance of taking as good care of your health as possible.

But it shouldn't be forgotten that just being alive comes with a certain amount of risk which simply cannot be completely eliminated. For example, let's say you assumed that your younger spouse would be there to look after you in your golden years, but then he/she suddenly dies prematurely from an illness or an accident. What then?

Thailand has a rapidly aging population and competition for and the cost of elder and nursing home care here is probably only going to increase in the years ahead. I've long been a skeptic that Thais are as innately devoted to caring for the elderly as the nursing home brochures would like you to believe.

The affordability crisis back home, potential threats to the solvency of safety net programs in the West, and the political climate have significantly complicated the calculation about the advisability of repatriating back to the US. If I had to decide today, I'd say my plan B is to repatriate at age 75. Access to Medicare is a major driver behind my leaning in this direction.

Whoa I'm 74 and have no plans to live full time in Oz.

We now do half/half, but want to lean more towards 8/4 in Hua Hin's favour in a few years when partner retires from earning the "big" bucks a few months a year. Find Sydney physically beautiful, tho too much sanctimony and we travel round the country in the caravan half our Oz time, chew the fat with real folk.

Sensible diet, exercise and reduced alcohol are table stakes as far as both concerned so the later years be still active. Anyway medical care in Thailand is not shabby and am confident partner will be a reliable carer, likely in the village, in the final months. Still have private insurance tho in Oz, and no am not wealthy, we live modestly and travel cheap.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by Donga

7 minutes ago, Donga said:

Whoa I'm 74 and have no plans to live full time in Oz.

We now do half/half, but want to lean more towards 8/4 in Hua Hin's favour in a few years when partner retires from earning the "big" bucks a few months a year. Find Sydney physically beautiful, tho too much sanctimony and we travel round the country in the caravan half our Oz time, chew the fat with real folk.

Sensible diet, exercise and reduced alcohol are table stakes as far as both concerned so the later years be still active. Anyway medical care in Thailand is not shabby and am confident partner will be a reliable carer, likely in the village, in the final months. Still have private insurance tho in Oz, and no am not wealthy, we live modestly and travel cheap.

Healthcare at HH is not cheap, even at Govt hosp, as they realize expats are cash cows. Pricing higher than at other govt hospitals, or so I read, and Chula @ BKK, seemed cheaper for procedures I had done there.

Cheaper than some other areas, but my 2 stent at HH govt hosp cost ฿200k+, almost 4 yrs ago.

My cataract at BKK Hosp @ HH cost shy of ฿100k, all in, and still have another one to do. Tooth implant, ฿60k +/-, private dentist. Although at least HH offers, as my local hospital does not.

That's cash prices, no insurance coverage.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by KhunLA

I remember reading this NY Times obituary of Howard Hessman who played Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati:

"He loved listening to jazz, swimming and catching up with his godchildren, (his wife) said.

Except I don't have any godchildren

13 hours ago, Felt 35 said:

What Getting Old in Thailand Actually Looks Like - Jon Canton

Thailandvisa services

Well written without generalizing about how life can change for many as you get older in Thailand IMO.

Felt

All rubbish though.

Prices aren't any more today, than they were when I arrived in 2009.

Many Western imported food products are considerably cheaper and easier to source.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by BritManToo

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

All rubbish though.

Prices aren't any more today, than they were when I arrived in 2009.

Many Western imported food products are considerably cheaper and easier to source.

Wow. I agree that inflation is less here than it is in places like America where it's raging right now, but prices have gone up a lot here. We must be somehow living on parallel planets, or you are simply too wealthy to feel the pinch.

10 hours ago, gargamon said:

The ones in the bars on soi buhkao and similar places look even worse.

In my 25 years in SE Asia I've kept my house, medical insurance, etc active in my home country by returning twice a year. No issues for me to reacclimatize myself if I wanted to go back permanently.

Ive done the same and its my fall back plan b if or when I need it

IMO property prices and rents have not changed in 15 years here. Restaurant prices have gone up by about 20%, day market fruit and vegetables are not visibly changed.

Everything in Australia just keeps going up, although house prices have cooled off. A pensioner there who does not own the roof over their head is screwed.

13 hours ago, Cave Johnson said:

Good article, I recognized a lot of what he was saying.

I spent 22 years in Thailand, but I went home at age 63 and he hit the nail on the head with home does not look what it was when you left.

Thailanguage courses

I'd say it took me the better part of 2 years to get all the legal and medical hoops finished, and their were a LOT more hoops than when I left.

I'm integrated now at age 68, own my own house free and clear and very glad I made the move when I did.

I remember seeing old old men at the mall looking forlorn and thinking, yeah that's not for me.

63 seems so young but you did spend 22 years here. I think there were other reasons because a healthy person here can get to 80 and not have any issues. I could see you making the decision in your late 70s but not 63. More to the story me thinks....

8 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I was recently in the US for 2 months.

How did you enjoy Dayton, Ohio ?

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I was recently in the US for 2 months. Most people are fairly sour, and bitter these days. No humor, serious, downcast, and they just do not look like their lives are particularly fulfilling. And hyper inflation is out of control. They are admitting to over 3%. It is likely closer to 20%. Prices are stupid. And between me too and Covid women have basically shut down. Good looking, successful friends of mine there cannot even get dates.

Which part of the USA were you in? I'm not seeing your perspective on the USA.

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Wow. I agree that inflation is less here than it is in places like America where it's raging right now, but prices have gone up a lot here. We must be somehow living on parallel planets, or you are simply too wealthy to feel the pinch.

The only items in Thailand to have significantly risen in price, hookers and western restaurants!

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

The only items in Thailand to have significantly risen in price, hookers and western restaurants!

Really? A fried rice chicken was 25-30 baht at a roadside restaurant a few years ago. It is now 60 baht at the same restaurants.

If it's still the same price at your restaurant they most likely reduced the size and the chicken meat.

Eggs in the supermarkets have increase in price by 25% in the last 3 years.

But hey, you always claim here that you don't eat Thai food, so how would you know.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

The only items in Thailand to have significantly risen in price, hookers and western restaurants!

That is so wrong. Inflation here is less than in America for sure. But, things are definitely going up.

1 hour ago, temuFarang said:

Which part of the USA were you in? I'm not seeing your perspective on the USA.

Southern California. Admittedly it is crazy expensive now. Also, very unfriendly, when it comes to strangers. And joyless.

12 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

And between me too and Covid women have basically shut down. Good looking, successful friends of mine there cannot even get dates.

Buddies in Canada report the same thing. They've just given up. Can't even throw a compliment to a Western woman else she might call the cops and claim assault.

Me Too was a psy op to divide the sexes, bust up the family unit for good, but it's real and Western women have indeed adopted the Man Hate.

Thailand is so much easier in so many ways.

1 hour ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Buddies in Canada report the same thing. They've just given up. Can't even throw a compliment to a Western woman else she might call the cops and claim assault.

Me Too was a psy op to divide the sexes, bust up the family unit for good, but it's real and Western women have indeed adopted the Man Hate.

Thailand is so much easier in so many ways.

I love being able to harmlessly flirt with women here. They seem to really get a kick out of the attention. Western women are so tired, predictable, deathly afraid of their own femininity, and just boring.

Thrilled to not have to deal with their nonsense.

5 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Really? A fried rice chicken was 25-30 baht at a roadside restaurant a few years ago. It is now 60 baht at the same restaurants.

If you can't afford that, it must be a very sad life.

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

If you can't afford that, it must be a very sad life.

that's not his point it's nominal inflation and it's the exact same thing I see too. Food going up to 30-40% over 5 years is very dramatic in any country so the real question is how are the bulk of Thai people affording this? Wages have most certainly not increased that same amount since then.

for a family of 4 getting fried rice and and a drink is going to be 300 baht which for many families could be 25% of the months electric bill. It's not a big number but relative to income this is quite expensive.

7 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Really? A fried rice chicken was 25-30 baht at a roadside restaurant a few years ago. It is now 60 baht at the same restaurants.

If it's still the same price at your restaurant they most likely reduced the size and the chicken meat.

Eggs in the supermarkets have increase in price by 25% in the last 3 years.

But hey, you always claim here that you don't eat Thai food, so how would you know.

I don't eat in restaurants!

Moo Ping still 30bht for 5 sticks+ sticky rice.

Deep fried chicken wings still 15bht each.

More like prices have gone up in your tourist ghetto.

I live where it's all Thais, and if prices go up, the Thais won't eat there.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by BritManToo

11 hours ago, Lacessit said:

IMO property prices and rents have not changed in 15 years here. Restaurant prices have gone up by about 20%, day market fruit and vegetables are not visibly changed.

Everything in Australia just keeps going up, although house prices have cooled off. A pensioner there who does not own the roof over their head is screwed.

Price for land in my area has increased by a modest 50% since 2016 - 2017. In Isaan 2008 I was looking for a bit of land near ole lady's village, 1 rai was 250K baht on the main road. Today 1 rai will sell for over 1 million baht.

I don't really pay attention to food prices to have an opinion, I just pay.

They should do an article called called getting old in Doncaster UK. Cold rainy days for most of the year, renting a small soul less flat for £1000 a month. Drug ridden and violent local areas. The prospect of ending up in a care home at £1000 a week cared for by migrants who hate you. Wait months or years for any hospital visits to the NHS. OR stay in sunny Thailand, much cheaper, go swimming in my condo pool every day, all maintenance work covered in my condo, cheap electric/wifi. Relax on my large balcony every night with a Chang. Immediate hospital care if i need it. Ending up in a smart care home cared for by pretty thai nurses. I know which i would choose.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by henryford1958